Hometown: I grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Los Gatos, California.
What is something you wish everyone knew about your major? History is so much more interesting that people think! I believe a lot more people would enjoy history if they knew that memorizing dates and names is not as important as it seems. Obviously, a good memory helps, but a lot of historical thinking is more about understanding cause and effect, changes over time, and the interplay of complicated narratives.
What was your most impactful class or professor? My two most impactful professors have been Dr. Rebecca Hughes and Dr. Alissa Walter, both of whom I've taken many classes with. Dr. Hughes's class, Game of Life: WWII, made me fall in love with historical research and writing, and Dr. Walter's class, Women and Gender in Islam, made me fall in love with Middle Eastern and Islamic history.
What are you excited for in your future career? I'm hoping to pursue a career in library sciences or archives, and I'm excited to continue research and working in public history.
What advice do you have for incoming students? Some advice I would give to incoming students is to not be afraid to use the resources available to you, especially your professors! Also, I highly recommended getting involved with any sort of clubs that interest you, whether related to your major or not.
How have you grown during your time at SPU? Over time, I have definitely grown more confident in myself and my skills as a scholar.