Author: Cecilia Junker

My name is Shannon Loughrey and I am a senior studying International Politics at Penn State. Students for Life has allowed me countless opportunities to learn and share about being prolife! Among these is the opportunities to attend Marches in countless cities. Of course, the one that many will recognize is the main March for Life in January in Washington D.C. but in September of 2021 I along with many in the state of Pennsylvania got to experience something special and closer to home.

The March for Life is synonymous with a large rally of Pro-life individuals coming together in the Nation’s capital to protest abortion as well as the mistreatment of human beings universally. In Washington D.C. we exclaim our voices in hopes that we may one day live in a nation in which abortion is unthinkable and life is respected with dignity through all stages of life. Though September posed a different arena for many in Pennsylvania. This was the First Pennsylvania March for Life. Held in Harrisburg, the states capital, thousand upon thousands of pro-life individuals came to protest for pro-life laws to be passed in Pennsylvania. As a student at Penn State this was an incredible opportunity to attend a march without having to go far from school and being able to march in the State in which I live. If there are pro-life laws passed in Pennsylvania these laws will mean so much to me being a resident of the state. So, this march felt so much more meaningful in that way.

The day started off with waking up quite early and picking up our car full of friends and driving from State College to Harrisburg. Once we arrived, we could already see many school students with matching hats and many families and individuals who were making their way to the March. As a Catholic student it was fitting that a few of my friends and I attended the Mass that took place before the March. After Mass we made our way over to the capital building steps in which we waited for the speakers. I personally have attended a few marches and this one felt just as electric, just as full of life and a love for the human person! Standing on these steps you were able to see more and more people arrive. The crowd kept growing. What I thought would be a small crowd of 500 people for the first PA March for Life turned into a crowd of 5000+ people and actively growing each minute.

The Speakers were incredible. While I wish I could highlight all of them the one I wish to highlight is Toni McFadden from Relationships Matter. She shared a personal testimony of how she was lied to about Abortion and how her life has been changed since. Her story reflected that many purposely lie to vulnerable women about the realities of human life in the womb and these women are easily convinced that their abortion is nothing but a usual procedure and not the ending of a human life. Toni’s testimony is a reflection on how education and truth about abortion can truly inform women and save human lives.

If you ever have the opportunity to go to a March for Life whether it be in Washington D.C. or in a state capital go for it! Make your voice heard and stand up for the voiceless and the vulnerable!

My name is Madison Buchinski and I am a junior at Penn State this year studying Early Childhood & Elementary Education. I am so blessed to be able to say that Students for Life has opened my heart and my mind to so many new experiences, thoughts, and people. One of the most impactful days from my past year was when a group of Penn State students traveled down to Washington D.C. to experience the Pro-Life movement in a new way.
Because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the March for Life 2021 was moved online to a virtual format. Although the students at Penn State were disappointed, it could not stop us from attending in person to make our voices heard. We got in our cars around 4am and carpooled down to the nation’s capital to stand along the highway leading into the city. The temperature was definitely below freezing, if I can remember correctly it was somewhere around twenty degrees with a strong, chilling wind. We grabbed our signs and stood alongside the highway cheering, holding posters, and praying. We knelt down to pray a rosary together for the intention of the unborn.
After the highway protest, we went into the heart of the city and met up with groups of other people who had traveled to support the cause. We decided to march to the Supreme Court. Usually, the March for Life is high energy, with people chanting and cheering, and waving signs and flags. This past year was different. It was a solemn march. We walked in silent prayer and even sang some hymns together. It was so beautiful to see everyone come together united in Christ for the lives of all babies and mothers. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be involved with Students for Life, and I ask for many prayers for the cause.

Jill Albertson –

I have spent the last few years searching for ways to get involved in the pro-life movement. I have been to the March for Life and different pro-life events gathering information and a formed opinion on apologetics of the pro-life movement. This is necessary and great, but I was always left with the question, “what do I do now?” written on my heart. Maybe it was God calling me to step out of my comfort zone, or maybe it was the practical side of desiring a more tangible aspect of my prayers for the increased respect of human life from natural conception. I longed to see my efforts and prayers come alive in the people I served. Whatever it was, I knew I was called not only to pray, but to act. I decided to email the Pregnancy Resource Clinic in State College after filling out a simple volunteer application. Mariele Schechter, their wonderful Office Manager and pal of mine, replied quickly to set up a clinic tour, to teach me about the mission of PRC, and to welcome me to their volunteering staff.

