Application Essay: My Trip To The Topography Of Terror

This summer, my family and I traveled to Berlin, Germany to learn about my Jewish great grandparents’ experience during the Holocaust. After visiting the Topography of Terror, I have become interested in understanding how the Nazis could turn a democracy into a dictatorship. This trip made me question not only government’s actions of the past, but also my government’s actions today. It has made me look at the U.S. 2016 election differently. Most of all, my trip made me want to learn more about Europe in the 20th century. When I got back to the University of Michigan this fall, I changed my schedule to enroll in History 318, Europe in the Era of Total War. It has been absolutely fascinating and my favorite class I have ever taken at Michigan. Not only is the professor engaging and knowledgeable, but also the material excites me. I find myself sitting on the edge of my chair, completely focused and enthralled as my professor explains German nationalism, the Russian Revolution, or the Armenian Genocide. I carefully read each line of Frederick Engel’s …show more content…
I have always known that I want to study abroad. My mother grew up in Brazil, Chile, and South Africa because of her father’s job, and I have been taught from a young age the importance of understanding and embracing other cultures. While I have been fortunate enough to travel around Europe, I have never been able to live in Europe for months at a time. To me, living somewhere means fully immersing oneself in the culture and activities of the country. I want to learn to play handball and other sports that Danish teens play. I want to eat Danish food and learn to speak Danish. I want to learn that I can successfully live somewhere different from my Boston home. By gaining this independence, I will be able to look back on my experience with