Ever since I was a child I was very curious about the past. My love for the past first began with dinosaurs, and I would often read about them in my grade school's library. But my interests would soon evolve to encompass more recent histories. As I grew older I became more curious about human history. I remember learning a great deal about America's colonial history and about the first civilizations in Mesopotamia. The subjects always thrilled me and filled me with great curiosity. My love for history never went away. Every history class I took in high school left me in awe. To learn about humanity's triumphs, cultures, innovations, and mistakes was astounding. I came to appreciate the subject so much that I have chosen to study it in college. I have learned now that history is the field that I want to work in. It is truly the major for me. By studying history I am learning a great deal about the rest of my species. But I have also learned a good deal about myself in the process, and why I have come to love history as much as I do.
I learned that I am an observant person. I like to look at a things and analyze them. I not only have a great curiosity about human history, but also about the world and existence itself. By studying history I get to exercise my mind, and piece together a solid opinion built from the evidence I analyze. I can learn about how complex one event can be, and how everything is a culmination of several factors that come into play. History teaches me that the world is not black and white, and there are reasons for everything.
Therefore, history helps me understand the crazy world I live in. Thinking historically helps me understand what events lead up to other events, and how all of our lives today are shaped by things that happened in the past. Everything is strung together by causes and effects that have and will shape our existence. Studying history has really opened my eyes up to how the world works, or more specifically how people work. When you study past events you begin to see common patterns in how people react to certain things, and what shapes a society.
The study of history has entertained me too. To me, all of human history is like a never ending book that is filled with drama, excitement, beauty, passion, and pain. The story of mankind can certainly be considered the greatest story ever. What is most amazing about this story is that it is continuously being written. I believe history is made everyday, and we continue to add to this grand tale. Our history is a compelling story, and we are all its characters.
History has also helped me appreciate diversity. When you learn about history its not the dates that matter, but the people. You learn about past cultures, different beliefs, and ideas. You come to understand that humans have always been a diverse species. Studying history reminds me about how unique groups of people can be, and I have learned to apply that understanding to today's world. Though I know that many in the past (and today) have chosen to disregard diversity, I do not wish to repeat their mistakes. Instead I wish to learn from them and be enlightened. So with that I choose to respect people with different backgrounds.
History will always be a passion of mine. Studying it gives me excitement and great joy. History is the field I know I belong in, and I hope that I will be able to contribute to the fields community. This is the field I was born for, and I will certainly study it until the day I die. The study of history is certainly the study of humanity, and I have found that the more I learn about humanity the more I learn about myself.
