I heard it all the time in high school, and I hear it from younger students all the time now: “I’m pro-life, but I can’t vote yet.” My immediate response is… so what!
Voting for pro-life candidates is but a fraction of our responsibilities as pro-lifers. Young people are vital to the movement because we represent the future, and there is so much more to our activism than simply voting pro-life when election seasons come around. We need middle and high school students standing up and being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Don’t ever think that being too young to vote hinders you from educating others, helping pregnant women in need, or possibly saving a life.
Pro-life youth at the West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco, CA
Since being pro-life means so much more than just voting for pro-life candidates, we have to act pro-life on a daily basis. So what can a middle or high-school age student do? This list consists of just a few ideas that students can do to spread awareness about abortion, even if they’re unable to vote:
- Get involved with the pro-life club at your school and/or church. If there isn’t one, start one! There is strength in numbers, so get some friends together so you can work together to brainstorm and get active. I started my high school pro-life club at 16, and Lila Rose founded Live Action at 15. Being young should be motivation, not disincentive, to get active in the pro-life movement!
- Contact your congressmen. Write to the president, your Senators and Representative, your governor, and your state legislators and tell them why you’re against abortion and what you and your friends are doing to end it. Let them know that you will all be able to vote soon enough, and you will be voting in favor of life, so they should listen to what you have to say!
- Wear pro-life gear. Be bold: don’t be afraid to wear awesome pro-life shirts. You can put buttons with pro-life messages on your backpack. I wear my Precious Feet pins all the time, and carry extras to share with others. These are great conversation starters! (It is legal to wear these at school as long as it isn’t disruptive. If you have problems, contact the Alliance Defense Fund.)
- Get involved with 40 Days for Life (with your friends!). Find a vigil in your area during the fall and spring campaigns and peacefully pray in front of the abortion facility with your friends and family. Dozens of abortion workers have quit their jobs, abortion facilities have shut down, and over 4,000 babies have been saved because of this international prayer campaign.
- Lose your voice. Participate in the Silent Day of Solidarity in October and get your friends to participate, too. Lives have been saved and hearts have been changed during this event in the past years. Click the link for info! (It is legal to do this at school as long as it isn’t disruptive. If you have problems, contact the Alliance Defense Fund.)
- Post pro-life information online. Update your Facebook profile picture to a pro-life graphic, or post links on your status about fetal development. The Endowment for Human Development is an incredible website loaded with information about prenatal life. Share it!
- Volunteer. Find a local pregnancy center in your area and ask them how you can assist them, even for a short while. Any little bit helps.
- Collect items to donate. Contact church staff and request to have a donation drive at your church—ask people to donate new or gently used baby and maternity items so you can collect and take them to a local pregnancy center in your area. Accept money donations, too!
- Use signs and stickers. Put a pro-life sign in your front yard at home. Put a bumper sticker on your car with a loving pro-life message on it. You never know what kind of difference you can make with something so simple.
- Attend rallies and marches. Go online and see if there is a local Rally or March for Life (like the one in DC) near you in January. If it is further away, gather some friends and make a road trip out of it! (Make shirts or bring signs to represent your school!)
- Give out pro-life information. Education is the key to ending abortion. Teaching others about fetal development and how abortion can harm women is pivotal. Make fliers and pamphlets with information about unborn children and what happens during abortion procedures. (It is legal to do this at school as long as classes are not disrupted. If you have problems, contact the Alliance Defense Fund.)
Pro-life youth helped set a record turnout at the 2011 West Coast Walk for Life in San Francisco, CA.
When we outwardly express our passion to protect the unborn and help pregnant women in need, we are proving that our generation is the one that will one day end legal abortion. We are our nation’s future lawmakers, doctors, and leaders of tomorrow, and we are pro-life!
