What do you do?

What do you do when your good friend runs against you in a political campaign? What do you say to mutual friends who have to choose between him or yourself? How does one exist when their heart says to withdraw and their conviction says to persevere?

I am lost. I need to focus on my schoolwork. I need to focus on my dreams. But I realize how desperately I want this position as class president. I don't know why. I don't really want it for any particular reason, but it's more of a symbol for my effort. I have given up so much time and diligent energy for my class and I feel like it is finally time for me to actually take a stance and be a leader. But leadership is challenging. And this election feels entirely like a popularity contest. It is ripping through the seams of my soul and tossing me around like a tiny lifeboat in a wild arctic sea. My heart races, I heat up, and I feel delirious.

Politics is dreadful.