Stand for Children

Korrin B.

February 16, 2009 - 6:00 PM

I'm searching for inspiration, moments of realness where people stand up for things that truly matter. Today was one of the most inspiring and exciting days that I have had since I returned from Greece. At 9:30 this morning, I met my friend, Amber, at South Eugene High School and boarded a 4j School District bright yellow school bus. Amber works with me at Meadowlark Elementary School in the ACE after school program and is also a fellow UO student. We were two of the many teachers, parents, students, and staff that had arrived to board the buses that would take us to the K-12 education rally happening in Salem.

I spent my time during the night before the rally making rally signs for Amber and I. One read "Children First!" and the other stated, "Better Education, Brighter Future." I made sure to use glitter on them to add a little flair and to represent our Meadowlark style. I brought them with me on the bus and could not have been more excited. Amber and I were handed stickers to wear that read "Stand for Children" on them. I looked around the bus at all of the unique faces, all concerned about the future of our education system. It was an amazing energy.

As we began our drive up to Salem, I only became more thrilled. Amber and I were sitting in the back of the bus, so I would turn around and look out the back window every now and then. It was amazing seeing a trail of bright yellow school buses behind ours. The people were being bused in for action.

When we finally pulled into Salem, Amber and I were ecstatic. I was smiling and ready for my first rally. I was so honored to be part of the change, to exercise my voice. Rebecca, the program coordinator for ACE, called me while our bus was pulling into Salem. Amber and I were so proud to tell her that we were going to represent our elementary school! We told her we would take a lot of pictures.

My first sight of the actual rally area outside of the capitol building made me tear up. I watched as what looked like first or maybe second grade aged children walked toward the crowd holding up signs that read things like "My School Needs Paper" and "I Need to Learn!" The streets were lined with school buses that had brought people in from all across Oregon. Over 5,000 people showed up to the rally.

Amber and I quickly made our way into the crowd, held up our signs, chanted things like "No more cuts!" and listened to inspiring speakers, fired up and ready for change. I have to say that the most inspirational speaker of all was a girl from a high school in the Portland area. She was such an incredible speaker! Just a high schooler, but such a powerful voice. I wish that I could give a speech the way that she did. She had so much support from the crowd as well. It was truly wonderful.

Once the rally was over, Amber and I went inside the capitol building for a while before we had to catch our bus back to Eugene. We walked around and both of us were so excited. We were probably a little dorky about it, but it didn't matter because we were on the same page. We were in awe, standing there in the building where the process actually happens, where change becomes reality. We both agreed that we want to be a part of that as we get older.

We ate lunch on the bus ride home. I was quite tired from all of the excitement, but my mind was still racing with the power of the event. I was truly inspired. I missed class today, but I got the opportunity to get out into the world and learn from it. I was part of something bigger than a lecture hall. I want to find that inspiration in my everyday life. I want to be a part of community movement. Everyone should go to a rally at some point in their life. Go stir it up a bit, make some noise, howl out against injustice. No more budget cuts in K-12 education!!!!!