While enjoying a classy, gourmet continental breakfast (you know how they are) with my family in the lobby of our hotel in downtown Denver, the news station on TV broadcasted information on the walkouts that were taking place across the U.S.A month after the Parkland shooting, students from all corners of the country declared the day as an opportunity to leave class to protest gun violence.
"We're right by the capitol," I remember telling my family. "What if they're there? It'd be so cool to see."
My parents were skeptical anything was going on. They decided we should walk to the capitol building though; not to see if there were protesters, but to take a picture of the mile high mark, like the tourists we are.
Upon arrival, it was clear my parents were wrong. The front steps of the building were packed with students holding signs, teachers and state patrol officers monitoring everything and countless reporters doing interviews. Busses were lined up on the streets, waiting to take students back to school. Occasionally a chant would break out or a student would give a speech about what they believe needs to change. It was unlike everything I'd ever seen.
"I told you," I said to my family. I was excited. Just by being in the same atmosphere as the students, it was easy to feel a strong sense of passion. Seeing young people caring about an issue enough to take action and speak up was inspirational.
It was also a journalism major's dream. I immediately started taking pictures from as many different angles I could get, and I knew doing an interview with a student was an opportunity I couldn't pass up.
I asked sophomore Isabella Yow if she'd ever been a part of a protest before. She said it was her first one, and that she was "really impressed with how many kids turned out for this."
"I think we're doing something powerful, we're doing something that's going to help," she said. "There was a shooting here... and a girl died and a lot of my friends were super close with her, and I hope we can do something to help."
As for what she said she thought needed to be done to prevent more school shootings in the future, she listed more gun control and stronger background checks as possible solutions.
"Just to get abortions, women have to go through a background check, they have to have a doctor's note, they have to have a screening, they have to wait a certain amount of time just to make sure they really, really want to do this, and just anyone can buy a gun," Yow said.
I stayed until the crowd started thinning out and there were only a few people left standing in small groups talking, some holding their signs. I left feeling invigorated. I believe that no matter what someone's views are on the issue, it's impossible to deny that these young people being wanting to be involved and create change has nothing but positive effects. Even though I knew none of them, I was proud.
