Introduction

In the course Facing History and Ourselves, students learn about awareness of racism, diversity, and prejudice. Throughout the course, students learn about how their identity is formed and how their self-identity can be very different from societies. By watching many films, reading articles and stories, and participating in class discussions, each student will learn about themselves and learn from mistakes in history that will help them shape who they are. I chose this class because of former students who have taken this course. They all raved about the lessons and videos and how they now see the world and themselves in a completely different way. Some told me it was the best class that they had ever taken. After hearing all of this, I knew that I had to take it. Most of the class is spent watching films and reading articles, but they are all so informative and interesting that the class is very beneficial. As a senior who just finished the course, I agree with them and that some of the material will stay with me for the rest of my life. So many of the things I witnessed in this class are things I have never seen before and shocked and moved me. In the fall, I will be moving on to Keene State College and will definitely take into account the lessons I learned in this class. I learned that everyone has their own place in this world and no one is better than the other.

What Facing History Meant to Me

            Facing History and Ourselves has impacted my life in many ways. The material discussed and the lessons learned in this class benefited me and helped me become a better person overall. I have never taken a course as meaningful and important than Facing History and Ourselves. Most classes I’ve taken have strict material that doesn’t affect my life and I usually forget it the following week. During this course, I’ve seen and heard things that I never would have imagined happening in this world. After listening to speakers such as Ernest Rugwizangoga, who was a Rwanda Genocide survivor and watching countless films about the Holocaust, I have seen the world in a very different way.

             During the first few weeks of this course, we read a story called The Bear that Wasn’t. The meaning of the story was that the bear was portrayed as something that he wasn’t. Society had told the bear that he wasn’t a bear so he turned into something that he wasn’t. The opinions of others, who were known to be people higher or better than him, made him second guess himself and question his identity. This story affected me because this is seen in the world everyday. It’s especially seen in high school because in freshman year, you have your friends from middle school but now that you’re in an entirely new atmosphere you grow and meet new people. These new friends may pressure you to do things that you normally wouldn’t do and in the end it’s up to you to make sure that those people don’t change who you are. Along with that, high school is a prime place for  everyone to be judging you and having their own opinion. The looks given to some people and the things said really do affect people. Speaking for myself, I have heard things said about me and have had people wanting me to change. Being young and wanting to fit in, I had listened to those people and changed myself just for them. As I get older I know that hearing these things really don’t matter. I’m always told that from my close friends and family but after reading this story it shows that I’m not the only one affected by the opinions of others. Being ganged up on can be really difficult and it’s tough to go up against a group of people all saying the same thing and trying to change who you are. Overall, the story The Bear that Wasn’t really opened my eyes that everyone is affected and put down by other’s words.

            In the film A Class Divided, I thought that the teacher, Ms. Elliot, was very brave and innovated to do the class lesson on people being superior and inferior of each other. I thought it was very interesting how within a matter of minutes the children in her class assumed the roles of superior and inferior and automatically started treating each other differently. This film benefited me because it really shows how young children can understand the aspects of being superior of one another. Although that’s not necessarily true, in today’s society many people see themselves as being superior to others.  The outcome of the exercise was very important and brilliant because the lesson will stick with the children for the rest of their lives and view everyone equally instead of walking by someone they don’t know and assuming that they themselves are better. I wish that I had this lesson when I was in elementary school, but watching it in high school I think almost had the same affect. Although it wasn’t a first hand experience, I still witnessed the process and what the outcome was and I think it was very courageous of Ms. Elliot and was a great idea.

            Another aspect of Facing History and Ourselves was the film Freedom Writers. Most of my friends in my class had already seen the movie but I have never even heard of it before. I’m so glad that is was shown in class because it was a very moving and inspirational story. Although I have never lived in a place like Ms. Gruwell, I had seen and heard about the racism and prejudice happening. When one of the students drew a picture of another student with big lips because he was black, Ms. Gruwell brought up the Holocaust. When she found out that the students had never talked or heard about the Holocaust she was shocked and decided it best to discuss it in depth. The discrimination that the Jewish people suffered was unbelievable and nobody should have to go through that. What the students in Ms. Gruwell’s class didn’t realize is the severity of discriminating against others because it could lead to something as devastating as the Holocaust.

            After watching the Freedom Writers we spent a lot of time on the Holocaust and Hitler. Seeing in the Freedom Writers that the students had no idea what the Holocaust was, it was interesting to learn what the Holocaust was in depth. I had only learned the basics of it in the past so learning the details and both sides of the war was devastating. Watching films such as A Warning from History, The Uprising, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas all taught me so much about the Holocaust. The films were so thorough and informative that it was hard to watch most parts of each of the films. Watching all of these films and reading passages and articles really showed me what it was like in the Holocaust. I had never imagined such tragic events happening. Watching the films were so beneficial and I really saw how something like the Holocaust can’t be repeated ever again.

            In conclusion, the course Facing History and Ourselves was one of the most beneficial, enlightening, and moving classes I have ever taken. Some of the images and films I saw will be forever in my mind and I will always remember what I learned in this class.

Works Cited

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Google Images. Image. 19 May 2011.

Hitler. Google Images. Image. 19 May 2011.

The Freedom Writers. Google Images. Image. 19 May 2011.

A Class Divided. Google Images. Image. 19 May 2011.

Concentration Camps. Google Images. Image. 19 May 2011.