Reflections from 2015-2016

At the conclusion of the Witness to War: Serving A Nation project, students are required to reflect on and assess their learning. Below is a collection of their thoughts. Every attempt is made to insure balance, fairness, and accuracy.

The Witness to War project also helped me realize that every veteran should be able to have their story told. We know that everyone who served our nation is a hero, but many aren’t able to share their stories. That’s why I loved this project; I loved how it gave war veterans a chance to share their story with the world because they are all important. Many of the older war veterans are starting to pass away, so it is important to be able to give them a chance to tell their stories before they leave. I think that more schools should start incorporating this project into their curriculum so more veterans can share their experiences… (ES)

When war comes to mind, I used to think of people with guns shooting the other side in the front lines and planes flying overhead dropping bombs. However, there are so many aspects of war that are hidden behind-the-scenes, that no one really thinks about or appreciates… The major conflict that is war changes people but, the honorable men and women that survive must hold on to these memories, and tell their stories for generations to come. (CY)

If I could tell any incoming freshman about this project I would say, don’t really look at this as project, look at it as an experience that will last a lifetime. (HB)

[His] darkest moment was when he went to Buchenwald, which was a concentration camp in Germany. He could see the people being held in horrible conditions, begging for food. When he told us about this experience he got emotional and we could tell it was very hard for him to talk about. He can truly say that he hated Hitler. (SC)

I learned that Anthony is not a military hero, but an everyday one. (NW)

When I was assigned the Witness to War project in November, I was not looking forward to doing all the work given to me. I regret ever thinking that this project would not be enjoyable to do. It did take a lot of work, but I am proud of what I have done to honor my veteran, and I have learned so much from him. Even though this project took a lot of hard work, I am proud of what I have done and would not trade this experience for any other. (SL)

I was completely unaware of how many homeless people there were on the Cape and how many of them were veterans. It’s inexcusable for this government to allow the people that fought for its existence to be living on the streets. (DM)

I did not really like the project. I like the idea, but not the project only because I think that it is a little overwhelming and a little overbearing, and that it seems to be a little pointless. I would like to say that it is very interesting to hear about the stories of a veteran that we picked and listened to their stories. (ZM)

I worked extremely hard on this project. I’ve never worked this hard on something school related. I enjoyed it which made it a lot easier… In all, thank you for giving us this project and really making us work hard. I got a lot out of it and I hope you continue to do it for future classes. (BW)

Anytime anyone risks their life for the purpose of the greater good, it is special. Although Mr. Chapman doesn’t walk around feeling special he is through his courage and sacrifices. He is a true hero. (GD)

…war is one of the worst things on the planet for a country and a sole person. It changes people and it can tear apart a country. (SS)

The Witness to War project has definitely taught me a lot about my views of what a true veteran is. I learned that a veteran is someone that contributes to making the world a much better and safer place for people to live in…All in all, I had an amazing experience completing this project, and it truly has opened my eyes to something that I never really thought about. (ME)

…I was so nervous to present this project. …we spent seven hours making index cards, a slide show and practicing. When I got up in front of the class I felt like I was not going to be able to start the presentation. Through the whole thing, I was shaking. At the end of the presentation, I could not have been happier that it was over, but I also thought we had done well. …I’m glad we had to present the project because I think that’s what I’m most proud of… (SC)

I hope others learn as much as I did while doing this project. I learned to not take life for granted and to appreciate every moment I have to be happy because your life could be perfect one day and then you could have nothing the next. I also think that everybody should have to do this project because it teaches you so much about life and how you should appreciate it. (ES)

One more lesson I learned from this project is that the story you have to do doesn’t always have to be the most interesting and fascinating thing ever. What it comes down to is that you learned something from the topic and the audience learned something as well, and it all boils down to just having fun. (MW)

What I think was helpful with this project was that you got to go out, find someone, and go to their house and talk to them. That is a real-life skill which many people do not have…When Mr. Wick talked about almost being shipped to Korea to be put on the front lines, he painted a picture in my mind unlike any class reading ever could. (SJ)

