This past Saturday, on January 21st, 2017, women gathered together to march in cities around the world for one main cause. Equality.

Let me start off by saying that the Women's March on Washington was not against our new President, Donald Trump. Yes, at some points throughout the day chants started that were about President Trump. But, that wasn't the main focus. This march was for women, by women. It was a peaceful protest to bring attention to women's issues.

Not only were there marches in major cities throughout the United States; but, there were marches throughout the world. Women in cities like Paris, London, Sydney, Amsterdam, and Brussels all came together to show support and unity for each other.

At the Chicago march, there were so many people ready to participate that the organizers had to cancel the march and decided to extend the rally inside Grant Park. We had other ideas. The 200,000 plus marchers decided that we were still going to march and stand up for what we believed in. We flooded the streets chanting things like "We are not going away" and "We control our bodies."

I was raised by a strong, powerful woman. I was raised to stand up for what I believe in and to never give up. I was raised to always voice my opinion. It was incredible to be surrounded with so many empowered women.

Growing up, I always thought just because I was a girl, I was still going to be treated the same as the boys. I didn't realize until later in life that this was not always the case. That I wasn't going to be the same. Which doesn't make any sense to me. Just because I have boobs means I don't get paid the same? Why is that? Why do men get more life advantages than women? And why do white men have more privileges than anyone else? Why does the government think they can control what I do with my body?

That's why I marched. I marched for equality. For equal pay. For control of my own body. And the very same for my sisters, the 200,000 I marched with, those in Washington, the rest of America and around the world.

It was such an amazing experience to be apart of something bigger than me. I was able to voice my opinion and be heard all around the world. Whether people wanted to or not, they heard about the issues at hand and are continuing to talk about the march. Women, men, and children from all around came together to march about such important issues.

While it was a women's march, men joined in as well to show their support for us. They chanted with us, laughed with us, and participated as much as anyone else did.

Issues like Planned Parenthood, birth control, equal pay, LGBTQ rights, were all supported by everyone during this incredibly march. Everyone who was apart of the march all acted as one. People who had never met laughed together, cried together, and chanted together.

This is something bigger than us. We will not go away. We will not go back to how it was. We will continue to stand up for what we believe in.

This is what democracy looks like.