On March 24, I attended March for Our Lives with three other members of my Odyssey community. Having never gone to any sort of protest before, I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I can say that looking back, I'm glad I decided to go.

No matter what issue or idea you are protesting, organized protests, such as March for Our Lives, have a way of bringing people together. People of different ages, religions, races, and so on attend. Even with demographic and personality differences, all of these people are all connected by one thing: their passion for a particular issue. At that moment, the differences between everyone do not matter; what matters is the topic you are all fighting for (or against).

Hearing speakers tell their stories about how particular topics have impacted them and sharing their variety of takes on an issue is powerful. It helps to put faces to issues and breathe life into them. Speeches help you to see how big an issue really is, and it's amazing how eloquent and thought-provoking the speakers are.

Signs are also a major part of protests. Some are funny, some are sad, some are creative, and some hold simple messages. The signs seen at protests often go viral online, helping to further spread the message. Seeing everyone holding up signs while marching displays a strong, unified message to the world.

While protests don't directly cause change, they help to fuel changes. They inspire people to vote on issues, run for office, and take action. They inspire elected officials to listen to us and possibly take action to change laws. Being a part of a protest for something you care about is a great experience to have. Sharing your voice with the world is something that all of us should do, and organizing or joining a protest or demonstration is one way to do that.