History Personal Statement Example 8

I have always been captivated by stories, and history, after all, is just that, a story. History, to me, is a colossal story that encompasses all of humanity, the tears and the joy, and whose ending is not yet known. History has the most convoluted plot, filled with so many facets that no one person can possibly explore them all. It takes facts, adds interpretation, and the finished product is an entrancing tale of happiness, woe, and luck. This is why I love history: it is ambiguity that leads to our story. I want to be someone who shares that story with the world because our past should be valued. My particular interest in history began during a trip to Europe when I was eight years old, when I saw a castle for the first time. From that moment on, I became fascinated by European history in general and medieval history in particular. Because of this studying in the UK would bring me closer to parts of history that are not even existent in the US.

I wish to study history to share the story of history. No matter where in the world you are, museums have a quality to them that lets you feel a part of the past. Museums have always been a place of solace for me, a place where I can visit countless times and yet come away from every visit with new knowledge. They allow everyone to experience history rather than just reading or hearing about it. I want to help spread this special knowledge and to share the wonder that comes from seeing that the story of history was, in fact, reality, which is the reason I hope to someday work in a museum.

In my free time, I share another types of stories, in a slightly different manner than employed by museums. I am a four year member of the speech team, and, as of this year, the team’s secretary. The speech team competes every Saturday from October to February with nearby schools. There are many different types of events. I, specifically, have competed in poetry, dramatic interpretation, humorous duet acting and dramatic duet acting. I have qualified for the State Finals twice, earning fourth and seventh place consecutively for a short play event called Performance in the Round. At my first tournament this year I received seventh place and I am looking forward for the rest of the season.

Along with speech, I am very active in my school’s theatre department. I have been in numerous plays, most notable the lead in last year’s Group Interpretation, a contest play, which was a historical drama--a perfect combination of two of my favorite things! Our play won 5th place in the State Championship and individually I was awarded an “All-State Cast” title. From these activities I have gained valuable communication skills, allowing me to give successful speeches and interact with people professionally.

Though I am always busy with schoolwork and extracurricular activities, I make certain that I always have time to read. I enjoy reading immensely, especially biographies and classics. Right now I am working on familiarizing myself with some of the classic epics, including Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante’s Divine Comedy. I particularly like books with historical significance because I can connect them to events I have learned about from prior studies.

These connections are part of the reason I like writing historical essays. Finding a puzzling question, gathering sources, and sleuthing out some veritable solution is always exciting to me.

Studying in the United Kingdom has always been a dream of mine, and I am hoping to make this dream a reality. Upon researching universities, I have become more and more certain that the UK is the place I should continue my studies. I am particularly attracted to a more specialized field of study along with the rich history of the country. If accepted, I know that I will be successful both in my studies and in any other activities I may pursue and I am certain the benefits gained from education will be many.