Since taking AP history courses in high school, I have always believed that History is one of the most important and integral subjects in understanding the ways that people interact, as well as how people can learn and prepare for the future by understanding the past. I have a particular interest in U.S. History and World History, and the ways in which social, economic, and political trends shape and impact our global environment. While studying at Oxford, I had the opportunity to enroll in the course, “The Politics of Imperial Decline in Britain since 1939,” with Professor Richard Coggins. This class provided insightful knowledge on how the social construction of history is perceived in another area of the world.
In addition, I came to understand the importance of globalization and how Great Britain has played a pivotal role in interacting with nations such as the United States. Likewise, the Oxford course “British Perspectives of the American Revolution,” taught by Professor Andrew Beaumont, analyzed the events that led up to the American Revolution using a variety of direct sources such as manuscripts and letters from the time. By reexamining facts and knowledge that I had already learned in my American education, I was able to redefine what I had previously known, and now have a more nuanced and complex understanding of many British policies during the time period.
Deriving from these courses, I believe that by providing students with as many perspectives from which to draw their conclusions, students in secondary education will be exposed to a more global learning environment. Skills that emphasize diversity of perspective within a worldly setting are essential for 21st century education. Undoubtedly, learning how to be an independent thinker is one of the most important life lessons to be gained from secondary education. I believe that history is a pathway that encourages reflective and prospective growth. By providing an engaging and multifaceted curriculum that emphasizes the process by which we come to understand history, students can further develop lifelong analysis skills and become globally engaged citizens.
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Bachelor's Degree in History, Master's Degree in Secondary Education |
University of Massachusetts Summer Seminar
Trinity College, Oxford University |