St. Stanislaus School eighth-graders reflect on MidWest March for Life, what it means to be pro-life
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Not all lessons are learned in a classroom.
Take, for instance, the crash-course on the sanctity of human life that the eighth-graders at St. Stanislaus School in Wardsville received at this year’s MidWest March for Life in Jefferson City.
“I thought it was a lot more meaningful than we could do in religion class, with a teacher explaining it to us,” said eighth-grader Audrey.
“I thought the same thing,” said Lorelei, one of her classmates. “Once I heard all the speeches and saw all the people there, I understood how many people actually care about this and why it’s so important.”
The eighth-grade class was invited to the Capitol grounds for this year’s March and to accept Team P.L.A.Y.’s Pro-Life School of the Year award.
“It was a real honor,” said Elle, an eighth-grader at St. Stanislaus.
“It shows how much we care about pro-life and how we don’t just say we support something — we actually support it,” said fellow eighth-grader Kellen.
The school has been participating for many years in Knights of Columbus Wardsville-Osage Bend Council 8399’s annual Walk for Life each fall.
“We do that every year, and it raises a lot of money for pro-life,” said eighth-grader Parker.
Last year’s Walk raised over $14,000, which was distributed among seven local organizations that affirm and promote the sanctity of human life in the womb.
Eighth-graders Addisyn and Makenna pointed to other activities the school sponsors to raise money for these organizations, including dress-down days at school and “penny wars” to collect change.
Elle noted the monthly First Wednesday Life Runners day at the school, on which a group of students walk to the parish cemetery and back before school, carrying pro-life signs and letting people know “that pro-life does matter.”
Purpose of amendment
The MidWest March for Life left a deep impression on the St. Stanislaus students.
“There were people who talked about how they were almost aborted,” said Kallen. “And people who had an abortion spoke about their life and the trauma they went through.”
“I liked seeing how people who are in power have thoughts about how they support being pro-life so much,” said Lorelei. “That’s really important if we’re going to try to reverse the amendment.”
She was referring to Amendment 3, which narrowly passed last November, enshrining abortion-on-demand in the state’s constitution and calling many state laws restricting abortion into serious question.
Among these are licensing requirements for abortion clinics, the need for parental consent for minors seeking abortions, and the regulation that abortions can only be performed by doctors who have admitting privileges to a local hospital.
“When they were talking about the places where people get abortions, what stood out to me was they talked about how the people who do the abortions say things like ‘you’re gonna be okay, you’re gonna be safe, that you’re gonna feel better-off afterwards.’
“But those are all just lies,” she said. “People who are telling you you’re going to be okay, when it’s really going to affect you.”
Makenna was impressed to see students from schools not just in central Missouri but from other parts of the state — some who traveled two or more hours to get to the March.
Gavin was excited to be at the front of the March and to look back and keep seeing more and more people following them.
“I thought it was really cool how many people there were and how positive everybody was and how people were cheering,” he said.
“Hardly anyone had a frown on their face,” he stated, “and they were all just excited that they’re trying to give other people a chance in life.”
Lorelei looked around during the rally and noticed that whenever the presenters were speaking, “you’d see the whole crowd smiling and clapping and cheering, just because they felt so motivated by what they were saying.”
Worth it
The eighth-graders made a sacrifice to be at the March, giving up an event they were looking forward to attending.
“When they first told us that this March was going to be this day, I knew I wanted to go to it,” said Lorelei. “I’m excited that I had a chance to go. It was an honor to be there.”
Makenna thought her school would be the only one represented at the March.
“But once we got there, I saw a lot of other kids OUR age and even younger,” she said. “And I was even more excited to be there, and energy came to me and spread everywhere.”
Audrey was convinced that it was important for them to be there, “to show our support and just help fight for the cause.”
“I was really glad that we went because we got accept the award, which was an honor,” said Addyson. “And it was really inspiring to listen to all the speakers.”
“It was a really cool experience,” one of her classmates stated, “seeing all the people come together to support the cause.”
Elle emphasized that she was at the March because she wanted to be there.
“It gave me a lot better understanding of what being pro-life actually means,” she said. “And also, it gave me an idea of how we can stand up for it.”
She said being pro-life means “that you stand up for all life, no matter how small.”
Her classmate Kellen said that matters because “small lives can’t choose for themselves.”
“And if we don’t help the smaller life, then how are we going to progress in the future?” he stated.
“Positive energy”
From the opening Invocation to the closing Mass, the MidWest March for Life was saturated in prayer.
“I think doing a lot of praying is very important, because every prayer can save a life,” said Elle.
“I think it’s also important to be able to spread the word and have tough conversations with your classmates and friends about how they view pro-life, so you can help them understand if their views are different about what God thinks about pro-life.”
The St. Stanislaus eighth-graders were impressed by the size and mood of the crowd.
“It felt really uplifting to see so many people joining together,” said Elle. “So many more people than I thought would actually show up for it.”
“There was a lot of positive energy,” said Gavin. “It was going toward people having a chance to live, which is always a good thing.”
The St. Stanislaus group stood united near the front of the March, behind the cross and the Knights of Columbus honor guard.
Audrey and Lorelei carried relics — one being a fragment of the True Cross on which Jesus died, the other being a thread of the Blessed Mother’s garment.
“It was really a cool honor to be able to do that and lead the whole group with a bunch of people behind us,” said Audrey.
The students considered what they might tell a friend who says she’s pregnant and is leaning toward having an abortion.
“Even though you might want to get rid of the baby now, you’ll regret it in the long run,” said Makenna. “Because it will probably cause you more harm than good.”
“You have to think of all the side-effects,” said Lorelei. “You’re not just harming the baby. You end up harming yourself.”
She also spoke of putting the baby up for adoption by a loving family.
“I would also want them to know,” said Elle, “that I would be there for them when that baby does come, and that I would support that baby and help the parents of that baby as that child grows up.
“And I would also let them know how serious that life is and that that life could make a change to this world,” she said.
Kellen would suggest watching videos of people talking about how they thought about having an abortion but wound up not doing so.
“Their stories are so inspiring,” he said.
Parker emphasized also taking it to God.
“Even if your words couldn’t stop them, you can pray, because God can help,” he said.
“I would tell them that they need to do what they think God would want,” said Audrey.
Addisyn quickly added: “God doesn’t want anyone to die. Especially not the most innocent life.”
“God created that baby at the very beginning,” said Kellen. “He did that so the baby could have life.”
“Here for you”
They considered how they might react if someday, they have a daughter or son who comes to tell them about an unplanned pregnancy.
“I would support them and hope that God leads them on the right path,” one of the girls stated. “I would hope they’d keep the child and I would want them to raise him or her to have a good life.”
“I would talk to them about how I’m there to be their supporter and how no matter who that baby turns out to be, I’m going to be there for that child and for them through their joys and hardships,” another girl said.
The eighth-graders said they’ll continue praying.
“We should pray that all the babies and mothers are protected,” said Makenna.
“I would pray that God’s plan for everybody can always win out,” said Gavin.
“I would pray that these mothers and fathers will have courage to make the decision God wants them to make, which is life,” said Elle.
“And in God’s plan, every life deserves to have a chance,” one of their classmates added.
