Fighting for Life!

With Madelyn Sequeira of Trojans for Life,

University of Southern California

Q: Madelyn - thank you so much for taking the time! Firstly would love to hear how Trojans for Life came to be? And how has your personal journey as a pro-lifer developed into public advocacy on the issue of abortion?

Trojans for Life was created in 2022 by two students who were passionate about protecting the dignity of human life. Their goal was to bring a pro-life voice onto campus and teach others how to talk about the issue of abortion with love, compassion, and truth. I joined shortly after and began running the club in Fall 2023. 

My personal journey as a pro-life activist began shortly after the reversal of Roe vs Wade. The Dobbs decision brought abortion to the forefront of politics and for the first time I found myself engaging in conversations with my peers about the issue. As a Catholic, I had always been pro-life. However, it wasn’t until I started having conversations with people that I realized I didn’t know how to talk about the issue well at all. This prompted me to seek out more knowledge, which eventually led me to Trojans for Life. Through the club, I learned apologetics and started to gain a deeper understanding of abortion procedures and the harm it has on both the preborn and women. The more I learned about the issue, the more I realized I couldn’t stay silent — it is a direct attack on human life, and I felt convicted to speak out.  

Q: What has been the most rewarding part of your participation in Trojans for Life thus far?

The most rewarding part of my participation in Trojans for Life is having the opportunity to play a role in sharing the truth with both men and women on campus about the negative effects of abortion. I don’t think a lot of people really know what abortion is and they also don’t have a full understanding of what the pro-life side represents. Being able to be that voice on campus is something that I really really love. 

In practice, this means we table weekly on campus and engage in conversations with people about abortion. They share their views, and we share ours. Though it doesn't happen often, there are times when we are able to change someone's mind. This is because we approach the issue with compassion and ask questions that prompt people to reflect more deeply on their own beliefs. We know that abortion ends the life of an innocent human being, and that truth is undeniable. And when people are confronted with this, it often leads them to reconsider their position and explore the humanity of the preborn. I've seen people genuinely take time to think about it, and it's incredibly rewarding to see that openness to different perspectives.

In short, the most rewarding part of Trojans for Life for me is being the voice of the pro-life movement at USC and having the chance to share the truth about abortion with others.

Q: How has Trojans for Life been received by the student population at large? How would you describe the temperature on campus in regard to the issue of abortion?

Trojans for Life has been received relatively well by students on campus. Every week we table on campus and talk to students about their views on abortion. Don’t get me wrong, most people do not agree with us by any means, but the conversations are civil. I think this has a lot to do with the way we approach the issue. We’ll put up a sign on campus that says, “do you think abortion should be legal?” and we’ll have people vote based on their position. Because this sign is a little bit more neutral, people will come, and we’ll ask them what their views are on the issue. We don’t yell at them or force them to think the same way we do. Instead, we’ll ask them questions and prompt them to think deeper about their own views. Even though most do not agree with us, our conversations are carried out with kindness and compassion. I think this is what has brought us so much success. We’re not here to start a fight or judge. We are here to share the truth.

In regard to the temperature on campus when it comes to the issue of abortion, we are in a very pro-abortion environment. But I think a lot of that has to do with the way our culture has developed over time. The normalization of abortion and the narrative that it is a good thing for women has really spread into most people's minds. I don't think that most people are intentionally looking to harm the preborn or women. I think it’s the misrepresentation of what abortion truly is that has shaped the views of our generation.

Q: If you could change anything about the abortion debate - what would it be?

I would change the way the abortion debate is framed. Today, the way that people view abortion is as a political issue. It’s split into a left or right issue. Because of that people will say things like "why do Republicans have the right to tell me what I can do with my body?” I think this is a completely distorted understanding of the question at hand. 

At the core of the abortion debate lies two key questions: when does the dignity and value of the human person begin? And who has the right to take innocent human life? I think if we start to frame the abortion debate as a human rights issue (which it is), we will start to have more success. I think this is slowly starting to happen but it's a fight. However, at the end of the day, I believe that when the truth is shared and people begin to realize that, yes, abortion ends innocent human life and is harmful to women, people will start to see that abortion is not something that should be celebrated but rather something that should be unthinkable.

Q: How have you, as a pro-lifer, gained the most ground in your conversations with the opposing view?

As a pro-lifer, I’ve found that the most effective way to gain ground in conversations with those who are pro-choice is by approaching them with good faith and genuine curiosity. It’s easy to want to jump straight into arguments—because at the core of this issue is a human life, a baby. And while that truth is absolutely essential, the reality is that people will only begin to change their views on abortion when they develop a deeper understanding of the value of the human person and recognize the harmful impact abortion has on women.

The best way to communicate this is by truly listening to the other side—hearing their concerns, understanding their reasoning, and meeting them where they are. At the end of the day, most people want to help women — we just have different ideas on how that should be done. This is why I always make it a point to acknowledge where the person I’m speaking with is coming from and establish common ground. But I also don’t shy away from the truth—I clearly explain what abortion is and how it directly ends a human life.

