The Past is a Present by Sara

The Past is a Present by Sara - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

If the roles of teacher and student were reversed, I would definitely be a history teacher. This would be the case not only because I love studying history, but also because I believe history has applications that stretch far beyond the classroom. It is outside the constraints of formal education that history really matters.
Since written history was developed, humanity has been looking to the past for advice and counsel. This is evident in so many aspects of life today, such as precedent in court cases and religious traditions. Not only does it influence major parts of society, history also affects the way individuals behave. Searching the past for what to do in the present is an idea I learned from a history teacher a few years ago that has changed the way I live my own life, which seems small and insignificant to the rest of the world.
I take comfort in knowing that the past happened and that I can learn as a result. Having had the importance of history explained to me like this made me realize that history is a gift, or a present. The present of the past is something I would love to share with those around me if the roles of students and teachers were to be reversed.