Introduction

          Facing History and Ourselves is a course that would forever change anyone’s life that chooses to take it. The course teaches you about civic agency; where you can put yourself in the time period of the Nazi’s. During the course you learn all about the Holocaust. Besides gaining knowledge about what actually happened, you more importantly learn how and why it was able to. What people don’t understand before taking this course is there is never someone solely in power controlling the mass extermination of people; that’s impossible. In reality it is those people standing idol by and ultimately condoning and allowing it to. With all situations there is a perpetrator, a victim, bystanders, a resistance, and a rescuer. From the class you will learn day by day to never be a bystander. You will also realize to never be a perpetrator nor a victim because in the end, like I have, you will learn to love yourself and love people for who they are.

            I am a senior at Westborough High School, when deciding what courses to take the first one I wrote down was History and Ourselves. I had heard so many great things about it and wanted to have Mr. Gallagher again as a teacher before I graduated. I didn’t want to lose the chance to be forever changed and transformed into someone that wants to do everything in my power to do the right thing. I’ve realized I have all the opportunity to do great things. I have to fight for myself and never give up because giving up is letting the perpetrator, whether it is myself or someone else, win.