Unsung Hero Project

When searching for an unsung hero, I wanted to pick a hero that I specifically connected with. Immediately, Rosli Naf stood out to me. Her story is not one to be overlooked, and her bravery is truly remarkable. For a long time, I have wanted to be a nurse. I'm taking nursing classes this summer, and I thought that doing this project would be a great way to learn about the history of nursing and gain a unique perspective on what it was like to be a nurse during the Holocaust. I think the fact that Rosli was a nurse in the mid-1930s and early 1940s (when it was not common to have women in any field of medicine) was really inspiring to me. All of the work she did was on her own. Additionally, the sacrifices that she made in order to help save and care for hundreds of Jewish children really say a lot about the selfless woman that she was. Rosli did not mind risking her own life to save the precious lives of the children she cared for, and she was determined to free as many children as she could and help them escape to Switzerland. Rosli’s story was incredibly special to me and incredibly interesting to learn about. I have an immense amount of respect for women who were involved in any form of medical practice at this time, but Rosli especially was not scared of judgment, and she was a fearless icon. She paved her own path, and everything that she did was for others.

This project brought to light all of the unseen heroes who have saved so many lives but have received little recognition. There were 6 million Jews, and the fact that Rosli saved over 100 of them from being killed is beyond influential. The truth is, there were probably dozens of other nurses like Rosli who did the same thing but are not spoken of. Honoring these people for what they are worth and realizing how much of an impact their bravery had on others is important in history because they deserve recognition and praise for all they did. Rosli's story helped inform me that it is always important to help others and stand up and protect them when they are silenced. It is also important to note that bravery and persistence are essential to getting a good outcome, and no good outcome comes without hard work. Even though she was not Jewish, she was passionate about helping those who were discriminated against and in danger. At the time, it was dangerous to do this (even though she wasn’t Jewish) because the consequences would be significant. However, Rosli’s story really changed my perspective on things and helped shine a light on the fact that sometimes we have to put ourselves in dangerous situations if it means doing what is right. Overall, Rosli Naf is a remarkable figure in history, and her story truly has so many messages to unpack.