Chalk it up for life

St. John Paul II High School seniors wanted to make it known that they appreciate the value of life. So what did they do? Using the skills they learned in kindergarten, a group of seniors decided to write messages of hope, love and life in colored chalk on the campus’ sidewalks.

Several messages were quotes from some of the holiest people in the Church, including Blessed Mother Teresa, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, when he said, “…at the origin of every human being there is not something haphazard, or chance, but a loving plan of God.”

Other than the chalk, a few students created a powerful message around the Centurion and the servant statue. Senior Natalie Trevino spoke of the message she helped create.

“Mr. [Benjamin] Nye told us that since abortion was legalized over 57 million babies have been killed. So we put crosses around the Centurion statue to represent all those lives that have been taken,” Trevino said.

Trevino said she loved seeing the impact it made on students passing by, but personally thought, “It is a huge number that I can’t even comprehend. It’s really sad that so many lives have been lost, and the world could’ve been a different place with those lives.”

The purpose of chalking the campus was to bring a greater emphasis on the importance of life. Jan. 22 marked the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade in which abortion was legalized, and women were able to choose the fate of the life in their womb.

Many people take this issue personally, and do their best to promote the value of life. National leaders are the ones who take control of important issues like abortion, so why would students simply put chalk on the sidewalk?

Veronica Fernandez, a senior at St. John Paul II High School, explained that to her it was a great idea to chalk the campus to show what the school believes in, "what we believe in," she said. "It showed students, ‘Look! This is happening, we should get excited because this is what we believe in, and we should support [life].’ And it was chalk, so it was colorful.”

Nye, the sophomore theology and campus ministry teacher, was proud of his students in what they did to promote life. “I liked how that’s not something we typically do, so it grabs your attention to pause and read the messages.”

Freshman Jessica Rodriguez said she has never witnessed students chalking the campus sidewalks and saw those messages as a reason to advocate for life. “It’s empowering to see us as high schoolers, not just adults, to be able to do that and have their own thoughts about it, and write about it, and show everyone else,” she said. Rodriguez said she plans to be an advocate for life the rest of her high school years and onward.

Some 170 St. John Paul II High School students, teachers, relatives and chaperones attended the March for Life in Austin on Jan. 23. Freshmen Haylie Godoy and Kaitlin Owen were very enthusiastic about attending the march. Owen had attended the march once before when she went with her classmates from Bishop Garriga Middle Preparatory School. She said that she is glad to be able to march for life with her friends. Godoy saw the march as a great opportunity to spread what is good—life.

In this march, just like the many others the school has attended, St. John Paul II High School continues to defend life. Through the many people, the many prayers, and in memory of the many lives lost, life will be celebrated.