Chapter ideas: involving youth in the pro-life movement (part 2) Colleges 101: bringing your message to your local campus.(Students for Life)

My first day of college changed my life forever. I was a wide-eyed 18-year-old and it was a beautiful September afternoon at Seattle University (SU). There were blue skies, green trees, mountains on the horizon in every direction, and, contrary to popular belief, no rain was in sight at that time of year. Plus, I had just moved away from home for an amazing adventure in academia.

Maybe I was a little nervous, but excitement was in the air, and it was intensified by the fair being held in the middle of campus. Each of the 100- plus clubs on campus had a booth advertising their causes and activities, and like most freshmen, I signed up for at least half a dozen, including, in my case, Students for Life.

I can still picture the Students for Life table: over in the back, left corner of the Quad with two smiling women sitting behind it. I didn't realize until a few weeks later that those two seniors were the only active members of the club.

I immediately became the third active member, and as the months and years progressed, we became a larger, more active, and more vibrant club. More importantly, the right-to-life movement had a presence and unborn children had a voice on our campus.

My personal commitment to the right-to-life movement also deepened. I don't know where I'd be today had I not made that little effort to join SU Students for Life, but it's a safe bet I wouldn't be sitting at this desk in the National Right to Life offices in Washington, D.C.

I was raised pro-life, and loved debating friends about the issue. But I had never been active until that day in college. From there, I got an internship application for the National Right to Life Committee, was offered the internship, then another one, then a full-time job here starting in 2000.

Three years later, I've been able to help elect a pro-life President, hold the U.S. House and take back the Senate. I've especially enjoyed working with the many chapter chairs and grassroots volunteers around the country in my travels as field coordinator.