The night I watched “Unplanned,” I couldn’t sleep. I saw abortion for what it really is — the violent ending of a child’s life — and I realized that sitting back in silence made me complicit. I had to do something.

The very next day, I emailed my principal, Mr. Shawn Lovitt, with a proposal to start a Students for Life of America group at my high school. I had everything ready: bylaws, a purpose statement, and a clear plan. He said he would bring it up at the school leadership team meeting. I was hopeful.

Around that same time, I chose to paint my senior parking spot with a pro-life message — including an image of a baby and a heartbeat line. That small act stirred up huge controversy. Some students were outraged, and before long, my principal pulled me out of class to “deal with it.” He took me to my spot and told me the baby and heartbeat had to come off. He even asked an assistant principal, Ms. Hannah Hill, to weigh in. For a moment, it felt like my voice was about to be erased. But then, they changed course. I was told I could keep it — for now.

During that same conversation, Mr. Lovitt said he had thought about reaching out to the district regarding my club — but then decided not to, because, in his words, it went “against what Onslow County Schools promotes.” Another teacher later explained that meant OCS “promotes abstinence,” and therefore they didn’t want a Students for Life group.

Let me be clear: That wasn’t just a weak excuse. It was unlawful. Under the Equal Access Act, schools that allow extracurricular clubs can’t discriminate against a group simply because of its religious, political, or philosophical viewpoint. Yet that’s exactly what was happening.

When I reached out to the superintendent and the head of secondary education, citing the Equal Access Act and asking for reconsideration, I got silence. Not even the courtesy of a reply. Then came the vandalism. My pro-life parking spot was defaced — the same spot where I had painted the tiny handprints and footprints of twin babies a fellow student had her sophomore year. That act of vandalism sent a clear message: Pro-life students weren’t safe to speak up here.

On top of that, I received death threats, violent threats, and hateful comments both online and in person. I had been taking online classes and was only on-campus for my internship and various extra curriculars. Eventually, I moved to an off-campus internship, which calmed things down. But make no mistake: The threats and backlash didn’t scare me. If anything, they confirmed why this fight mattered so much.

When I was told I could repaint my spot but that it would be “recommended” I remove the baby and heartbeat, my answer was simple: It’s going back exactly how it was. Maybe with twins this time.

Because here’s the truth: Abortion is not just a “choice.” It is not “health care.” Abortion kills a child — every time. And no amount of vandalism, threats, or administrative excuses will ever change that.

Eventually, everything came full circle. My principal called me back to his office and told me that SFLA would be allowed to start after all. He admitted that it could have been handled within the school — which was really just his way of saying he was frustrated that I’d gone above him to the superintendent. But that didn’t matter. What mattered is that he said yes.

The club was officially started.

I’ve since graduated early and moved out of the county, but I continue to train and educate the group I founded because what I started will not be forgotten. My student group will not be erased just because its leader left. It will raise up a new generation of leaders who will carry the mission even further than I could.

To the administrators who thought they could stonewall me: You were mistaken. To the vandals who thought they could intimidate me: You only made me stronger. And to every student across America who has been silenced, mocked, or threatened for being anti-abortion: You are not alone.

We were not silent then. We will not be silent now.

And we will not stop until abortion is unthinkable, illegal, and ended for good.