Reflections of a College Kid

By Derrick Jones

Like most college kids, I'm no stranger to the "all-nighter." Those marathon nights are spent agonizing, racing against the sunrise to cram for an exam or write a 10-page paper that's due at 10 a.m. I've spent many nights in the computer lab frantically trying to put the words aimlessly floating in my head into coherent sentences on paper. Tonight, thankfully, is not one of those nights. However, I am in the computer lab and the sun is going to rise soon, but the paper being written is not mine: it belongs to my best friend.

I know what you're asking: "Why are you in the computer lab at 4:30 in the morning and not in bed so you can be more productive at the NRLC offices when the sun does rise?" Well, the paper being written is one discussing the moral aspects of embryonic stem cell research.

It's due tomorrow afternoon, and my best friend needed my help, and my background as an active pro-lifer, to more fully develop his arguments and prepare for a short oral presentation in class on his topic. His paper and his presentation have the potential to change one of his classmate's hearts on the abortion issue and bring another member of the Roe generation (those of us born after 1973) into the ranks of the pro-life movement.

As my best friend sits next to me updating and revising his paper, I'm reflecting on the topic. I'm reminded that the pro-life movement is not just a day job, nor is it something that can be contained within the walls of an office. It's not a "job" at all but a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year vocation.

As active pro-lifers, we are constantly called to do whatever we can to advance the cause of life, whether it be educating friends and neighbors on the horror of partial-birth abortion, volunteering at crisis pregnancy centers, donating money to pro- life causes, or, in the case of high school and college students, taking advantage of papers, class projects, and presentations to educate our classmates on topics related to abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia.

In that vein, let me just offer a hint of what I'll be discussing next month. It is an incredibly powerful image created by a college student, Greg Walker, that, thanks to his generosity, NRLC will put to good use. Wait until you see it!

Greg's design should serve as a reminder to all of us - - students and pro-life veterans alike - - that we should use whatever outlets are available to us, be they journalistic, artistic, educational, or otherwise, to advance our cause and educate those around us on the life issues. Nor should we pass up the opportunity to engage our counterparts in productive conversation about the life issues.

Having to split my time between the NRLC offices and my classes on campus gives me a unique perspective on just how much impact pro-life students can have on their peers just in every day conversation. Because of my work with NRLC, nearly everyday I have a conversation about abortion on campus.

In some cases, I am able to at least educate my counterparts to the point of making them rethink their "pro-choice" positions; in others, maybe, I'm not so successful. The moral of this story: no matter what you're faced with, don't get discouraged or give up - - keep trying!

A closing thought: Though I'm no stranger to the pages of NRL News, I am sporadic, to say the least, at preparing something for publication. It is my desire to make Reflections of a College Kid a regular addition to the newspaper to serve as a voice for the NRLC youth outreach program and the Roe generation.

With any luck, some of the ideas printed here will spark something that you can do in your own communities, schools, and campuses. If a life is saved, it's worth it.

I'll see y'all next month, along with Greg's wonderful graphic! (Oh, and I'll let you know how my best friend's paper turned out!)

Derrick Jones is NRLC administrative assistant, advertising coordinator, and youth outreach coordinator. He is also a senior at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. For more information on how high school and college students can become more involved in the pro-life movement, or to contact Derrick, call (202) 626- 8800, ext. 153, or e-mail:  jonesy77@aol.com