So Oberlin has two really cool projects that I'm a fan of. One is the blog (http://blog.oberlin.edu) and the other is the stories project (http://stories.oberlin.edu). These are a great way for prospies (and anyone else) to get an idea of what life is like at Oberlin. Aries - a new hire by the communications office and former badass tour guide and admissions intern - is now in charge of these two projects. She sent out an email requesting stories from people, so I've decided to use my blog to work out my draft. This is my first attempt, so it's likely that I'll change some of it, but I needed somewhere to start, and I figured this was as good of a place as any other.
On falling in love with Oberlin's History Department and history in general.
I entered Oberlin as a freshman in the fall of 2007 unsure of where my path would lead me. Up to this point, most of my life had revolved around musical activities, but I knew that Oberlin, while still allowing me to pursue many musical opportunities, would lead me through a new, unexplored academic journey. My favorite class in high school was AP European History, so I decided to take a risk and dive right into history classes at Oberlin.
My freshman seminar was taught by Professor Leonard V. Smith (OC '80), and focused on the French Revolution. As I became acclimated to a class of only 12 students, I began to discover a passion that had laid dormant for my entire life. Between the readings, the occasional lectures, and the varied discussions, I began to realize how interested I was in history. Though our conversations sometimes lacked the enthusiasm Professor Smith probably would have preferred, his guidance throughout this course is something I'll never forget. Having completed my first semester, I was ready to explore more diverse historical areas.
My second semester I took Modern Japanese History with Professor Emer O'Dwyer and Modern European History with Professor Smith. There is no doubt that these two courses and these two professors are responsible for my declaration of a history major by the end of my freshman year. The history faculty at Oberlin are passionate, knowledgeable, and, most important, accessible to all students. My first personal interaction with Professor O'Dwyer was when I went to her office hours to introduce myself early in the semester. She greeted me with a smile and was eager to discuss the course material and my other historical interests. I quickly discovered that, like me, she was in her first year at Oberlin and was just as eager to meet students as I was to meet professors. This conversation led to several more interactions, and eventually led to Professor O'Dwyer becoming my academic advisor when I declared my major.
Professor Smith, however, won the battle for the concentration within my major. Between his freshman seminar on the French Revolution and the Modern European History survey course, I knew that Modern Europe would be my main area of study.
Since declaring my major I've taken several more courses in the history department - including several with an outstanding visiting professor - and I have come to realize that becoming a history major is one of the best things that has ever happened to me at Oberlin. The history faculty at Oberlin have helped me to grow and flourish as a student. I have never encountered a group of people so passionate about their subject as the faculty of the history department. My entire academic experience at Oberlin has revolved around their guidance, and though I still have two more years before I graduate, I know that some of their advice will stay with me for the rest of my life. These people are truly amazing, and words cannot express how grateful I am that I have had the privilege to study with them.
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