For a large part of my life I was fascinated by how my family and others I know were affected by the significant historical events they lived through. Did they play a role? Were they important? As I questioned my elders I realised that many do not, understandably, want to talk about parts of their lives that are painful. I also interviewed my parents to get a clearer idea of just how much their families refused to talk about their past. At the same time, I discovered the beauty of memoirs and primary sources. Reading the stories of individuals changed my relationship with history. I have com