Literature with a Message by Isabel

Literature with a Message by Isabel - February 2015 Scholarship Essay

I believe that every high school student should read the autobiographical novel "Left to Tell", written by Immaculee Ilibagiza. This is an account of a woman’s horrifying experience in the Rwandan Genocide in the last decade of the 20th century. Throughout the narrative, she tells of the hellish reality of this event, and her path to healing and forgiveness in the years following.

The book begins with recounting Immaculee’s happy life, not yet torn apart by the terrors of war. She is a relatable character, a pleasant young woman trying to live a moral life. Though she has her struggles like every other human, the character is a beautiful role model for young women all over the world. The story turns for the worse as the Hutu extremist government began the mass killings of Tutsi men, women, and children. Those who opposed these actions were killed alongside the victims. In the short time between the months of April and August of 1994, it is estimated that one million people were murdered. Many women were victims of rape and mutilation, as sexual violence was a prominent weapon. Immaculee lived in a tiny hidden bathroom with seven other women for the months of violence, hearing the screams of her people, waiting to be caught and raped and murdered. She found solace and strength only in her faith.
This is an amazing account of a woman’s bravery amidst horrendous crimes. Though she was living hell on earth, she managed to share her faith and peace with those around her. Eventually, she found the strength to forgive those who persecuted her and killed her family. In a world with so much suffering and violence, I believe that Immaculee’s message of peace and love and forgiveness is important for young adults to hear. There must be more people like Immaculee in this world. Students, the future leaders of society, must learn from past horrors like the Rwandan Genocide. Immaculee’s book illustrates these nightmares and offers a constructive solution of love instead of continuing the cycle of violence and hatred. This is one of the most important messages a student can learn. This is why every high school student should read "Left to Tell".