To be completely honest, I didn’t think much of this project. I thought it would just be another annoying long-term project that would take up my time and, at some times, it was. But now, almost five months later, I understand that this is a truly impactful and influential project that I learned much from…This project overall has been a very positive experience for me and has helped me grow into a better student. (EB)

…I felt we learned a tremendous amount of information not only about the life of our veteran, but as a bigger picture, the privilege that comes with being an American citizen. (SF)

Before this project, I only knew him as a friend of my parents, but now I see him as hero… The Witness to War: Serving a Nation project is an amazing project, and one that should be done by every student across the country. (CC)

Before this project, I wouldn’t say that I was against the military, but I didn’t think as much happened overseas as I thought did. For example, there aren’t many stories that come up in my Instagram or Facebook feed about trucks driving over IEDs and flipping over, or Navy men pulling over ships with suspicious cargo…Interviewing a veteran face-to-face for half-an-hour changed my outlook on the military drastically; from something negative to something positive. (AM)

…war creates a bond, a sort of brotherhood, between you and your comrades. (AD)

Before high school, presentations were quite easy if you were along the guidelines of the rubric, but now it is more strict. However, I did learn what is required for a proper and professional website, especially one made to honor another person, and what to expect for high school presentation grading. (CL)

I commend each and every soldier much more now for what they do…Many people only think of the catastrophic war scenes they see in movies as what soldiers do at war, but in reality it’s much, much more. They bond with their teammates whom become their brothers, they stay in their cabins, talk with friends and family back at home. War is not all grueling bloodbaths 24/7, and people should realize that. War is brotherhood, courage, dedication, and heart and only very special people have all that. (GC)

The Witness to War: Serving a Nation project has taught me about bravery, honor, and sacrifice and what it truly means to serve your country. I hated the idea of this project when it was assigned. It made me want to deter people from taking Civics. But now I see it as a great opportunity for students that will change their perspectives in life and think about those who serve in the military differently and hopefully for the better. (LM)

The Witness to War project has definitely taught me a lot about my views of what a true veteran is. I learned that a veteran is someone that contributes to making the world a much better and safer place for people to live in… All in all, I had an amazing experience completing this project, and it truly opened my eyes to something that I never really thought about. (EE)

When doing this project I learned that Anthony is not a military hero, but an everyday one. (NW)

…this Witness to War project has really helped me and I feel like I will refer back to it…whenever doing a project or even thinking about veterans in general. (ES)

I would recommend this class solely for the project and for the knowledge you gain. The fact that you document this veteran’s life for everyone to see is truly amazing. (TH)

I am immensely proud of our final product. My personal goal was to create a lasting memorial commemorating Dr. Sokoloff and his service. He is a phenomenal human and his story should be shared beyond our classroom. (FG)

He and his fellow soldiers were also searching for bombs, trip wires, or other traps that would bring them harm. Although these skills probably saved his life, as well as his Unit, they are not skills listed in the job ads in the Cape Cod Times. (PC)

It was really emotional to see veterans still getting upset over things that happened 10-20 years ago…Overall, I think this project should be done by every student because it is a great way for people to get to know the veterans in our community. (AM)

Doing the Witness to War: Serving a Nation project taught me that people need passion, devotion, and a higher cause than themselves to make good in the world. (CV)

I don’t think most high school students, the majority of whom live a fairly safe and sheltered existence, can begin to understand the daily life of a soldier in a war zone. It’s hard to believe that some young men and women who are only a few years older than us, are living this life. (MR)

This might be a little harsh, but if you don’t support and respect our troops, you do not belong here because they are the people that make your life possible. (TS)

When the Witness to War project was first announced I was honestly quite nervous. I have never heard, nor experienced a project that lasted several months, let alone was completed with a partner… As the weeks went on I learned many new important skills. I learned that it is important to communicate with a partner in order to meet a deadline, and how to divide the work evenly so it isn’t leaning heavily on just one person. (TM)

…I became knowledgeable about how the military works, as well as the different positions and jobs that are available. In this project, I learned how to give an interview, write a transcript, and design and present a website that was dedicated to my veteran. (HP)

