A Visit to Auschwitz - Part 2

d'Overbroeck's student Flora McGivan gives her account of the recent visit to Auschwitz.

The Lessons from Auschwitz project taught me that how ever hard it may be, we should try not to be bystanders. This was illustrated most pertinently when meeting Susan Pollack, an Auschwitz survivor, at a seminar before the visit. She truly inspired me to stand up for what I believe in. This lesson was reinforced through a visit to a local village where overnight 60% of the inhabitants vanished and their synagogue burnt. The educators made us think what we would do if we had been one of the 40% left behind.

Although visiting the death camps was a distressing and emotional experience, the trip left me with some hope for the future. It emphasised the importance of living your life to the full for those who did not get the chance while keeping their memories alive in an attempt to stop this tragedy from happening again. Susan explained that her way of dealing with the experience was to tell her story so that others could learn from the past. Meeting her and going to Auschwitz gave me a glimpse of the bravery and courage of each and every victim of the Holocaust and how we can learn so much from them.

When studying the Nazis in history, it is hard to take in the figures. But by meeting Susan before we left and reading poems and memoirs throughout our trip, the camp was re-humanized. By seeing their belongings and photos we saw how much we had in common with them, which enabled us to remember them with the respect they deserve. Through a candle-lit vigil, we were given the chance to reflect and find hope for the future - the most poignant moment for me.

Lessons from Auschwitz is an experience I'll never forget and something I feel truly privileged to have been part of.