Day one of the Democratic National Convention was marked by energy and excitement. The streets of Philadelphia were paved with progressives and the energy was palpable – a promising sign for the future of our party.

I started my day at the Colorado Delegation Breakfast, where our state’s Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton supporters came together for a productive conversation about continuing to move Colorado forward. Among other platform advancements, my fellow delegates discussed improving college affordability and super delegate reform measures.

Next, I was off to an education reform forum – one of my favorite sessions of the day. Addressing racial inequality in education, an issue I care deeply about, was at the forefront of the conversation. It’s having issues like that on the table for discussion that makes me so proud of who we are at our core as Democrats.

Finally, I headed to the convention floor for the evening’s program, and in a night studded with political stars, the two speeches that moved me to tears came from some less familiar faces.

Karla Ortiz, an 11-year-old U.S. citizen with undocumented parents, told the audience about the fear she lives through every day – fear that she will come home from school to find her home empty, and her family deported.

Astrid Silva, a DREAMer from Nevada, shared her story as well. At 4 years old, Astrid traveled to the United States from Mexico with her mother in a raft, carrying nothing with her but a toy doll.

“My family believed so deeply in the promise of this country that we risked everything for the American dream,” she said.

While we saw the GOP unite behind a candidate who indiscriminately referred to Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists, today the Democratic Party took the time to highlight the stories of two beautiful young women and the struggles they face on a daily basis as a result of a broken immigration system. Stories like Astrid’s and Karla’s are what inspire me to fight for Hillary Clinton, a candidate ­­­­­­­who is committed to creating a path to citizenship for undocumented individuals and lifting up underserved communities.

It was thrilling and inspiring to hear from so many leaders in our party last night. From First Lady Michelle Obama, to Senator Elizabeth Warren, the message of the night was clear: we are so much stronger as a united force than as divided factions, and with Donald Trump in the picture, our unity has never been more important.

Senator Sanders said it best, “In these stressful times for our country, this election must be about bringing people together, not dividing us up … While Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.” The Senator’s powerful call for party unity resonated throughout the convention hall, and delegates on both sides of the aisle were visibly moved.

Despite what you may have heard, today I witnessed many Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton supporters coming together and supporting one another. Yes, like any family we have disagreements. And yes, we have a lot of work to do, especially in a state like Colorado where Bernie won the caucus. But at the end of day one, I am more confident in and proud of my party and Hillary Clinton than ever.