What a Denver Pro-Life High School Symposium Taught Me About Listening, Compassion and Human Dignity
A Catholic high school student reflects on how personal testimonies challenged her to listen more deeply, speak with compassion and put her pro-life beliefs into action.
By Jane Chatterton
Going to the Pro-Life symposium last year, I was really excited and interested to hear from people with personal experiences in the pro-life movement and to hear their stories. I wanted to attend because I truly believe that everyone has value, but I wanted to learn more about how to live that belief as a high schooler.
The speakers’ stories truly inspired me and taught me how to stand up more for the dignity of every human life.
One of the biggest takeaways from this incredible experience was how important it is to truly sit and listen to people’s experiences and understand their stories. Hearing their personal testimonies made the experience feel so much more real and personal. It put into perspective that this movement isn’t just an argument or a political topic; behind all of that are real people, real families and real experiences.
That really stood out to me because it showed me that this movement isn’t just about having the “right” argument, but it’s also about standing up, speaking up, having compassion and treating everyone with dignity.
Something that started to challenge me was how to respond to the people who disagree with me. It can be easy to become defensive when you disagree with someone about something you are very passionate about.
The symposium showed me that I can stand firmly for what I believe in while remaining respectful and willing to listen to others. I learned that having conversations about life shouldn’t be about trying to “win” against another person. They should be about growing in your beliefs and about helping people see the value and dignity of every single human life.
Hearing speakers who have been personally involved in the pro-life movement also gave me more confidence. Their courage to speak up and share their stories reminded me that I do not have to be an expert to make a difference in this world.
Even small actions, like speaking respectfully, including those who are left out or standing up for those who are scared or too nervous to, can reflect the belief that every human life matters.
After the symposium, I’ve continued to bring what I have learned into my school, friendships, families and my community. I want to be someone who doesn’t just talk about the movement and the dignity of others, but someone who actually treats people that way.
If I could encourage another group, parish or high school to attend, I would tell them to go in with an open mind and be willing to truly listen and learn. Even if you think you know what you believe, a shared story or perspective can make you think more about the world and the dignity of others in a completely different way, changing how you go about your own life.
For more information, visit ccdenver.org/respectlife.
