Road Less Traveled
“I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost
The Road Not Taken is overused, yet the only poem I can recite from memory. I also went through a phase where I pinned inspirational quotes to my Pinterest board, but what young girl didn’t? I’m also currently wearing a pair of leggings and a sorority shirt, so you could say I enjoy conformity. Not exactly the road less traveled.However, one major aspect of my life where I will never conform is abortion. I am firm on my Pro-Life stance and I am certain that no one will change that. Instead of moving with the crowd and being Pro-Choice, I want to lead the crowd toward being Pro-Life. That route is far more treacherous simply because I am a young woman at a liberal university standing up and saying I am Pro-Life. So why do it?“If you want to make a difference, the next time you see someone being cruel to another human being, take it personally. Take it personally because it is personal!” – Brené BrownThat is what abortion is. I do not have nor do I need one specific moment in my life that brought me to the Pro-Life movement. The fact of the matter is that everyone has been affected by abortion. I have been affected because every person out there - or not out there - changes the course of the world forever. A third of my generation is missing. A third of the people I could have known, just wiped away. So yes, I take this issue personally.This reminds me of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey wishes that he was never born, sees the world without him, and realizes how much an impact he has had. He is just one person, yet he made an enormous impact on his town.I live actively Pro-Life to be an example for others. Pro-Life is for everyone. If I am open about being Pro-Life, maybe other people will question their beliefs as well. I want others to stop and think, “Maybe I should rethink why I am Pro-Choice.” I want people who witness me living actively Pro-Life and be proud of their stance. Being Pro-Life is nothing to be ashamed of.When a girl who’s contemplating abortion sees us writing Pro-Life messages on campus sidewalks with chalk, she might think twice. When a person sees one of our diaper drives, they might realize that there is much more to being Pro-Life than just telling people abortion is wrong. Helping mothers in crisis is just as important as ending abortion.I cannot tell someone to choose life and then not support them through parenthood. I cannot shame someone for their actions. Instead, I am joyful for the new life to come. The Pro-Life movement is about helping women, no matter the circumstances. This is the way to make abortion unthinkable. It comes back to the basic need of us helping others.“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” – UnknownThis final quote expresses the most important lesson for my generation. I try not to stereotype my generation, but many millennials tolerate anything and everything. Tolerance has a place, but not when it comes to abortion. I stand unyielding against abortion. I want to give an example of a life that people can follow. I want to work with others in my generation to build a Culture of Life. I am proud to be the Pro-Life generation. Francesca is a summer intern with Students for Life of Illinois. She studies Community Health with a concentration in Health Care Planning and Administration with the plans of Dental School at the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign.