I feel that it is important for me to write tonight. I'm on a bit of a scholarly high right now. It is Wednesday night, which means that I had my Senior Seminar class earlier this evening. That hour that we meet as a class is honestly one of the best hours of my week and I thoroughly look forward to it all week long. Usually, I am terrified because my fear is that my professor will tell me I am not doing enough research each week, but once I get there, I don't want to leave. This is mostly because of my professor. She is wonderful, but I connect with her because of her unabashed love for history. And this does not only connect me to her, but to many of my lovely professors.
We have been reading articles by major historians on the importance of doing history and how to integrate our faith with our scholarship. As my professor reads an inspiring sentence, she will just set her paper down and breathe in slowly, then look at us and say, "Isn't that just wonderful?" Two weeks ago we read an introduction to a book, titled The First Thanksgiving, by Robert Tracy McKenzie. I so badly want to read it now, but let's be honest, "ain't nobody got time for that." He spoke to the importance of doing history and he made it sound so noble. I feel as though what I do is actually a public service. I love that I was wired for this. When my professor stops reading to just reflect on the statement, I am right there with her; it is so encouraging and brings such purpose to my being as a Christ follower and hopeful historian. I love what I am learning and have learned. I love that I have been drawn to history from a young age. Often it surprises me when fellow classmates state that they chose to add a history major to complement their social studies ed. major and to set them a step above the rest. This I do not understand, because the truth is, I am completely enthralled with American history. I simply could not imagine doing anything else with my life.
This is affirmed when my professor encourages me. Tonight during my one on one, she complimented my historiography and my presentation and really had no advice or criticism for my work. Last week, after presenting my Historiography, which I was extremely nervous for by the way, she looked up from her notes and simply said, "that was great." I love that my passion seeps out of my work.
This post is not meant to pride myself, for I have been trying to practice humility and have been thinking of it extensively, even though I feel that I am usually the opposite in lacking confidence in myself and my abilities, but I want to remember this night. I want to remember this passion and love I have had for history for so long and my desire to constantly learn and take in as much information as possible. I love that I am not alone in my love and that there are others I can look to and learn from. Some people go their entire four years of college life and still not fully grasp their passions; I am very thankful that I know mine. I am thankful for professors that have challenged me and show interest in my interests.
I am thankful that this is who I was created to be and that this is the profession I was wired to do.
Story:
Last week was Homecoming here at Bethel and since Bethel is facing major economic hardship, professors in the liberal arts departments have been focusing heavily on the importance of their scholarship and why it should remain a facet at Bethel. So on Saturday, alumni in the business, law, non-profit, and writing sectors held a forum type meeting where we could talk to them and hear about how their liberal arts education helped them seek jobs and to gain connections as we begin to look for jobs. During that morning's gathering, the history department was interviewing students. I was one of them interviewed and the question came up, "Why did you choose a history degree?" If you know me, that was a stupid question. What else would I have done? Didn't they know they were talking to the girl that had read Little House on the Prairie as a child, along with the Mandie series and Ann Rinaldi books? I simply answered, "there was nothing else I could do." For as long as I can remember, history has been my passion and the only subject I ever found completely interesting. The truth is, it is captivating. That may seem weird to others that find history boring, but we have so much to learn. There have been so many things I have learned here that I question why they were never taught in high school. For instance, why do most people not know about the Virgin Soil epidemics? It baffles me how little the American public really knows about their own background.
