I am engulfed in the Dana Hall bubble. The “Dana Bubble” is known by students as a shield of comfort that creates a division between the real world and ourselves. This bubble at times can be protective, but during Republican Donald Trump’s campaign for presidency, I have realized that this bubble will soon be popped. Once I leave Dana Hall, I will also leave the comfort of being surrounded by people who share the same beliefs as I have, and I will find myself in a world that is not sealed off with a layer of reassurance. This election, and listening to Donald Trump discuss his opinions, has made me aware of what a large number of Americans are thinking and wanting to hear. This fact is a frightening reality.

I will remember this election forever because I am now old enough to assert my views through voting. While I am extremely troubled by this power-hungry man and the reasons that people choose to support him, this election has enlightened me. The people I surround myself with at Dana Hall are appalled by Trump’s ridiculous and inappropriate commentary; however, this election has made me realize that there are many people who support this man, and it also suggests that perhaps I am the negligent one for believing otherwise.

As a young women, I am concerned for this nation. I am troubled that people are choosing to vote for a racist, anti-immigrant, and misogynistic man that is making the United States look like a reality television show. I am especially heartbroken that women are choosing to vote for a man who refers to women as objects to be admired or disrespected. I am angry that people are choosing to vote for Trump, who continuously denounces races, genders, and people’s sexuality; however, he is currently the most popular GOP candidate, having won the New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada primaries by a significant majority. I am genuinely concerned for the outcome of the election.

For high school juniors and seniors everywhere, this election is important because the majority will find themselves eligible to vote for a person of their choosing who will represent their views. Since we attend an all-girls school, I make a plea to the student and faculty voters: Dana Hall holds the integrity of “girls learning, leading, [and] succeeding,” so please do not vote for a man who has denounced women, stating that “women have one of the great acts of all time. The smart ones act very feminine and needy, but inside they are real killers. The person who came up with the expression ‘the weaker sex’ was either very naive or had to be kidding. I have seen women manipulate men with just a twitch of their eye — or perhaps another body part” (according to Trump: The Art of Comeback).

I have attended Dana Hall for almost six years. I have slowly come to think of Dana as a second home since I spend more time here than my actual home. I have come to understand the people, the places, and the ideas that make up this school. I have been able to make my voice heard, while not being afraid to do so, which can be thought of as a luxury that is hard to find at other schools. But the Dana Bubble, which can be seen as a positive shield of protection, is also a negative buffer between reality and what students want to be true. I have found through this election that the protective Dana Bubble has had the effect of shielding me and other students from the harsh reality that is beyond a very liberal state.

The Dana Bubble is good thing, for it gives students a sense of protection from things we do not want to experience, like misogyny. But we must learn that while the Bubble has its benefits, we must be able to get out of it and learn that the world is not a place where everyone believes in justice and equality for all.

Photo: Donald Trump. Image source: Brendan Mcdermid of Reuters.