From Munich to memory: JYM alumnus finds purpose in journalism, Holocaust education
Gabriel Rogers (JYM 2021-22, Grand Valley State University 2022) shares how JYM set him on a path towards a career in journalism and a volunteer position at the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial in Hamburg.
The day I returned home from my Junior Year in Munich was a time I remember vividly. Everyone I had grown so close with slowly trickled away, leaving me the last person to move out of Olydorf and settle back into life in Michigan. For the last few months in Munich, my short-term goals were all I thought of. Enroll in courses, graduate, find a job. But during those last few moments, where I saw Germany disappear behind the cloud from the airplane window, I knew I had to come back.
Finding a path in journalism
Returning from my year abroad re-energized me, resulting in an extremely productive final semester at Grand Valley State University. I produced a 30-minute documentary for my German major, finished my international relatioons capstone and established important connections that led to the start of my career in journalism. This path I chose was thanks, in part, to my experiences in Munich.
At first, engaging with local news was a way to improve my German, but then I found myself tying current events to the history I learned in my courses at JYM and the LMU. Since Munich was previously given the title of Hauptstadt der Bewegung by the Nazis, I consciously only enrolled in courses that were tied to the city’s extremist history. From there, my passion for pro-democracy advocacy merged with my interest in journalism, resulting in an obvious career path.
Reporting on extremism at home
My time as a journalist was extremely fulfilling professionally and personally. Michigan is one of the hotbeds for right-wing extremism in the United States, so learning more about the contemporary forms of those ideologies was a necessary part of the job. From there, communicating how underrepresented their influence in our society is quickly became a passion of mine.
However, the job wasn’t without its challenges. Not only were the hours long and breaks few, but the stress of deadlines was always present. Not to mention, I worked the third shift. Meaning, I would spend my nights preparing stories for reporters to take over in the morning. After nearly two years in the newsroom, the grueling schedule started impacting my health and I began exploring other options.
JYM’s lasting influence
Even after leaving Munich, JYM was still an essential part of my life. I stayed extremely close with many of the friends I made there. Also, my experiences there completely shifted my worldview, making me more internationally minded. It was an asset in the newsroom, but also a burden, since this way of thinking was inherently tied to Germany. Many of my friends, myself included, had a difficult time adjusting to life after returning to America. After two years of being back, I seemed to be the only one who hadn’t moved past it. When I stumbled across an application for a year-long volunteering position in Hamburg, I knew I needed to jump on this opportunity.
A new chapter in Hamburg
The position through Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP) is with the public relations office at the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial. Although I had never heard of Neuengamme before applying, I quickly learned how important it was to northern Germany’s history during the Nazi era. It was the largest concentration camp network in the area, imprisoning over 110,000 people, nearly half of whom died.
My responsibilities included producing short-form educational videos for social media about the camp’s history – a task for which my journalistic skills have proven quite helpful. With the support of my colleagues at the memorial, I am leading the production of a documentary on the Children of Bullenhuser Damm, allowing me to interview Holocaust survivors on the importance of historical memory.
Looking ahead
Although my volunteering position continues for another four months, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities it has given me. I am fortunate enough to engage in topics essential to understanding contemporary political issues every day. My German progressed to a C1 level, a goal I have aspired to for years.
Now, I am looking to build the next phase of my life in Germany. I am currently applying for master’s programs where I look to continue my studies into right-wing extremism and continue my career in journalism.
By Gabriel Rogers