Question

Prompt: Imagine you are a teenager living in East Berlin in the 1980s.

What is one challenge you might face in your daily life?

Write 3–4 sentences.

Answer 1

One big challenge is that I always have to be careful what I say because the Stasi could be listening — teachers, neighbors, and even friends might be informants. I don't talk about my doubts about socialism or my wish to visit West Berlin, and I hide my records of Western music and books. It makes me feel lonely and like I have to act all the time, even with people I trust.