Finding Your Purpose
Purpose is something we all yearn for, whether we are aware of it or not. From the time we are children, we dream about what we are going to be when we grow up. We look up to adults who have seemingly fulfilling lives and seek to emulate their life journey. We ask our parents about their childhood and young adult years and how they came to be where they are today.
For me, my path was always very clear-cut: from the time I was a child, I wanted to be a mother, and from the time I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to be a teacher in some capacity. As I journeyed through high school, I took elementary education classes and eventually ended up interning at an elementary school.
Once I started community college, I knew that teaching was what I was going to pursue. I was positive that this was my path in life, and nothing was going to stop me from achieving that goal. The more I pursued this goal, however, the more I felt that something was missing. In high school, I was very involved with pro-life groups in my community.
By “very” involved, I mean that I helped with or attended an event maybe once a month, if that. In college, I helped start a Students for Life group on campus. I would talk to anyone who would listen about this passion I had for helping women. I would talk to women on campus and at my church about how important it is for us to stand up for our rights. I even spoke at some smaller events in my community.
My parents were very involved in the pro-life group at my church, so from a young age I was immersed in how important it was to value life. However, looking back, it was all about “protecting the baby” it was all about the baby’s life. Theoretically, this is a completely valid reason to be pro-life. Obviously, we are trying to save the lives of these babies!
However, the older I got, the more of a personal aspect it had for me. These women getting abortions are women my age. These women are good people who often live average lives. People who are scared to death of such a drastic change occurring in their lives.
These people may have a very good reputation at their local church. They may be the head of a students leader group on campus. Having a baby would ruin all of this. Having a baby would completely wreck their reputation… or so they think.
I soon made my way into the pro-life rhelm in a more professional sphere: being hired on by Illinois Right to Life as an intern in communications. Later that year, I applied to be a volunteer pregnancy counselor at Let them Live.
Needless to say, this direct contact with women: the ability to help people who are so desperately in need of options, and the relationships I formed in both of these roles, made me even more sure of my decision to pursue a career in the pro-life field.
The more I became involved in this work, the more I knew I couldn’t only do this part-time. At the time I started my internship with Illinois Right to Life, I was still in college. After completing my Associates Degree and being promoted to full-time with Illinois Right to Life, I decided that I would continue to work for Illinois Right to Life and also pregnancy counselor for Let them Live. Fast forward 2+ years, I’m working for a Pro-Life Fashion brand, have a podcast, and work in Marketing for Live Action.
When a person sees an evil in the world, an evil that directly impacts them, an evil that is so prominent and harmful to all of society, one has an obligation to do all she can about it.
One-third of my generation has been aborted due to abortion. 73% of abortions occur due to a financial crisis the mother is experienced. These are entirely preventable if we do our part, and the women and children we help get back on their feet will forever have a better life because someone chose to give of their time and not sit back and watch the discrimination of the weak, powerless, and manipulated.
“Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” This is one of Emily Berning’s (founder of Let them Live) favorite quotes, from the famous movie Schindler’s List.
My passion to be a mother is directed to helping these women fufill their motherly calling. My passion to be a teacher is directed to teaching young girls that they have countless options which will allow them to keep their baby.
Everyone has a passion, everyone has a calling, and everyone has talents unique to themselves. Comment below with your passion and purpose, or what you believe your calling in life is!