Ah, the beloved history major. Often confused as a teaching degree or a “supplemental” degree, I have encountered many stereotypes against my first true love from the time I was a senior in high school. Some of the questions people have asked me about my degree truly baffle me, and a few comments from fellow students are frustrating. One of my favorites is hearing that my major is “so much easier” than fill-in-the-blank major. This is especially satisfying when those same students are dropped into one of my upper-level history classes and find themselves completely lost. These misconceptions not only speak for history degrees, but also for a few other degrees in the humanities department as well. Welcome to my “easy” world, kiddo.
“What grade would you like to teach?”
Well, here is the thing. I do not want to be a teacher. Gasp! Yes, there actually are other things that one can do with a history degree. While some students might go on to become teachers, which I commend them for since I would never have discovered my knack for history without a few good teachers in middle school and high school, not all of us have to follow that path, too. There are abundant options when you are a history major. As far as grad school, one of the most obvious, at least I thought, was moving on to law school. But the major is so versatile that it can really be paired with almost anything. In fact, a few medical schools are saying that they are looking highly upon humanities majors because our curriculum teaches us critical thinking and not memorization, thus making us act quickly and rationally in times of crisis.
“You’re so lucky you don’t have to take tests.”
First, we do take tests. But even when we don’t, are we really lucky? I’m not sure having to write a 25-page research paper with 10 primary and five secondary sources (and that’s on a good day) is considered winning the lottery. I guess it’s weighing two evils, but please don’t say that I’m “lucky.” While others might be able to study (whether they actually are studying or not is up to them), I have to physically write a paper and hand it in. People can claim that they studied and they show up for the test like everyone else. If my paper is one page short when I hand it in, there goes a significant amount of points right off the bat.
“Can you tell me the exact date and location that _________ happened?”
No! Some history students might be able to tell you, but that doesn’t mean I can. I personally am not the best with dates and names, and while I do know my fair share, that doesn’t mean I can rattle off the history of the world like I am Google. While history class in middle school and high school was primarily about exact dates and names, college level courses focus more on forming ideas and thesis statements -- using critical thinking to develop different points of view and analyze history from certain culture and times. Names and dates come in handy the most not when we are reading out of textbooks, but when we are doing independent research (which we spend hours upon hours on) to further our stance on a particular topic. Also, some of us are better at subjects than others. The guy sitting next to me might be able to tell you all about Chinese history in the 1500s, while I might be able to tell you more about the Industrial Revolution in America and how it affected health. We all have our specialties, so please refrain from asking specific questions about a random event and being disappointed when I can’t spit out information like a computer.
“History is in the past, good luck having it help your future.”
I don’t know if you’ve ever realized this, but the past really does affect the present. On top of that, as the saying goes, “History tends to repeat itself.” Historians are found at all levels of the academic and professional world. They are utilized not only for their knowledge of the past, but also for their superior research capabilities and a huge asset in modern times: critical thinking.
My history degree has taught me so much more than what misconceptions will have you believe. Have I learned about historical events? Absolutely. But I have also learned how to form and defend my own thesis — I can connect the past with the present and provide well-informed assumptions about the future, and furthermore, my debate skills have skyrocketed. It’s a little easier to win an argument when you know exactly how to research and connect information that will back you up. So before you go judging history majors, at least take a walk in our shoes! History majors are all around you. They have been presidents, CEOs, lawyers, doctors, scientists, analytical researchers, heads of government and private corporations, and often the people behind the scenes who have kept the country safe in times of crisis. And yes, they were your teacher, too. Having a degree in the humanities department is not a walk in the park on a sunny day, but it’s worth it.
