One story of being inspired this week.

I understand the enormous impact that the presidential election can have on the global economy, our place in the world and the future direction of this country. I think those topics have been written and talked about at length by people much smarter than me, and as long as what you believe is based in fact and not in rhetoric, I can respect our differences.

I would like to share why this election is so personal to me. Why each night this week, I have wept as the first woman was nominated to be president by a major political party. I wept as I listened to women who thought they might never “get to see the day” say her name during roll call. I wept for the women I know who are smart, courageous and talented, and yet do not have the same respect or opportunities as their male counterparts. I cried, grateful for the women who came before us who fought for our rights. I know I am witnessing change happen, even if that change comes slowly and is often met by ignorance and oppression.

I can no longer listen to messages of intolerance. When I was seriously ill and in critical condition and on the operating table, people of all faiths healed me. People of all backgrounds and nationalities prayed with me, held me and cared for me. In my work, I meet brilliant physicians, researchers and staff from every walk of life. If you close your hearts and minds to any group of people, you will miss out on the beauty in our differences, the similarities in our humanity. You will miss out on talent, perspective and the love and support we can offer one another.

I cannot watch one more attempted repeal of the ACA. Without the Affordable Care Act, I would be bankrupt. I was 22 when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s and I did not have good health insurance or protection for my now “preexisting condition.” The ACA made it possible for me to go back on my parents’ health insurance. I had to start out adulthood with a chronic illness, and I will be forever grateful that (just in time) I didn’t have to start out my life with debt.

Speaking of debt, I will forever be paying college loans. I’m extremely grateful for my education. With my parents assistance and scholarships, I consider myself lucky. But over the next decade, the federal government will make a profit of about $110 billion on student loan programs. Meanwhile, I’ll live paycheck to paycheck while I pay back my student loans.

I am grateful to President Obama for his service to our country. I will always respect and admire his humility, optimism and courage. But we can and should do better. These are just a few of my stories and a few very personal examples of why this election matters to me. I pray that I am not just voting for my own self-interest, that I’m also voting for others who need justice, who need help out of poverty, who need peace. I hope that being in my shoes for just one second, you can at least understand why this election is so personal to me and while sanity may not be the loudest voice or get the most news coverage, I think we need to let reasonable voices be heard this year. I’m thankful to all the all the DNC speakers this week who have given me the courage to share this.