I posted about Mrs. Eva Mozes Kor last October:
One of the amazing things that Eva does is spreading her message at conferences, in schools, and around the world. A program that she hosts through the museum allows you to spend $500 and you will receive 30 copies of her book plus an hour long virtual session with her. Of course, I jumped at this opportunity for the students at my campus. I put in the PO, ordered the books, and got started!
We started our meetings in January and these students read the book on their own time and came to advisory once a week. They are an impressive group of students and they came every week with new questions, ideas, and thoughts about her book and how it relates to history, to their own lives, and to the world we live in today. We did all kinds of activities from quote swapping, to the wagon wheel protocol, to creating slogans and hashtags to represent the chapters. It was a great experience with the students and really fun for me to get back for a bit into the world of teaching. 🙂
But the most AMAZING part of the entire thing happened yesterday. Yesterday was the hour long session with Eva herself virtually. The students were mesmerized by her every word. She tells pieces of her story in Auschwitz and then gives the students her own message. A message that is full of kindness, forgiveness, and love. The students asked her their own questions as well and she was very gracious in her answers. Ranging from inspiring students to be the best they can be, to be kind to others, to silly stories of how she learned English when she moved to Indiana by watching soap operas and how she was confused when her fiancé (at the time) kept telling her all the females in his family were going to have a wedding shower for her and she just said, um, that’s okay, I can bathe by myself. She has an incredible strength that surrounds her and what she does every day. A few words of wisdom:
If you don’t give up, you can accomplish anything.
We can improve the world, one person at a time.
Become the best You that you can. You cannot become anyone else.
Be kind.
Forgive others. You have the power to forgive. No one can give it to you and no one can take it away. Forgiveness is a feeling of wholeness.
So today, more than ever, I will work to forgive. I will work to be kind. I will not give up on my dreams. I will work to improve the world. Thank you Eva–for your amazing ability to survive and how you have used your life to empower others to be better.
Thank you to the students who embarked upon this amazing journey. Thank you for being willing to take part in the meetings each week, to read the book on your own time, to add your slogans and hashtags, share your quotes, discuss the meaning of Eva’s words with your classmates, your friends, and with me. I know you are all so empowered after hearing her message. I hope that you are a little kinder and a little better each day now from reading Eva’s words and from hearing her message.
The Empowered Learner 