It’s been over a month since the American people chose our next president. When the results were announced and citizens learned Donald Trump would be the leader of the free world come January, America was divided. Hastings High was no different.
“Personally I became very scared because Donald Trump has made many comments on how he is going to work on the disfranchisement of Planned Parenthood and Roe v Wade,” senior Grace Clawson said.
Clawson went on to explain that although many of Trump’s ideas are considered too radical to be passed into law, she has noticed a change in mindset in many of the students at Hastings High.
“There’s definitely a change in the way that most people are acting, however at school, the only thing I’ve really noticed are still very divided about what they believe, and I doubt that will change,” Clawson said.
In a subtle attempt to combat this divisiveness, Clawson-like many other students-has focused her attention on peace, rather than engaged in arguments.
“I’ve tried my best to avoid getting in arguments with other people. I’m quick to engage in a political argument, but during a time like this, we need to be strong together than divided,” she said.
Clawson isn’t the only student who has been affected by this election. Freshman Sarah Spilinek has worked to make conscious decisions that will benefit those around her. Like Clawson, she has hopes of a more cohesive country moving forward.
“I, like many, was pretty disappointed in the results, but you just have to come to the realization that we will get past this. I feel that the man who won this presidency is not at all fit to be president, but the fact is: he will. And I hope our country will really try to become less divided,” Spilinek said.
There is a coping strategy that sets Spilinek apart from Clawson. Rather than disengaging herself from potential conflict, Spilinek speaks up on behalf of herself and other students.
“I’ve tried to let my own voice be heard, while still listening to others’ by just discussing it when it’s brought up. It’s hard to get your point across when we’re this divided, but it’s important to speak your mind,” Spilinek said.
While it might seem like the two types of students could clash, their combined strategies continue to improve the school in small ways. She believes understanding privilege and tolerance is of the utmost importance in this critical time.
“It’s hard for me to say whether Hastings High is a good place for diversity because I’m not usually affected by discrimination. Based on my 4 years as a student, I think HHS is not unkind to diversity, mostly because we aren’t very diverse as a student population,” Clawson said.
Both students want to remind their peers to remain kind and respectful and to speak up when necessary.
“People need to just be polite. Even though it’s cliche, treat others the way that you’d want to be treated.” Clawson said.
To encourage positive thoughts and kindness towards peers, several Hastings High teachers gave students a simple reminder. A group composed of Carla Hedstrom, Lori Hergott, Barb Kluver, Lisa Prickett, Ann Mays, Faye Friesen, Jean Davis, Jody Potthoff, and Clarissa Gillham used sidewalk chalk to convey uplifting messages near the doors of the school.
“We just knew that in some schools, there was backlash against students who were against the norm– students who had supported Clinton, LGBT kids, immigrant children–and we didn’t want anybody shere at school to feel like that,” Hedstrom said.
“I know some [students] were quite upset with what happened, but because we are in a more republican state, I wasn’t very surprised,” Hedstrom said.
Hedstrom also mentioned how students in class noticed that the book they were assigned to read, Lord of the Flies, had parallels to America’s current political climate.
“Afterwards, there were some kids who made comments about how it seemed kind of fitting,” she said.
Regardless of the outcome of the election and the official electoral vote this week, one thing is certain: Hastings High students and faculty will continue to promote a culture of inclusiveness and kindness.
