My pro-life journey began long before I ever stepped into a formal role and even before I started taking classes at Northern Virginia Community College. I got involved in Students for Life during my junior year of high school, and that decision truly shaped my path.

A friend encouraged me to help start a Students for Life group at our parish, and I said yes. That “yes” quickly turned into leadership as I stepped into the role of president during that first semester before later passing the torch. Some of my favorite memories from that time still make me smile: getting sunburned outside the Supreme Court, attending the National Pro-Life Summit, and going on unforgettable door-knocking trips in Florida. Those experiences didn’t just give me stories; they gave me purpose and direction.

Being involved in Students for Life stretched me in ways I never expected. I learned practical skills like event logistics, organizing rallies, helping with warehouse packing days, conducting research, and connecting people to pregnancy resources through door knocking. Just as important, I learned how to speak about difficult topics courageously and tactfully. That skill has stayed with me and continues to shape my work today, especially in youth ministry, where young people often bring their hardest questions to the adults they trust.

Today, I serve as a Youth Ministry Coordinator, a role I’ve been in for just over a year. It’s been a season of growth, learning, and stepping into responsibility. One of the highlights of this past year was organizing a care package initiative for seminarians at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. We filled packages with simple but meaningful items: coffee, candy, hydration packs, hot chocolate, and handwritten notes of encouragement. With finals approaching, it was the perfect moment to remind these students that they are seen, supported, and appreciated.

Another meaningful part of my work has been helping lead a Bible study for middle school girls. In a smaller, more personal setting, these young women are able to hear the truth about who they are and who God created them to be. They learn how to engage with Scripture and, just as importantly, how to recognize truth in a culture that often obscures it. Watching them grow in confidence and faith has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

I’ve also been able to coordinate larger events, which has helped me grow behind the scenes. I’ve learned how to handle logistics, registrations, permissions, and everything in between. What once felt overwhelming has become more manageable, even when organizing something as big as a trip with dozens of middle schoolers. But what I love most about these events is the opportunity for real connection. Outside of a structured agenda, I get to hear people’s stories, understand what matters to them, and build relationships that last beyond a single event.

I’m always thinking of new ways to engage the young people in my parish. Right now, I’m exploring the idea of starting a book club that blends prayer with literature. Stories have a powerful way of shaping how we think and who we become, and I believe that centering those stories on truth and goodness can have a lasting impact.

While my current focus is on youth ministry, I still stay connected to pro-life work. I have been out to pray outside an abortion facility in Falls Church, Virginia with a group of young adults, and I’m always ready to talk with my teens if questions about abortion come up. I’ve learned that being present and willing to have honest conversations can make a bigger difference than we realize.

For students who are preparing to graduate and wondering if they should pursue a path in the pro-life movement, my advice is simple: Don’t let fear hold you back. If you feel called to this work, that calling is greater than any uncertainty you may have. Whether you spend a few years or a lifetime in this movement, you will grow in ways you never expected. There will be challenges, but those moments don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re fighting for something that matters.

There were times in my journey when I felt my own limitations, but I’ve been continually reminded of this truth: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That promise has carried me, and it continues to guide me as I serve, grow, and step forward in faith.