Oma

Sample Profile Essay

Note to reader: This draft is re-printed here with the author's permission. These student drafts are provided for a couple of reasons: first, to give you a taste of the variety of topics and approaches students have taken, and second, to provide instructors with readings that might be used in class discussions and activities. These samples are not perfect and represent final grades from across the grade scale (A through F), so please be forgiving, understanding, and respectful if you find errors or problems.

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Makayla Pickett

English 1010

Professor Petterson

February 19, 2017

Oma

Marta is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Born in Eltingen, Germany in 1917, she was a member of Adolf Hitler’s youth group, traveled with him on an elite gymnastics team, experienced first hand what war was like during World War 2 and then came to America with her husband and son to live the American Dream. She is strong, stubborn and very proud of her German heritage, after hearing her stories and her experiences I can’t help but feel admiration for this incredible woman.

Marta came from a prominent and respected family. Her father was strict and they all worked hard. She was very active as a child and considered herself a tomboy. Being the youngest of 6 children she was always the spoiled one. Her brother’s were very much into “the sport” meaning gymnastics, she would follow them around and try to do the things they did. Her brother Emil build a special set of bars for her to practice on, she worked at it never giving up and became a very good gymnist. One of her most valued possessions as a young girl was her bicycle. She rode her bike everywhere with her bike she had freedom.

Marta was quite involved in politics at a young age and took a special liking to Adolf Hitler. She was a leader in Hitler’s youth corp marching around singing the military chants. Marta like most of the youth were very excited and enjoyed hearing Adolf Hitler’s speeches but her parents were not as enthused. Marta would put the Nazi flag out by their front door to support Hitler, she said “my dad would take the flag right down”. Marta saw Hitler as bringing opportunity to everybody, “he made volkswagon so everybody could afford a car”, “he made it possible to do sports and go to schools”, “he believed in the youth and made us feel important.” She explained how he improved the economy. How Germany was the leader in technology and industry. I found all this very interesting because what I knew of Adolf Hitler didn’t sound anything like the person she was describing. She told me about Adolph’s childhood how he was abused by his father and bullied by other kids. She helped me realize that he actually did some positive things for Germany also. Marta was able to travel on Hitler’s elite gymnastics team which to this day she is very proud of.

Germany is at war and things began to change. Resources were becoming scarce there wasn’t enough fuel everybody gave to the soldiers to support the war effort. Marta gave her ski boots to help the soldiers. Whatever anybody had they gave. Marta married her sweetheart at the age of 25 in 1942 soon after her left to fight in the war. They had a son in 1944 which was a scary time with her husband gone she stayed in the family home. She described when the Americans started in the war they would fly their planes low and shoot, she grabbed her son and everybody went down into the basement, when they came back upstairs, “there were bullet holes through the chair my baby was in”. They would wear many layers of clothes, she would pack what she could in the baby buggy, the sirens would go off and they would run to the bomb shelter. This would happen many times, one time she couldn’t make it to the shelter in time so she “grabbed the baby and got down in the ditch as flat as they could.” We all helped each other and did everything we could to stay safe and alive. Finally her husband came home and the war ended. Times were really hard there was a shortage of fuel, food and many things were destroyed.

With her husband and son, she left Germany in 1949 to start a new beginning in America. This was very hard leaving her family and Germany behind but she knew there was no other way. They packed what little they had and boarded a ship heading to America, where they would go live with her brother in Poughkeepsie, New York. Marta said “she was feeding the fish” most of the way, but when she saw the statue of liberty everything became real for her. The very first thing that happened is they were all given a complete medical check up and physical. They got in line to receive their papers, she was very scared. They were in a new country they knew nothing about, everything was new and foreign. Marta cried and was really depressed missing Germany, her boy said “don’t cry mom we can skate home”. Marta loved to ice skate and would skate with her son on her shoulders. After coming to America they did everything they could to fit in, they spoke English, took classes to become citizens. They didn’t have a car and desperately needed one. One afternoon while her husband and son were out they saw a sign for a raffle and the prize was a new car. Her husband took all their money that was supposed to be for groceries and bought tickets. They won the car, she explains “that was the first of many miracles” that we have received here. After being in America they got on their feet they both got good jobs working for IBM. One day 2 beautiful sister missionaries came to their door they received the discussions and were baptised into the LDS church. They had a beautiful baby girl they named Ellen. Eventually they were transferred to Colorado.

In Colorado they built their dream house on a small acreage. They had many friends and enjoyed their work. Marta was the cafeteria manager which she thoroughly enjoyed. She still missed Germany but was a proud American citizen. With their kids raised they were nearing retirement and decided to take a trip to St George, Utah. They both loved it here so found and bought a lot to build a new home.

In St George at last. After retirement Marta took time to explore her many talents including painting, weaving and furthering her education in natural healing and health for which she is passionate about. After losing her husband in 1986 Marta served an LDS mission, she also helped at the Family History Center interpreting German records. One of the accomplishments Marta is most proud of is the completion of the genealogy and temple work for 3500 members of her family. She has a book that was given to her by a priest that has her entire family tree going back to the very first person. What an amazing gift and treasure to have all of those ancestors names so she could complete all of their temple work.

Listening to her story has taught me a lot. I haven’t gone through any of the hardships that she has yet at times I feel life is hard. With all of the immigration issues going on in the United States today it’s interesting how things have changed. When Marta and her family first came to America they became like Americans. They learned and spoke English, the didn’t expect things to be written in German for their convenience they did what they had to in order to become American citizens. They still have their German roots and culture but while here they did things how it’s done in America. They made it with hard work, determination and didn’t give up. When I talked to her about Adolph Hitler her response was it wasn’t just one man full of hate it took a group of people that fed on each others hate until it grew out of control, similar to when Jesus was crucified.

I feel Marta is an interesting and fascinating woman. Beginning as a child in Germany riding her bike and playing free without a care in the world. Then joining Hitler’s youth group and taking a side with political change. Joining Hitler’s elite gymnastics team traveling proud feeling honored to be part of the group. Experiencing the hardships and sacrifices of war giving the soldiers her prized ski boots because she believed in the cause. Running to protect herself and her son trying to get to the bomb shelter, having bullets shot into her home that missed them by a matter of minutes. Coming to America in search of a better life leaving all she knows and loves behind. Alone in a new country scared and doesn’t fit in having to learn a new language to communicate. She takes classes and takes that test and becomes a United States citizen. She raises her family and works at IBM where she retired after 25 years of service. She joined the church, served a mission, completed the temple work for 3500 of her ancestors. That is quite a journey one of which she is very proud. Her motto is “Just Do It” if something needs done do it first then you can rest. As we completed our interview she sings “Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles” the German national anthem.