In all, I enjoyed the Witness to War: Serving a Nation project. It was a project that was a lot of work, but fulfilling. …we knew it was up to us to make our project live up to her accomplishments. She was a hero and we wanted to make a project that could equal her performance and service to her country. (MC)

Over the course of this project, I not only learned a veteran’s thrilling story, but also things like how to host an interview, the process of creating an interview transcript, better time management, as well as techniques to enhance an oral presentation. (NC)

This project also meant a lot to me because of my family’s background. My grandfather was a Colonel in the Army, so this made me happy to do this project. (ND)

Throughout my discussions with Frank, he brought forth real-life examples of heroism; he challenged my ideas of what it means to be a hero… Now I have a better understanding of what a hero is; a hero is not necessarily someone who risks his life for others, but is any individual who embraces life in spite of hardship and untold challenges that they might face. (JR)

When this project was first assigned, I thought it was going to be like every other project I had done. I would stress over it for one or two months and then I would turn it in and forget all about it. I had no idea this project would have such an impact on me. The Witness to War: Serving a Nation project is one that I will never forget. (EC)

…this project is very different from every other project I have done before. In this project, we had to go out and find a person to interview. That is much more exciting and fun than just going home and writing a paper about some boring book or paper… Another thing that made this project different and special is that our interview went on a website and saved forever. It made the whole project feel more meaningful and special. (TC)

I did not like this project at all… (BK)

After the interview, I realized how fortunate I am that I don’t have to leave my family to fight, or worry about being in danger all the time. I also learned that I am lucky to not have experienced some of the horrors that can come with war. Secondly, I learned that heroes can be the ones who stand in the background without all the publicity and special medals. (JK)

Many heroes, such as the veteran Enzo Brandolini, are invisible in defending our country. However, this project shines a light on those heroes, and it brings them forward to tell their stories. Many heroes are left unnoticed, and their stories go untold, but this project changes all of that. (EP)

When this was assigned four months ago, I thought March was so far away, and that the project would be easy. I was proven wrong in both of those categories. March came very fast…and this project was by no means easy. (WF)

One last thing I learned that I believe is valuable is how to give a good presentation. I learned this from watching the other groups and from my experience. I am a very shy person so it was hard for me to speak in front of the class, but I think I did a good job because I had my note cards on everything I was going to say, and I was confident with my information. …I do not like presenting, but because of this experience, it is not as bad as I thought and it taught me that I am able to give a good presentation and I can still improve. (LH)

The Witness to War: Serving a Nation project is most likely one of the best and most important projects I have ever done. It forced me to give my absolute best effort and took a large amount of time… This project is extremely important because you are not only doing it for yourself, but you are doing it for your partner and most importantly your veteran. (AT)

…while doing this project, I learned many things such as you can know a veteran but not know their story and what they went through. (JC)

I truly believe this assignment is one that I will never forget and I will always be very proud of, especially after all the hard work and effort I put into it. I hope every student feels the same way about this project and that they learned something as valuable as I have; that every man and woman who has served in our military is a true hero no matter how big or small their job was… (KP)

At first I was underestimating this project thinking it would be easy, but in the end it was the hardest project I have ever done in my high school and middle school careers. (CM)

One of the less obvious things David taught us was respect. …The way he carries himself as he walks, the posture in which he stands, his clear concise words, all examples of ways he respects you. In return we tried to return the favor by treating him kindly and being very gracious toward him for wanting to meet with us and share his story. …I really felt that I gave my best effort on every aspect of the project. One thing that rather kept me going was the fact that everything we did was for the veteran, so it had to be perfect in my eyes. If it wasn’t perfect, it would seem disrespectful towards him and that’s not anything I’d ever want to do. (CH)

Prior to this project, my Papa had never shared his thoughts and experiences with me from Vietnam. Not only did I learn a lot about the war, but about his bravery, courage, and heroic military efforts. (EM)

I learned three things from this project, first; about what it’s like to serve at war, second; how to work in a group, and finally; what I need to do to succeed on a big project like this one. …all of these things I can now put towards projects I get in the future in all my classes. (BT)

