- Photo credit: Daryan Shamkhali The days following the U.S. presidential election have been challenging for me, as it has been for millions in America and around the world. I personally have vacillated between shock and disbelief to anger and despair. I also feel at times emotionally frozen, fearful for my safety, anxious about what will happen next, and hungry for hope and guidance. I don’t assume to know how all of you feel about this news. I couldn’t possibly; there are over 2000 people on The Art of Applying’s mailing list, 80% of whom are international. Just as the student bodies of your dream schools aren’t monolithic, neither are the people who seek our guidance and services in getting there. However, I know that this beautiful community of hopeful changemakers and emerging leaders is comprised of many people who might feel threatened and unwelcome in a post-Trump America: immigrants, women, people of color, people of the Muslim faith, people with disabilities, anyone of any background who speaks up for these people or anyone who is simply “mistaken” to be a member of one of these groups. To be honest, I don’t know what happens after this. Many are saying, “Everything will be okay.” I’m not here to say that, because I just don’t know what happens next, and I want to respect that “everything will be okay” might be a truer sentiment for some than others. For the last 6+ years, it has been my great privilege to read many of your admissions essays and to speak with hundreds of you about your current projects and future plans. It is the power of all of your collective action toward a more “just, verdant, and peaceful world” (as the MacArthur Foundation would put it) that gives me hope for the planet and the human race. I will combine this hope with a commitment to finding the best actions I can take to make a positive difference as I find my way forward. If you have thoughts and feelings about the U.S. presidential election that you want to share, I’m here to listen. Just comment below and share whatever you’d like. I’ll do my best to respond to all the messages I receive. I may not have answers for you, but I can at least bear witness to your questions and experiences. With love and gratitude, Kaneisha Grayson Founder, The Art of Applying
Leave a Reply