Maxie Fuchs
Freshman Seminar Monologue
The college experience is different and unique for everyone. But what does the college experience mean? How can you take advantage and make the most of your time in college? The college experience is very important to most new incoming freshmen. For the first time in their life they are free from their parents, and can do whatever they like. College is a time where you gain your own independence, but with more independence comes a lot more responsibilities. It’s about freedom, and the freedom to pick one thing over another. Its about empowerment, and with that empowerment comes choice, courage and change. And while making money, and finding a career might be the main purpose of college, it’s not the only one. It’s important to take advantage of these next few years and take advantage of the opportunity to create your own future and make a difference. And not to lose hope even when you run into obstacles and things seem hard. Appreciate both the good experiences and the bad. Take time and see how you can learn from your mistakes.
But it was difficult for me to see my purpose in life, what I’m good at, and how I can make a difference and leave my mark. I spent time thinking about who in my life is my role model, and who in my life is my inspiration, who in my life has taught me the concept of appreciation. Over the years I have had my family, friends, teachers, and peer mentors repeatedly ask me the same question: That being “If you could spend ONE day as someone else or “walk ONE mile in someone else’s shoes,” what type of person would that be?
My natural inclination was choosing someone who is lucky, someone famous, someone rich, someone fortunate. But I later realized where would that leave me? Sooner or later I’m back with who I am, and for better or worse that’s probably where I’d want to be. Would spending time as someone who seems to have everything leave me better than I was before? Perhaps. Perhaps it would leave me embittered. After all, I can’t take it with me.
In one day? What would could I possibly learn poolside, or in the ski slopes, or in the casinos of Monte Carlo, or even in the boardrooms of the elite? One day would not give me a true inkling of what a person who has everything lives like. All people have problems, certainly, but they are masked much of the time, smoothed over by the comforts that money can buy. I don’t think I would waste that opportunity, if it were presented, for one day in silk sneakers.
But time in the shoes and torn socks of someone who struggles; one day is everyday. One day of hunger, one day in poverty, one day in danger, one day without the comfort of family, or security. What is it like to worry about tomorrow, even if today is taken care of? What is it like to mourn for past mistakes that may have lead to a bleak future? How hard is it really to turn your life around when there are few resources and opportunities? When people speak of someone lifting themselves up by their bootstraps, what does that really mean?
My grandfather was born in Poland; survived the Auschwitz concentration camp, and came to America as adults. My grandfather worked for almost three years in the crematoria of Auschwitz as part of the Sondercommando, the Germans forced labor-killing machine. Like many other survivors, he came to this country with just the few items that were on his back. He had no place to live, no money to spend, and no family to rely on, nothing. My grandfather built a life for himself. He worked hard to get where he wanted to be and did not let the horrendous past bring him down. Rather, he gained from his experiences and learned lessons that made him a stronger person. When my grandfather died at the age of 82 I was only 7 years old. However, even at such a young age, I was old enough to know him, old enough to feel his aura, and old enough to miss him when he was gone.
What made him different was the fact that he lived through the Holocaust. From his experience, he was able to appreciate what life gave him and demonstrate to others how lucky and fortunate they really are. Only one in every thousand survived the death camps. And I believe he was one of them for a reason. He taught me the anguish, the hope, and the promise that day follows night no matter how bad things seem. He taught me that within my DNA lives a survival instinct that can get me through the toughest things in life. Today may be dark, but tomorrow will be light.
Each person is put on this world to fulfill a task. Before time runs out, its important we leave here knowing we made a difference. My grandfather left his mark on me, and impacted my life in a tremendous way. From him, I learned to be a better person and to appreciate even the small things in life. I hope to influence others the same way I was influenced. I hope to learn valuable lessons like these to build a life on. If I were only given one day, I would choose to learn from an experience that I could treasure forever.
