“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history.” – George Bernard Shaw

From the small age of about ten I have had a genuine interest in the study of history. It was always me best subject in school. When told to go to the library to get books to read, looking back now, I realize the large majority of the books I chose were related to history. I was captivated by the Romans, the Greeks, and even things that had happened in the 60’s. I think my parents encouraging me to learn as much as I could had a large amount to do with this as well, as little as they may realize it.

Although I had always maintained an interest in history, it wasn’t until I reached high school that a two of my teachers over my time there were able to make me realize how important history really was to me. On the first day walking into freshman history, my teacher had written on the board, “Those who do not learn from the past, are doomed to repeat it.” I had heard this before but it wasn’t until after I took his class that the depth of that so well known statement really began to stick with me. During my junior year of high school I was graced with an amazing teacher, a man by the name of Kevin Trent. He had been my long time swimming coach for years, but I was now a student in his class. I never in my entire high school did I discover a teacher her was able to teach and encourage his students to learn more. It was after this that I realized what I had to do. I had to teach.

Finally I had discovered what it was I was supposed to do. I would help to try and show the youth, the so called “future” of every generation that we don’t have to keep repeating the same mistakes like we have. Many will look at this and say, not everyone has the influence to change the decisions of a nation, or prevent people from fighting wars over the same topics such as religion or lack of resources. The response I developed to that line of thought was that it is not just something that we have to do if we are in power, everyone has the ability to do this in their lives. Every now and then stop and reflect on the past and see what you can learn from that, to take your life in the direction you want to, and to maybe not make that mistake a second, third, or fourth time. I am a strong believer that without our past we do not know the complete image of who we are, due to the fact that the decisions every day effect the human we become. I feel a need to help students learn that history is not all about old white men in wigs or names and dates, but the facts and events that shaped how each and everyone of us are today.

“He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future”

-George Orwell 1984

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