Why did you choose History as a minor?
First and foremost, I chose history because I love it, and because I decided to use my minor for something I wanted to study purely for the fun of studying. I also chose it because I’ve always felt that understanding history, its events, and its resonating effects is incredibly useful in any academic discipline. As I was a Government/International Politics major, the History minor infused my study of current events with a historical framework and a deep, nuanced perspective on world issues.
What was your career path after graduation?
I graduated about two months ago, so my career is just starting. I graduated from Mason with a position at the Department of Defense doing security and analysis work, and I intend to continue work in the federal government. My path currently is leading towards a federal agency or the State Department; I have plans to take the Foreign Service Officer Test in February as well as earn my certification in my current position and hopefully return to Mason for graduate school in the near future.
How do you think your History minor at Mason prepared you for your career?
I learned invaluable skills in interpreting, analyzing, and understanding complex historical concepts and documents, which translates into any discipline or career, but specifically into mine. My current position requires considerable attention to detail, review of past actions, analysis of those actions, and predictions of what the past says about a potential future. If that sounds familiar, it’s because you spend a lot of time learning from the past and gaining perspective on the future in History. Additionally, I spent a semester in Ireland completing my History minor, where papers had to be based on primary sources, and only one Internet source was allowed. When your grade depends on deciphering the spelling and handwriting in a Tudor-era English merchant’s diary, you can learn to decipher and analyze anything!
Any advice you’d like to give to current Mason students?
Don’t wait for anything to fall into your lap. Mason definitely has all of the perks and opportunities that the brochures advertised and the recruiters promised, but it’s up to you to seize them and utilize them. And don’t let anyone tell you History isn’t a worthwhile study! After all, those who don’t study history are doomed to repeat it!