I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Milwaukee Area Technical College for their unwavering support. Our journey to New York provided us with meaningful opportunities to visit Manhattan University to engage with the Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center. 

The trip offered students a chance to learn about historical injustices and reflect on the impact of discrimination and silence. As a Rohingya student, the experience was especially meaningful, as the stories shared at the center echoed the ongoing persecution faced by the Rohingya community in Myanmar. This strengthened the group’s commitment to raising awareness and advocating for justice, and we believe it will have a positive impact on our community. 

We had a great time walking in the city and exploring the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Immigration Island, the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Hall National Memorial, 9/11 Memorial, and other sights. This educational trip marks an important milestone for our student organization and will stand as a historically remarkable moment for future generations. 

We are deeply grateful to everyone at MATC — especially Tanisha Williams and Kimberly Gilmartin (Kim) — for making this experience possible. It is an honor to represent our college with pride. 

The student group’s trip was taken April 9-12, during MATC’s Spring Break.

(The author of this article is Khin Maung Aye, President of the Rohingya Student Association.)