Last week, Holocaust survivor Trudie Strobel visited our school to share her story. As the theater lights illuminated, she emerged from the red curtains and shuffled over to her chair on the stage while being assisted by a friendly Poly student. I remember her thin white hair and vibrant scarf that rested lightly on her shoulders. After all she had been through, I had assumed she would have been drained of her energy, however, I was wrong. Despite her slight hunch and small footsteps, a gleaming smile remained stretched across her face. The second she sat down, she repositioned herself, took a deep breath, and stared into the crowd, gleaming, but not saying a word. She then took the microphone, gave a slight murmuring noise to make sure it was on, and introduced herself, “Hello” she said, “I’m Trudie Strobel.” A warm welcome was given by the crowd, and she began her fascinating life story. She grew up in Ukraine, Russia, and when she was only four years old, her mother was snatched out of her arms by the Nazi guards. Due to her young age, she recalled only remembering the most vivid things, such as her stuffed toy she comforted herself with, and how much she had missed her mother. Throughout her speech, I noticed how genuine and real she sounded, leaving the audience jaw dropped and heart wrenched. She explained how she was taken to camps with other Jews, and then describing the inhumane living conditions. She described the skeleton-like bodies of the inmates and how congested everything was, where the humiliation and vulnerability of all the people was unbearable. I had never truly understood the horrors of Hitler's Reign and the Nazis until hearing her story, where my view has been entirely changed. Trudie’s story left me shocked and I truly admire her bravery and desire to share her experiences with the world.
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