I also ask a lot of questions. For example, if someone says, “abortion is not a big deal because a fetus isn’t a person,” I’ll follow up with the question, “what is a person? How do you define that?”  I think it's this genuine curiosity that prompts people to think more deeply about their own views because in most cases it's not something that they've spent time thinking about.

Ultimately, I believe that approaching each conversation with good faith, curiosity, and, most importantly, kindness. Kindness goes a long way.

Q: What is one lesson pro-lifers need to learn in the face of adversity?

One lesson that I think pro-lifers need to hear in the face of adversity is that courage is contagious. For me, one of the hardest things about being a pro-life activist is that you always feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle (and to some extent that’s true). But at the same time, if there’s not someone to take the fight on, if no one steps up, then nothing will ever change. Lives will continue to be lost every day. What keeps me going is the belief that if one person takes a stand, others are more likely to follow. That’s why in tough moments I ask myself: if it’s not me who speaks up for the preborn, then who? I hold onto the hope that by taking the first step, I might inspire others to do the same. And if enough of us rise up with courage and conviction, change will most definitely come.

Q: How do we as Gen Z pro-lifers best approach our peers on this issue and how can we be most effective in sharing what abortion is and its impact?

As Gen Z pro-lifers, I believe one of the best ways we should approach our peers on this issue is with heroic love. I think one of the biggest mistakes right now with the pro-life movement is that we approach it from two extremes: we either come across as overly aggressive and confrontational, or we become so focused on compassion that we dance around the issue of abortion and fail to call out its harms by name. Finding the balance between truth and love is key. They are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it is essential that we have the courage to speak truth and share it with kindness because if we don’t, nothing will ever change. 

I also think that entering each conversation with good faith and curiosity is extremely important. I believe people are good at heart and everyone wants to help women — we just have different ideas on how this is carried out. This is why it’s essential that we ask questions and encourage people to think deeper about what abortion is and how it directly ends innocent human life and harms women. 

Q: How do you find Gen Z’s response to the issue of abortion differing from past generations? 

Gen Z’s response to the issue is different from past generations because the conversation around abortion has shifted from one of reluctance to one of open advocacy and even celebration. President Bill Clinton once stated that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare.” While I have never agreed with this sentiment, it was better than the current approach. 

Overtime, the conversation has shifted even further in the wrong direction — abortion is no longer framed as a regrettable necessity but is increasingly celebrated as an act of empowerment and freedom. This is not to say that the women who are in crisis pregnancies are seeking out abortions for fun or taking the decision lightly (they are often in a very difficult situation and feel like they have no other choice). But rather that the general population has begun normalizing abortion and, in some cases, glorifying it. 

With the heavy use of social media among Gen Z, this shift has only accelerated. Different platforms have amplified pro-abortion rhetoric and turned it into a symbol of empowerment rather than a serious moral and ethical issue. This constant exposure to this content has desensitized many young people to the reality of abortion, making it harder for them to see the humanity of the preborn and the weight of the decision itself.

Q: What is one goal you’d like to achieve during your time at Trojans for Life? 

This is my last semester at USC and with Trojans for Life so if there is one goal that I would love to achieve it is to inspire at least 3 new people to speak out against abortion and share the culture of life. Here in California, the right to abortion is enshrined in the State Constitution. Meaning, there is little that we can do to change that legislatively. However, what we can do is change hearts and minds through good conversation and love. It only takes a couple of people to stand up, speak out, and inspire others to do the same. If we do this, I am confident that overtime, culture will change, and abortion will become unthinkable.

Q: What can we look forward to this year in your ministry / advocacy at USC and how can the pro-life community best support your efforts?

This year, we’re focused on expanding the presence of the pro-life movement at USC. Specifically, we’re working to train more students in pro-life apologetics and raising awareness of the resources available to women who choose to keep their babies. You can best support our efforts by following us on Instagram @trojansforlifeusc and sharing our content with friends and family to help spread the message!

Q: Thank you again! Any final words of wisdom or encouragement to students whose hearts are being turned toward this truly difficult and complex issue?

I want to share some words of wisdom from someone I look up to greatly — St. John Paul II. He said, “Be Not Afraid.” I think it’s easy for us on the pro-life side to get discouraged because we are up against so much. And while this is true, we must remember that we are not alone. We have truth and God on our side which means that we have already won the war. Life has conquered death! All we have to do is fight the battle. 

In practice, this means spreading the culture of life. Meditate on Eucharist and the value of the human person. Learn how to talk about abortion to your peers so when the conversation comes up you are ready. Live in joy. Show that life is good. Life is beautiful. We were created with a purpose!

BE A WITNESS TO THE BEAUTY OF LIFE! 

And God will take care of the rest.