The time has finally arrived… I am about to experience something that is necessary, but something I wish I never had to do. Poland. The idea of visiting places where millions of people, just like me were killed is terrifying. I don’t know what I am supposed to expect or how to react in certain situations. I have different emotions whenever I think about it. I think the hardest part for me will be the realization that this actually happened.

Having studied at a Jewish day school most of my life, I always learned about the Holocaust in different perspectives. When I started high school, I switched from a Jewish day school to a public school. The focus shifted away from the mass killings of 11 million people and more towards WWII and how it affected the world, briefly covering the Holocaust, as it made people uncomfortable to talk about. During core class, we spend about 10 hours dissecting how the war began and led into the Holocaust along with how the rest of the world reacted during the whole devastation. The whole idea of this massacre is so hard to wrap my head around and I am hoping this can bring some more clarity to the situation that happened and show how it was an unfortunate reality for millions of people. I feel like I am as prepared as I could be for this journey. I know it is going to be one of the hardest things I will probably have to do, but I am ready for this. have no idea how I am going to react when standing on the same soil as my ancestors and imaging the trauma they endured.

When I first heard that I was going to Poland I didn’t know how to react. Once our teachers started telling us how we should start stocking up on food and hand warmers, it all started to seem real. This trip is going to be depressing at many points, but I am also excited for the uplifting and fun activities planned for this trip. I am going in with an open-mind as I want to take out all I can from this experience. I am ready to cry, laugh and get to know the people on this trip in a deeper way, going through this hardship with them by my side.

As of right now, writing this the night before Poland, I am incredibly thankful for this experience. I never had the intention, or wanting to visit concentration camps, but I know this will be something I never will forget and can help educate others once I am back from this trip. I don’t think I would have wanted to go on this trip with anyone else as we are already best friends. I know I will have shoulder to cry on, and they can rely on mine.