For as long as I can remember, it has been my desire to study history and eventually work in the field. From ancient Rome to Victorian-era England to the Ming Dynasty, I have always had an intense fascination with the past. I love mentally placing myself in the era I am studying, imagining the world around it and all its customs and traditions. What draws me in most is finding the details that humanize historical figures, rather than treating them as untouchable icons.

It is my dream to one day work in a museum, archive, or preservation project and be among the people who help teach others about history. I genuinely believe my life would feel fulfilled if I were able to do this work and contribute to making history accessible and engaging for the public.

It is not that I did not consider other paths. Like many children, I once dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. However, there was a specific moment in third grade, while sitting in the library during a history lesson, when I declared that I would major in history someday. Not because it seemed glamorous, but because it was the first time I could not stop thinking about what I was learning. I was a good student and an avid reader, but this was different. It felt like a wake-up call. Now, as an adult, I still carry that same love for the subject, and it continues to guide my academic goals.

Ultimately, my goal is to preserve history. I found myself in history years ago, and I’ve learned not to live in it, but to let it live in me. I want to preserve it for others to see, and learn, and feel. Just as I will continue to see it and learn from it and feel it. History is never ending. There will always be more history made. More history that has been hidden to discover. I want to be there to appreciate it.

People have always asked me if I want to be a history teacher. My response is always no. Never. But I supposed in a way, the answer is yes. Not to teach in a school in front of a class and grade peoples work, but to teach in a museum in a way. To put those artifacts out with their little description plates is, in itself, a form of teaching, if people are willing to learn. Museum educators and tour guides are teachers in their own way.

In addition to working in museums and preservation, I am also interested in consulting for historically based film and television projects. I want to use my archival and research skills to help create accurate, nuanced portrayals of the past. This would allow me to merge my love of history with my love of film, while still maintaining historical integrity. Pursuing a master’s degree in a major city would be an important step in this direction, offering unique opportunities to combine these two passions.

Ultimately, my goal is to appreciate and preserve history so that it is not lost by the very people who could stand to learn from it. History has long been said to repeat itself, and perhaps if enough people learn from it, that repetition does not have to be so endless.