; An united people will never be defeated.

February 28^th

It was not my first general assembly. It was not a pleasure to go there. I knew it would be long and even boring sometimes. But I went.

Why did I go there? Why did I cancel my other activities to go there? The real question was not the strike; it was how we can show to the government that we are against the increase of the tuition fees. This is not a debate about an economic issue; it’s a debate about a principle issue. One single dollar invests in the education would bring around $5 back to the society. In a long term plan, even the free access to university would bring more money to the government than any increase. $1625 per year, it is more than $135 per month, more than $4.50 per day, it is 7000 students who will not reach the university because of a financial issue. It could be 7000 future teachers, doctors, pharmacists, engineers and scientists. At last, the education must be a right and a choice, not a privilege that depends on the thickness of our purse. 

It was not the first time I tried to make the government changes his idea about the increase.

I wrote letters to the deputies and to the Prime minister.

I signed and made other people signed a petition.

I went to three demonstrations around the province.

I participated to politic events.

I made a lot of symbolic and artistic actions.

I made people aware about the increase and its consequences.

I did all that for a year.

And nothing changed.

The strike is the one of the worst means. But, we already have done everything else we could have done. The strike was our last way to tell the government that we do not want that increase. Our last way.

This is why I have voted for the strike.

Odile Marquis Gendron, student in Languages at the Cégep de Rimouski

March 6^th

After another morning in front of the Cégep, it was our second chance to vote for or against the strike.

The first week of strike has been a nice opening on the world, because for the first time, I have spent my time with people who shared my opinions.

Then, I voted for the strike, again.

Odile Marquis Gendron, student in strike at the Cégep de Rimouski

March 20^th

Two weeks have passed between the last vote and that one.

Fourteen days of fight. 

The 19^th has been a particular day; It was the regional demonstration. 600 people from all around the region came to Rimouski to say “No!” to the increase. More than a protestation, it was a scream to every student: Our fight was not over.

Then, I voted for the strike, again.

Odile Marquis Gendron, student fighting for a cause.

March 22^th

200 000 people in the street in Montreal.

200 000 people from all around the province.

I saw students. I saw artists. I saw parents. I saw children. I saw workers. I saw taxpayers. I saw retired people. All were fighting together for one cause: the access to the education for all.

More than a protestation, it has been a real experience of how we, as the people, can change the thing. I started to believe in us, I started to be proud to be a Quebecker.

Odile Marquis Gendron, one of the 200 000.

March 27^th

Another vote.

After four weeks of fight, that was not the moment to give up. We did not.

I did not. I voted for the strike again.

Odile Marquis Gendron, a motivated student who do not give up.

April 3^rd           

We have lost.

But during the five weeks I have fought, I won.

I opened my eyes on the world around me.

I understood what a real democracy is and how I can change things.

I started to see all the others problems in the world.

I started to see the things I can do to solve these problems.

After all, I have learned more in 5 weeks of strike than in my last 3 semesters in Cégep.  If you had known me before the strike, you don’t know me anymore. 

Odile Marquis Gendron, now a real citizen.