Yes, History Is Relevant Emily Luong

“Frances Perkins!” I yelled as our car sped past the U.S. Department of Labor Building. Constitution Avenue! The Smithsonian Museum of American History! I was in utter ecstasy as I walked past the flag that had inspired the national anthem and the booth that hosted the Greensboro sit-ins, past the memorial service for Justice Scalia at the Supreme Court, past the reading of George Washington’s Farewell Address in the Capitol building. The East Coast was heaven for my inner history geek.

Taking AP US History was, hands-down, the most enjoyable academic experience of junior year. My teacher, Mr. Pacheco, was notorious for his heavy and difficult workload, but once I took his advice to “buckle down, manage your time, and put in the effort,” I realized that I had never connected with a class, nor a teacher, as much as I did with APUSH and with Pacheco. Memorizing the presidents, taking notes on the Great Awakenings, and writing timed free-response essays were not painful experiences to “survive”; rather, they were valuable ways to learn material that was applicable to everyday life.

The pursuit of history has made me a more curious and empathetic person, and has enhanced my sense of justice. I find myself constantly drawing...