I (25F) am secretly watching the news and online footage of the Ukraine-Russia protests to relive my high school days.

I (25F) used to live in Ukraine and graduated from a Ukrainian high school. When the conflict in eastern Ukraine started, I didn’t care. It was far away from me, I was in university in another city and life seemed great. I even went back to my old high school a few times. Everyone there seemed to be very supportive of the Ukrainian army and I was a bit ashamed of being indifferent.<br><br>Now, after 7 years, I’m secretly following the news and footage of the protests in Ukraine again. I watch videos of Ukrainians from all over the country and even the world coming to Kyiv to protest against Russia and its “ally” Yanukovych, who took over the government after Ukraine’s president was kidnapped by his own secret police and opposition members.<br><br>I also watch videos of the protests in Kyiv and other cities. I see videos of protesters and ordinary citizens showing up to defend the Ukrainian government from Russian-backed separatists. I even watch videos of Ukrainian soldiers and paramilitary groups defending Kyiv from Russian-backed separatists.<br><br>It’s crazy how much I missed this. I missed the sense of unity and purpose I felt as a high school student in Ukraine. I missed the feeling of being part of something bigger than myself. I missed the excitement of watching the protests and rallies from a distance. And now I’m doing it again, but this time I’m not just a spectator. I’m also a Ukrainian citizen, and I’m fighting for my country.<br><br>The protests are inspiring. They’re a reminder that Ukraine is still a free country. They’re a reminder that Ukrainians are still willing to fight for their rights and freedoms. And they’re a reminder that Ukrainians are still willing to sacrifice themselves for their country.<br><br>So yes, I’m watching the news and online footage of the Ukraine-Russia protests to relive my high school days. But I’m also watching because I believe in Ukraine. I believe in the Ukrainian people. And I believe that we will emerge from this crisis stronger and more united than ever.