Last weekend, I packed up my roommate and my housemate and we drove my little tan Buick across the country to Washington D.C. for the Women's March on Washington. I understand that there are people out there who might not understand this protest. I get that there are people who won't get it. That being said, marching, for me, felt like one of the most important things I may ever do. Here are the reasons why I marched:

1. I marched because women's rights are human rights.

I am a Women's and Gender Studies major. I know I need to watch my first world feminism. I need to watch my white feminism. I need to check my privilege.

But I also look around me, and I know we are not there yet. When the country elects a man who brags about sexually assaulting women, we are not there yet.

I marched for women everywhere.

2. I marched for the women who have gone before me.

I will never forget a woman I met on the train on the way back to the parking garage after the march. She appeared to be perhaps the age of my grandma, and she told me she was happy to see me. She was glad to see women of my generation marching. She told me, "I marched for this stuff in the sixties. I thought I'd be done by now."

3. I marched for my future children.

Some day I could have a child, and some day that child could be a girl. I could never look her in the eye if I had stood by and done nothing when the person with the most power in the entire world is actively making her future less safe.

4. I marched because patriarchy is not God's plan for humanity.

Trust me, She told me Herself.

5. I marched to make history, at least in part, her story.

Women must come together at such a time as this to show we will not be divided and we will not be conquered. We are stronger together.

6. I marched to show support for my sisters of color.

I know that in regards to intersectionality, the march was not perfect. But I fully believe, from my perspective at least, it was a good step. We must be feminists for women of all races, religions, sexuality, ability, sizes, beliefs, hopes, and dreams.

7. I marched for LGBT+ rights.

Seriously, we cannot go back in time on this. Love is love is love. Deal with it.

8. I marched because 750,000 women and allies also felt the need to march.

This was the largest inaugural protest in history. Some day I'll get to point to my kid's history book and say I was there.

9. I marched to show dissent.

Dissent is patriotic. Showing courage in the face of evil is justice.

THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE.

10. I marched because it is only the beginning.

We are the majority. We have to act like it. I will call my congress people, I will vote, I will write to my senators, and I will pray. Now is the time to rise up.

This is not a moment, it's the movement.

At the march, I carried around a sign on which I wrote Galatians 6:9-

"Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart."

I wake up every morning and see this verse, and know that God calls me to persevere.

Do not lose heart.