Flashback time.

It was a scorching hot day on September 1, 2008. I was trying to prepare myself for what was about to happen but realized I would only have my gut instincts to get me through the next four days. It was the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC). As I eagerly approached the protesting grounds, I came to find myself unbelievably proud because I was standing up not only for my beliefs but also for my country. Protesting at the Republican National Convention was a huge risk that I had been longing to take.
Once I reached the Minnesota State Capitol, I realized that the next few days were going to become very dangerous. As the SWAT teams notably stood out, I saw past the Darth Vader uniforms to what I had truly come for. I saw the people of America. I saw people of all ethnicities. I saw young people, senior citizens, fathers, mothers, and brothers. I saw friends and children. I saw the people coming together to make a difference in the vicious country I am native to.
The presence of these people was so eye opening I could barely handle it. I sat and watched my brothers and sisters cry for their children lost in war. I saw my fellow Americans fighting for a similar cause. As I sat and watched, I was overcome by a rush of tears and almost felt as though I could feel their pain. It was then that I truly envisioned the events to come. I did not fear the outcome as I once had. Instead, I was ecstatic to express my thoughts and stand next to the people to whom I am so similar. As the march went on and violence began to break loose, I kept myself grounded in the thought that violence was not what we were there for. I was reminding myself constantly of the peace that we yearned to bring. The people that surrounded me were so inspiring and encouraging to keep that fact alive. As we strolled past the power-hungry police, we offered words of kindness and flowers of encouragement. I continued to march for the cause and continued to look upon the people I was standing near to. It was a beautiful but tragically misunderstood gathering.
Later in the week, I was reading the articles that had portrayed our protests as violent and outrageous and yet still kept my hope that our efforts would bring about a difference. As I observed during the days, I knew what had truly gone on and understood that it was only a media distortion. I was able to experience civil disobedience and watch as we were tormented by the vicious police. I kept my hope and, in the end, thought that we did an excellent job of keeping the peace. It was sad to see what the police had reduced it to, but there was nothing that any of us could do besides remain respectful and follow our hearts.
I learned an extraordinary amount of self-discipline during the RNC protests, and I feel as though I learned many important life lessons. The greatest thing that I feel I learned was how to stand up for my beliefs in a kind and respectful manner. As I was sitting and watching everyone, I understood that I will get nowhere in life if I am violent and vicious. It taught me to remain true to myself and always embrace respect for others.