On March 24, I participated in Wichita’s March For Our Lives, a movement of the youth to raise awareness about gun violence in schools.

A few weeks ago, I was asked if I wanted to speak at the rally, and I decided I would. After days of thinking about it, of course, because I’m pretty much a nervous little chihuahua.

The whole week leading up to the day of the march and rally, I was stressed, anxious and, at times, wanted it to be over with so I would feel relieved. But in retrospect, I would have regretted it if I didn’t.

Although I had sleepless nights and constant worries about if I would mess up or choke on my words, being up on that stage was oddly comforting.

I took my spot at the podium, and for some bizarre reason I felt less nervous when I started speaking. After my first sentence, the crowd cheered, and in my head I was just thinking “this is so cool.”

I felt like I had found something that was perfect for me. I’ve always been vocal about my opinions and beliefs, and I won’t be the first to say that I’m pretty stubborn about them and won’t change them for anyone.

On that stage, it just felt natural to me, which is so funny because, in a classroom of 25 people, I can barely get sentences out. But I had just gone from anxiously presenting a project in school to speaking in front of an estimated 1,300-1,500 people.

It was one of the greatest experiences, and I’ll definitely remember it forever.

Watching peer speakers, performers, seeing the amount of people that were there to advocate  the movement with their cool signs — and even just being up there with fellow young activists — was amazing. It was empowering, motivating, and the amount of support and advocacy was tremendous.

Being a part of this movement is such a great breakthrough for a more positive future for our country.

We took a step, but this is only the beginning. We have so much more to do.

But when we are finished, that footstep will be in history textbooks.

I think that’s pretty awesome.