Summer Stock - Students Join the Fight
Strange as it is to consider amidst deadlines, finals, and a lot of sleepless nights, the current school semester is coming to a close, or will be very soon, causing summer vacation and all its leisure to loom large in the minds of everyone in academia. In fact, it isn't uncommon to find the majority of students treating their approaching "liberation" as the proverbial lighthouse to their storm of studies, motivating them to surge forward. But what do students do with that freedom once they've gained it, post-finals? Many, especially those in college, devote their summer to working as many hours as they can manage and filling the remainder of their time with socializing and events, pastimes that are much harder to commit to while busy with post-secondary education. But, while these pursuits are wonderful, well deserved, and in some cases necessary, there are also other options for summer occupation that students, specifically those with Pro-Life beliefs, should consider.
The Pro-Life movement is alive and well, with an estimate from Gallup News noting that 41% of Americans identified with the cause in 2024. Students make up part of that percentage, but, much like with personal pastimes or employment, many college-aged individuals find committing to consistent Pro-Life work during the school year daunting if not completely impossible. However, summer offers ample time for commitment, which not only gives students a fulfilling pastime but also may prove useful on future job and scholarship paperwork (not that life saving work should only be done if there are perks involved). So what Pro-Life summer opportunities are there?
Aside from the tried and true option of devoting more time to your local pregnancy resource center or volunteering for the first time in a role that best fits your passions and talents, there are a host of other, more unusual, possibilities to explore. If you're enterprising or have endless time on your hands until the next semester begins, you could even mix multiple options together to really round out your dedication to babies and mothers. You can participate in local, national, and recurring marches for life, showcasing your beliefs and adding your presence to the groups that often change minds simply because of their size and enthusiasm. Upcoming marches for life include 40 Days for Life's walks, state marches advertised by March for Life.org, and the National Celebrate Life Weekend in Washington D.C. hosted by Students for Life and several other groups.
You can enhance your own knowledge for use in summer interactions or when you return to school. Specifically, you can devote your summer to researching abortion statistics in your state, reading Pro-Life books (Heartbeat Press recommends The End of Woman by Carrie Gress and The Walls are Talking by Abby Johnson), watching Pro-Life movies or documentaries, and staying up-to-date on Pro-Life news for easy citing. Not only will doing so give you the head knowledge to defend your convictions when called to do so, but revisiting the reason for your convictions can help reaffirm and spur them on, especially if you've been confident in them for some time.
A particularly attractive option for students who would like resume punch-up are the many summer (and ongoing) internships available through Pro-Life groups. Let Them Live, Right to Life, Susan B. Anthony - Pro-Life America, and 40 Days for Life all have spaces available and offer practical, hands-on participation in their life-changing work. Beyond summer schedule filling, taking part in these opportunities also has longer lasting benefits that students can carry with them into future experiences and jobs. Clearly displaying a stint at a Pro-Life organization on a resume declares your conviction in no uncertain terms, showing that this is a matter that you care deeply for and are proud to declare.
Be a walking, talking billboard for life this summer! Wear Pro-Life shirts, jewelry, and other pieces that proclaim the message loud and proud. Be ready to back up your announcements with facts (see summer option 3) but first and foremost advertise the movement you care about and the truths it supports. This is perhaps the most "painless" option for summer participation, so much so that students can easily continue it once their next semester begins. It can be difficult to decorate yourself in unflinching statements from an unpopular opinion, but it may make the difference in some minds so it is well worth the "embarrassment" or "discomfort." Finally, and most importantly, make your stance known. In a world that kills the child and bullies her defenders, broadcasting your beliefs is frightening, but it is absolutely essential for change to happen and for lives to be saved. Speak your convictions out loud. Stand up for the truth that so many people ignore or don't know. Become known as a safe Pro-Life person. As Marcus Aurelius said, "You can also commit injustice by doing nothing." Don't let indifference or fear become your story of Pro-Life conviction.
The student faction of the Pro-Life movement is not available at all times. They are busy and burdened with life beyond the movement for much of the year. But, once available, they should be a powerful force of change that doesn't wait in the wings because they weren't ready or able. Summer is coming; how will you spend it?
