I majored in History in college.
Did you want to be a teacher?
No, I didn’t want to be a teacher.
Did you want to be a lawyer?
No, I most definitely didn’t want to be a lawyer.
What kind of job did you think you’d be able to get with a history degree?
To be honest, I didn’t think that far ahead.
So why’d you major in history?
Because it was the only major whose course offerings interested me. I was going to major in journalism but after one look at the required classes I thought, “There is no way I can sit through all of that.” I’m sure most people feel the same about history but that’s the point. You should do what looks good to you.
Anyway, in my capstone class senior year Dr. Gahan went around the room and asked everyone how and why they got interested in History. I took the question a little too far and tried to drill back to the actual root. The moment that set everything else in motion. Why did you choose History? Because I was good at it and I liked it. Why were you good at it? Because I actually studied it on my own outside of school. Why did you do that? Because I liked maps. I’ve always loved maps. They are a great gateway drug for interest in history. Why did you like maps? Because for some reason my parents had a world map hanging on the paneled wall of the hallway in our house. I asked my mom recently what possessed her and my dad to hang up a world map. She said they thought it would be good for me and my brother. Mission accomplished I guess. So, the map was there….why were you so drawn to it? Because of all the pretty colors. When I think about it, all of the things I was enamored by as a kid was a result of bright colors: Maps, trains, video games, racecars, billiards.
But that interest in maps didn’t just eventually morph into my love of history but also my interest in travel. The more I learned about all of these different places, the more I wanted to go to them. I never thought I’d get as far as I have and where I’m going….I have a hard time believing it now. Here’s to being easily amused.
I am now planning to hang a map in my house for Olivia, in the hopes that she will not suck at geography like her mama. (Props to your mama.)
Do you have a globe? If you don’t I have plenty. I gave Karla one for her kid. The one in my cube at work needs a good home as long as you don’t mind it being over 50 years out of date.
Small world. I ended up not graduated my first university because I was bored out of my mind with the class selection. When I did finish it was just to please family and friends. I have always wanted to travel more because of the history of other places and a chance to see the world and what it has to offer. I have a family of five so things are not as easy. We are planning slowly to get in the groove of things by making weekend trips and then more and more from there. Once our kids are out of high school in 5 years we are taking the youngest and moving abroad to explore that map of the world. Heres to happy travels.
Thomas recently posted…The Jet Setter Family Story
I’m looking forward to following your story as I’ve had many people mention to me their desire to travel more while balancing family/school.