What topics of history have you explored and which areas would you like to learn more about?

While abroad in London I have taking a 300-level history course entitled The Bloody History of Afternoon Tea, which focuses on the popular English pass-time (drinking tea) and how the East India Company shaped history on a global scale with their brutality in the search of cheap means of getting quality tea. I have also been taking an art history course that I have absolutely adored, but I do not think that counts as a history course. Previously I have taken Women and the American Experience, the Holocaust, and Promised Lands. All of these were 200-level history courses focusing on women in American history and finally giving them a voice, the horrors of the Holocaust throughout Europe, and the Great Migration of six million African Americans from the South northwards, respectively. I do not know how you would categorize each of these into areas, maybe two American history classes, one western European/wartime history class, and one Asian history class if you split my classes regionally?  As a double major in international studies, I love learning about US foreign relations and what has gone on and is currently going on in other parts of the world. I also feel like throughout all of your schooling leading up to college our education is very US-centric. We barely even learn who the leaders of other countries are, we simply learn about other countries in a light of how they impacted America, like in WWI and WWII. I would really love to stay away from taking anymore American history courses and focusing on other regions of the world. Originally I thought of wanting to focus on Western Europe, but after Prof. Lutze’s course this semester I have become more interested in learning about Asian history as well. 

What have been your favorite genres of history (movies, documentaries, fiction, historical fiction, museums, monographs) and why?

Growing up I loved reading historical fictions. Whenever we had library time in elementary or middle school I would always end up checking out historical fictions before I even knew that was my favorite genre. There was and still is something fantastic about learning through historical time periods; whether it be a fake diary written by Marie Antoinette or the power of loving and taking care of people regardless of skin color in the 1960s segregated South and how biracial friendship can save a town. 

Seeing that I have grown up since my days of elementary and middle school readings of Holocaust historical fictions, I have also grown to love museums. It is one thing to learn about historical events in class but to see an actual poster that was used in Vietnam protests, letters written between royals in the seventeenth century, or a pin from a hat a suffragette once wore holds so much more power. It gives me two incredible sensations in recognizing the power of preservation and the validity and lessons history teaches us. Paired along with more in depth information and comprehension of how real historical figures are in a present where everything we do is really self-centered, and I could easily spend days in one museum. 

What are your initial thoughts on a potential Pathway?

While I like to think I am a good writer, I do not have the imagination or confidence in research abilities to pursue a pathway in any extensive writing pathway. But really getting to focus in on one individual and present their life stories like I have gotten to do with Toypurina last fall and will get to do with Catherine of Braganza this fall is something I am super into. That and spotting faults or admiring world renowned museums in London truly has me believing I could do museum curation and follow the Public History pathway. 

How will your strengths assist you in that potential Pathway? 

I do not typically attribute my fatal fall in perfectionism as a strength but I truly believe that in this case with the Public History pathway, being able to focus in on every little detail and making everything I do as consistent as possible is a strength. Especially when I am working on something I have a great interest in or am very passionate about, my focus becomes very succinct and my work ethic has become a lot better since studying abroad too.

Do you anticipate any challenges for you in pursuing that potential Pathway?

Like with anything I do, I assume there are going to be challenges. I want it to be challenging, I would have chosen to pursue a history degree at another university if I wanted things to be easy. As to what those challenges will be, I have no idea but I am looking forward to the future when we start focusing more on our Pathways. 

Do any of your previous artifacts suggest a potential Pathway?

Just looking at the artifacts I have already posted, I might say that a potential Pathway could be research, but because of my more specific interests in history and enjoyment of museums, I think I can also easily fall into the Public History Pathway too.