Last night, we elected a president who, to his credit, reflects how the rest of the world sees America — rich, full of swagger and totally unapologetic.

Many people, including myself, are disappointed in the results, disappointed in the low voter turnout and disappointed that this long election stressed anger and shame over dignity and respect.

But now that the dust has settled and the results have been called, I ask my fellow Americans to themselves be better than this election has been.

Don’t sit in smugness and condescension. Don’t shut people out because their politics, their faith or their identity is an inconvenience to you. Don’t define yourself by what you are against — find things to stand for.

In other words, don’t sulk. Be useful.

Part of the reason we are where we are as a country is that we as citizens have delegated too much responsibility for our future to representatives we don’t particularly care for and will never really know.

Most of us don’t vote, and too often, those of us who do use it as an excuse to complain and demand that the world change without having to change ourselves.

President-Elect Trump: I legitimately hope that you can do great things for my country. I love it very much, and I want it to succeed no matter who is at the helm.

But to my fellow Americans, liberal, moderate or conservative, I say this: Don’t wait for other people to change our future — not presidents, senators, governors or mayors.

Exercise whatever power you have as a citizen, as a parent and as a professional to make things better for your community and your country.

No one is coming to save or doom us. We can only do that ourselves.

Alexander Montero is a senior in Business.

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