Inspiring professor supports student who chose Life

Sarah, a university student and new mom, submitted a beautiful story to “Love What Matters,” a popular Facebook page that posts uplifting stories.  The picture with the story shows Sarah’s professor, Dr. Josie Ryan, in the middle of explaining a math problem on the board.  Meanwhile, snuggled in her left arm is an adorable, dozing baby Isaiah.

Isaiah is Sarah’s son, born in August a mere week after classes started.  Like many students in similar situations, Sarah continued working and attending classes while pregnant, and resumed her full schedule a week after welcoming her son.  Most students would be paralyzed at the prospect of attending classes with a newborn.  That’s where Dr. Ryan makes all the difference.  Sarah writes:

“She knew I’d be overwhelmed so literally begged me to bring Isaiah to class and even showed me where the breastfeeding room in the health center was at Lander University.  It’s so reassuring to know there are professors out there like this.”

Sarah shared her story, in part, with the hopes of inspiring other women juggling classes, work, and parenthood to ask for help.  She couldn’t do all that she does without the loving support of people like Dr. Ryan.  Sarah says, “She’s encouraged me constantly and I’ve brought [Isaiah] to our Real Analysis class multiple times.”  Of the picture, Sarah says, “She taught like this; holding him the whole first class I brought him to.”  Humorously, she notes that Isaiah will sometimes “cut the cheese and make the class giggle,” but the interruptions don’t prevent the class from doing “some serious math in there.”

Texas Right to Life’s Dr. Joseph Graham Fellowship for College Pro-Life Leaders encourages student groups to pursue Pro-Life outreach on their campuses.  Often, students in the Fellowship chose to volunteer at a local pregnancy resource center or start a scholarship for pregnant and parenting students.  Pro-Life Aggies of Texas A&M, which is led by Dr. Joseph Graham Fellows, was awarded for their commitment to expanding their lifechanging scholarship program.  When we give women in crisis pregnancies and their families the resources they need, choosing Life is not a sacrifice and a burden.  With the help of their communities, mothers are better able to experience the joys of choosing Life.

The abortion industry relentlessly pushes the message that a baby gets in the way of a woman’s dream.  The picture Sarah shared on “Love What Matters” is an illustration of Pro-Life community.  Pregnant and parenting students face many challenges, some of which can easily be overcome by the assistance of friends, neighbors, and professors.  The small kindnesses we show to students in difficult circumstances defeat the abortion industry’s lies.