With college starting back up, it is about time we all prepare for the awkward first day of class "What's your name, major, and one interesting fact about yourself?" question that we all not-so-eagerly anticipate. This morning, as I sat in one of my four history classes of the semester, I was asked why I am a history major. I have an easy answer, which is that history was always my favorite subject in school, I know I want to be a teacher, so majoring in and one-day teaching history at the high school level just seems like a no-brainer for me.
However, I do have a more complicated answer for anyone willing to listen. At a young age, my mom would take my sisters and me to our local library during the summer. I can remember one summer when I was around 10, the library hosted a scavenger hunt, which leads us all over our very historic town. I found all the locations fascinating. Fast forward to my freshman year of high school- I was at the same local library working on homework. I spent almost the whole time reading the public record and about local history. Once my first semester of college rolled around about two years ago, I had about an hour of time to spare between my last class and my job. Occasionally, I would spend time in my local history museum. Oh, the things I learned.
GUYS. Local history is so important. If I had never become interested in my local history and doing my research, I would have never known that former First Lady Ellen Axon Wilson not only grew up in my little town but is buried in the downtown cemetery! If I had not been interested in learning about the place I lived and grew up in, I would have missed out on so much precious history and interesting facts. Every town has a story. I encourage you to learn yours. Spend time reading public historical records at your local library. Spend time studying your ancestry and how your family made it here. Spend time on tours, in museums, and online learning all about how your city has made it to where it is today. It will make you appreciate your town so much more.
History is the story of us, and who doesn't love a good story?