After interviewing and getting to know my veteran Steven Nicolle (aka my Grampy), it made me understand how cool he actually is and know him better than before. Before I knew that he was a nice, loving grandfather, but after doing this project he is also a soldier and a hero. …I think this project brought me closer with my Grampy and I’m glad to have had him for our veteran. Mr. Nicolle is very proud of his service to the military, which he should be, and I’m proud to call him my Grampy. (KB)

I believe this project was an amazing way to preserve veterans’ stories for generations to come. I believe that children should learn about what actually happens during wars from people who actually experienced it firsthand. (NC)

From this project I’ve learned that I hate writing up essays and creating websites and doing interviews. …It took me way out of comfort zone and really pushed me to do stuff I may have never done. (EL)

I no longer think that members of the Armed Forces are at any way doing a job comparable to civilians. Learning such a significant lesson in any project will surely stick with me my whole life, and I thank you for this opportunity. (BN)

…it’s not just the soldiers on the front lines that matter… Without people aiding the soldiers on the front lines, their jobs would be so much more difficult. (JC)

I would argue any day that someone who puts their lives on the line so that somebody else can have rights is a hero. Through this project, I learned that there are many people behind the scenes of our military that aid its function. Everyone thinks of the people out on the front lines fighting in combat for our country, but there are forgotten heroes that are hidden and do their job dutifully. (EC)

Besides learning about my veteran and his story, I was able to learn about all the veterans that my classmates interviewed. The range of things that the veterans did was all the way from a food inspector to someone fighting on the front lines. Hearing these presentations made me realize that although some jobs that veterans do are more exciting than others, they are all important… I appreciated veterans before, but listening to what some had to endure they now have a whole new level of respect and appreciation from me. (KS)

He disclosed to me his duties and experiences during the night of the Tet Offensive, what he said was the most dangerous night of his service. …I discovered that Marvin, being the highest ranking officer in his bunker that night, had to put on a brave face for the benefit of the other men, despite his own fears and insecurities. This allowed me to fully shape my idea of what a true leader is, someone who lends support to those who need it most. (AR)

I already respected my grandfather for being in the military before this project, however, I had not really understood what went on in the military and what a commitment it was to be serving during war time. I see veterans in a new light after hearing so many stories and seeing all the people that served their country with pride. Instead of a blind reverence, I see a story and truly incredible life. I have a true respect now… (BF)

Reflecting on this project, I realize that I have learned different skills that will be important in my life as an adult. …These are communication, self-reliability, public speaking, and responsibility. (BH)

I now know, after completing this project, how to communicate with strangers, how to present a PowerPoint, and also how to divide work between partners. This project overall supplied me with not only an accomplished feeling, having finished it, but also because I now know new things that can help me later on in life. (TB)

If I had known that I would have such a great time completing this project, I would have been much more enthusiastic and eager than I was when I first heard about it. This project has greatly influenced my life as a whole, and I am so glad I decided to take government this year. (EG)

I’ve become more tolerant waiting for that slow person or waiting for an elderly woman to finish her checkout because seeing the veterans’ stories sparked a new level of respect to people. I feel more mature as well. (AB)

As time went on and the project progressed, I found that some of the things I was worrying about weren’t particularly easy, but they weren’t impossible. I think that doing this project allowed me to more deeply appreciate the work veterans and soldiers do for our country and learn more about the topic. My teamwork and time organization skills have also improved as well as my confidence to produce quality work. (SP)

This was a time consuming project, however I feel it was definitely worth the time and effort due to all the knowledge that I gained. Looking back at this experience, I truly believe it was life changing, and it gave me a whole new view of veterans. (KF)

A hero doesn’t have to be known by everybody. A hero can be known just in a family or in a small community. A hero is honorable and always puts others before themselves. A hero can be behind-the-scenes, not in the spotlight. I now understand that a hero is much more than what everyone thinks it is. I believe that the veteran my partner and I interviewed is a true hero. (VV)

Because of this project, I look at soldiers in a new way. Those who voluntarily put their lives on the line in order to help others now hold a high place in my heart. These soldiers show integrity, honor, respect, and responsibility like no others, and I truly believe that this project has helped me realize this and understand it like I never have before. (MB)