Speeches and Motivation

Welp! I haven't written in a few weeks, and it's because we're in high-gear right now preparing for our speeches on May 8. Today, we watched an awesome, super inspirational (yes, I got a little choked up, even though it's totally not typical "choke-up" material) and just incredibly interesting TED talk by Dan Pink. Check it out here:

Mrs. Browning's Example Letter

Dear Mrs. Browning,

I came from a town called Sighet where I lived with my parents and two younger brothers. My father was a successful businessman and life was simple but happy.
We didn’t really believe the rumors about what was going on in Germany. Life seemed stable at home and we easily forgot what we heard on the radio because there was so much to do. When the Nazis deported the foreign Jews, we didn’t know what to think at first, but we soon got on with our daily lives.
When the gestapo moved to town and started moving Jewish families into the ghettos they created, I started to get scared. My father told me it would be ok. He didn’t believe that anything terrible would happen to us.
After months of living in the ghetto, we were finally told we would be deported as well. We heard rumors that we would be going to Hungary to work in factories. When the German police shoved us into train cars, I dropped my silk scarf. I tried to go back for it, but an officer shoved me in the back with his rifle. After that, I knew things wouldn’t be good.
The train ride was long, dark, uncomfortable and terrifying. I tried not to cry but I couldn’t help a few tears coming out. When the train started to slow down, I began to smell the scent of burning.
I think life will be terrible here. I hope you get this letter.

Sincerely,
Ethel