Growing up I was always surrounded by people advocating for choice. I remember at 15, I told my mom I had lost my virginity.
Her response was to tell me that if I got pregnant, that she would take me to get an abortion. No mention of supporting my choice or keeping the baby, just that she'd take me to the clinic. She even opened up to me about her own abortion, and told me it wasn't a big deal.
I had always been pro choice. In grade 11 my friend got pregnant, and I sadly convinced her to get an abortion. Thinking back on that situation hurts deeply, and I truly regret it now that I realized the reality of the situation.
When I was 18, I met my partner. He was (and still is) very openly pro life, so we would often have discussions where I slowly came to realize the reality of abortion.
Last year, one of my best friends, had an abortion one month before my son was conceived.
Her child is one of the reasons I fight for life.
Currently I run a pro life page on Instagram called pro.life.ronni in hopes of spreading awareness to the reality of abortion. I focus mostly on pro life artwork I make, but I also post a lot of memes to appeal to my generation (Gen Z) as well. It's very important to me that I capture the attention of people my age and younger, as we are shaping the future of pro life activism.
I have lost nearly all of my friends for being pro life, but I wouldn't change a thing. Speaking out against violence to pre-born children is so much more important to me, and I a truly feel as though it is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life.
My name is Veronica Burke and I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I am 23 years old, and have an 11 month old son who I hope grows up to value life just as much as his father and I do. I first connected with Life Culture during a search for local pro life organizations, and found Generation Life through them.