Life Lessons Preidential Election
Opinion

Life Lessons for a Hawk from the Presidential Election

The meme-worthy, anxiety-inducing, and most anticipated presidential election we have all witnessed is chock-full of life lessons we can all take into consideration this year and every year after. Whether we relate these lessons to our life, career, or take them into consideration for our future. Presidential candidates, Mr. Donald Trump and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, have given us plenty to think about.

All throughout this election, we have seen both candidates debate until the death whether it be over policy conflicts, the economy, society, or other matters of importance. The one thing they have shown the people collectively is to not take anything at face value.

As Monmouth students, we have a wide array of options and resources to take advantage of as far as research is concerned. Whether it be utilizing the Commuter Student Lounge on the second floor of the Rebecca Stafford Student Center or spending all hours at our coveted library across campus, us Hawks are in a nest full of different assets to utilize. At times it may be hard to find “an ‘extremely credible source,’” as Trump would say, but at the library, we have hard-working staff and faculty members who will work around the clock to help you with any research.

Not to mention, these two memorable candidates have instilled in us the importance of doing research and making sure we are informed to the best of our ability about things that concern us as a whole.

Hand-in-hand with the many resources we can use, we also have limitless options and opportunities. People may think that there is only one option- for presidential candidates, for jobs, internships, career choices or anything else. It is critical to remember that you create your own opportunities with the choices you make.

We all know the age old saying, “when one door closes another opens.” It may be cliché, but we get a million options each and every day. Even at Monmouth, we are faced with dozens of daily choices. Some choices may be as simple as “Do I want Jersey Mike’s or do I want pizza?” But, they could be as vital as “How do I choose which internship is best for my future?” and “Who am I going to vote for?” It is always necessary to keep in mind that our options are never limited and “we the people” get to decide.

Another very important realization that has come about with the help of the election is that although social media may be an outlet, it could be our greatest downfall. We use social media for our own fun and games and to feel connected with the world. While that’s all well and good, at times, we may be saying too much. Professionals are able to look up any of your social media accounts anywhere from Twitter to Facebook to LinkedIn, and they will be able to take that into consideration when choosing whether or not to hire you for a position.

All of your information is public knowledge and whatever has been laid out on the internet is likely to stay there forever. We all have heard the horror stories about teachers that haven’t been considered for a position because of inconsistencies found through their social media accounts. Due to what they have been posting and reacting to on social media, these candidates have reminded us to be mindful of what we post; we never know who might see it!

Last, but surely not least, we are reminded to continuously take our losses with grace just as we should win without overindulging our ego. Whether it is losing the presidential election, not being accepted for a job, or not being qualified for a position, we should always take everything with a grain of salt. It is normal to be upset or even cry about not being accepted for something, it is essential to be aware of the fact that not everything will go our way, but, we have the ability to take the positives from a negative situation.

Regardless of if you were “With Her” or striving to “Make America Great Again,” this presidential election was one that taught us as fellow Hawks and as Americans plenty of lessons to take with us on our journeys to becoming better students and better citizens.

IMAGE TAKEN from history.com