From Robben Island. Today, I learned what it means to be willing to risk your life for your beliefs. I am fiercely committed to making the world a better place, but would I die for it? Would I spend my life in prison for it?

The island is a 25 minute boat trip from the Cape Town waterfront and (on a clear day) you can see the city from the Island. We started our tour near an eerie building - the old Visitor’s Center. When visitors would come to see their loved ones, they would first enter the Visitor’s Center. Even after the very long journey to the island, they would be turned away if they did not speak English or Afrikaans. In a country with 11 national languages, it is easy for one to imagine how many people never received visitors.

We were given a private tour from an ex-political prisoner, Sideeq Levy,who has a deep understanding of Robben Island’s long history. He took us to the area of the island where his prison cell was located and recounted some of the violence that he had to endure. I saw how speaking about the hardships of his stay on Robben Island and the struggle for freedom and equality still makes him very emotional. He continues his work on Robben Island, as difficult as it is, so that the injustices and suffering that occured during apartheid will never happen again.

When we got to Nelson Mandela’s jail cell, I was surprised by how small it was - we had seen dog kennels in another area of the island that were larger than this great man’s cell. For a bed, Mandela had a mat on the floor; for his pillow, he had a rolled-up blanket; all in a room about half the size of a common closet. We heard stories of Mandela’s courage, strength, and uncommon patience. For 18 years, prior to being moved to Pollsmoor Prison, this tiny cell and the man held within its bars, represented the struggle and hopes of millions of South Africans.

The histories of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and other victims of apartheid, like those in the Sharpeville Massacre, were shocking and difficult to comprehend. Today, learned a very valuable lesson about heroes and courage and, for this reason, I will be forever changed.

Tomorrow: Cricket.

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