A long, cramped journey on January 18 resulted in our arrival to George Mason University for a Youth Rally. Montrosians filed into the stadium to find hundreds of other youth in the stands dancing to Jesus music. Yes, Jesus music. Not your typical teen concert, but arguably twice as fun. We then heard from enthusiastic nuns, priests and pastors inspiring us for the next day: the March for Life. At the end of the presentation, the entire stadium knelt for Adoration. The pristine silence of the huge stadium was chilling: everyone was peaceful. When we awoke the next morning, we celebrated Mass in the hotel breakfast room. We then attended the Rally, where we heard from several different speakers including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, and Pamela Tebow. As we stood with the sun beating down on us, we were brought to tears by testimonies and triumphed in small victories.

As I marched on Friday, January 19 I saw many different faces of the Pro-Life movement. People of all different ages, religions, races and backgrounds all gathered for one unanimous cause. Even though everyone who marched identified as Pro-Life, there were many different interpretations of what that means to each person. There were cheers, there were protests: emotions were high. Our nation is tense, and so was the March. Despite the differences of those marching, there was one mutual feeling: hope. With every step I took marching up Constitution Ave, a new wave of hope pulsed through me. I felt my mission had been fulfilled.