A popular topic going through Odyssey right now is "If ..... Were College Majors." I have read all of them to curiously find out what other people compare my major to. Each time they mention "either you love or hate history," they say we are boring and we are flavorless. Sure, you can hate history or you can love it. It's not for everyone, I know that. Mathematics, Nursing and chocolate chip cookies are not for everyone either.
Just because the writer is biased against history does not mean that those who do are "flavorless." As a future historian, I know the writer's bias is their first mistake. I gathered facts from personal experiences of viewing history fans and non-history fans. So here is where you are wrong about history majors.
1. We probably know more about your ancestry than you do.
And all we need is your last name to start tracing it back several generations.
2. We have a full understanding of how the world ended up this way
History rhymes, therefore we can predict what happens next. We know society is terrible; you can blame your ancestors.
3. Research papers are a breeze.
Ok, sometimes they are.
4. We appreciate culture and diversity.
Society may be terrible but we love the diversity in the world. There is beauty everywhere.
5. We are preserving the history that people try to cover up.
6. We can educate the people who get facts wrong.
Alexander Hamilton was never president, Columbus did not discover America, Adam and Eve would not have eaten an apple and Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb.
7. We have a chance at holding objects that changed history.
You know, like... Indiana Jones or something.
8. We are basically Indiana Jones.
9. Every day is a treasure hunt.
10. Seeing historical objects firsthand make history haters change their minds.
After going on a walking tour with a few friends who found no interest in history, they became very in touch with the past. They even felt inspired and wanted to see more. Seeing history with your own eyes changes a person.
11. We have supportive professors.
All professors become your best friend. They help you become great historians with the same mission; preserve what others want to destroy.
12. We're secretly adrenaline junkies.
We love to go on ghost tours and being a historian will take you to a lot of adrenaline worthy places. We even love a good cannon being fired.
13. We're awesome storytellers.
We can easily retell stories that most people do not know. We are so used to telling stories that it comes naturally.
14. We can respect everyone, even if we do not agree.
If there's anything history is rich with, it's different opinions and culture.
15. We get to travel for our jobs.
16. We store a bunch of small facts that blow other people's minds.
There are churches in Europe that took longer to build than the USA has even been a country.
17. We know the flaws of our "heroes."