I was elated to hear that the mission of PRC is to empower men and women to make informed and healthy decisions. The clinic relies on Divine Providence in each element of their work from client meetings to supplies in their baby boutiques. They provide women who are carrying the burdens of an unexpected pregnancy genuine love and support throughout their pregnancy and motherhood. They offer abortion recovery groups, motherhood classes, STI and STD testing, ultrasounds, and so much more. Through working at the office each week, I learned that PRC is a golden community resource, offering a gentle place for recollection once burdened with the worries of life. They provide extensive support and information to each of their clients, no matter the client’s faith and individual circumstance.  Each week, I went into the office and did simple cleaning tasks, administrative tasks, or helped prepare for their next big fundraising event. I remember wishing I could do more to help the organization, but each week, I was gently reminded by Mariele and the rest of the staff of the importance of small acts of service. “Because you matter” is their uplifting way of life in the office. (If you visit, you will know this as each staff member reminds one another and any one coming through the doors of 423 Pugh). I am happy to say that I made meaningful relationships through volunteering each week that I will carry past my college years, all from being reminded that I matter to the staff, and our work matters, too.

It is tempting to believe that supporting the pro-life movement only looks likes bold and courageous public acts of service, debate, or public witness. For some of us students, that may be exactly what you are called to do. However, we have a pertinent calling to love fellow community members and classmates at Penn State through resources like PRC.  Their mission is only made possible by volunteers, donors, and community members to meet the demands of our college campus and their growing desire to serve! They offer varying time commitments and ways to get involved! Other ways to get involved to support life in our local community is to be a friend to all kinds of people, so that you may be their soft place to land in times of trials! Help nanny for local families to support the culture of life, pray for opportunities to introduce the pro-life perspective to classmates, visit the elderly and dying at local nursing homes (pandemic restrictions are lifting, too, so it is the perfect time for this!) There are so many ways to help the pro-life movement come alive in your life and community, so do it!

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Owen Finkbeiner –

Ever since around the 1960’s, almost any political movement that takes off in this country does so largely through the efforts of young men and women on college campuses. Like any other campus, Penn State is home to numerous student groups committed to a certain policy change that the participants would like to see out of Washington. Somewhere among that list of groups, you will find the Students For Life chapter, dedicated to protecting the unborn from the evil of abortion. For a couple reasons that I will go into, I believe that SFL’s goals make this organization stand out from all of the other “political activism” clubs at Penn State.

My name is Beatrix Stickney, and like many passionate pro-lifers, my first exposure was at the March For Life in Washington, DC. My first trip was in elementary school, and I loved the peaceful atmosphere and the throngs of people gathered to celebrate and defend life. However, as I moved into high school and then college, I became certain that I wanted to do more. The pro-life movement is vast and multi-faceted, and abortion seems like an insurmountable problem in our society. Where should I even begin?

As a freshman at Penn State, I decided that my first step would be to get in touch with the Students For Life (SFL) group. From there, I was connected with the State College Pregnancy Resource Clinic. By the second semester, I had taken a tour and went almost every week for a volunteer hour. I hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but I quickly fell in love with the clinic and the work they do.

Over the past few months, I’ve gotten to know some of the staff, who are, without a doubt, some of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. My tasks are usually things as simple as stuffing envelopes or vacuuming. However, it’s gratifying to know that my menial service is allowing the staff to do the important and life-saving work of the PRC: administering pregnancy and STD tests, ultrasounds, running support groups, and providing material support to new parents.

Are you in the place where I was last year? Perhaps you want to get more involved in the pro-life movement but don’t know where to start. It might sound cliché, but all you can do is take one step forward. Because of my volunteer work at the PRC, I’ve become passionate about taking a more active role in Penn State’s SFL chapter. I’ll be serving this year as the Supportive Services Coordinator, and I received a fellowship from the SFL national organization to further this work. One step has led to another and I’m excited about what this year holds.

What one step should you take? Consider what you’re passionate about. Students For Life puts forth five pillars of pro-life activism: effective education, rapid response, industry impact, public policy, and supportive services. Are you passionate about politics? Consider learning about pro-life bills and calling or emailing your senators and urging them to support these initiatives. Do you feel called to support pregnant mothers in your community? Find out if you have a local pregnancy resource center. Can you volunteer there, or donate money or supplies?

Wherever you are, you can make a difference in the pro-life movement. Something as simple as educating yourself in pro-life apologetics could have an impact down the road in a heart-changing conversation. There are plenty of pro-life books and great resources to be utilized like the Students For Life national webpage out there to be read . Whatever step you choose to take, take it with the faith that the next step will come. Are you ready to make a difference?