History With a Twist by Sophie

History With a Twist by Sophie - February 2022 Scholarship Essay

The best case scenario for an elective class is that it is a low-stakes, fun educational experience. The worst case, of course, is that it is pointless and dull, taken only to fulfill a transcript requirement. Somewhere in the middle is the typical elective class— sort of interesting but not terribly instructive. If I was to design a new elective class, I would want it to transcend all three of these stereotypes and instead be a highly enjoyable but also highly instructive experience.
With this goal in mind, if I were to design a new elective class, it would probably be a class titled “The History of Our Hometown.” Such a class would involve studying the history of the area in which the school was located. This would be both a universal concept that could be applied in many different places (because all towns have a history) but one with a personal, unique twist (because every town’s history is different).
Teachers would be able to tailor the class content to the particular location, making it both relevant to the students and interesting for the teacher. This would be a great asset, since every student enjoys a class when the teacher is excited and invested in the topic. (In large cities, teachers could even limit the scope of the class to the school’s immediate area— for example, a high school in Brooklyn, New York could offer a “History of Brooklyn”. This would ensure that students are learning about an area that they have much experience with and spend considerable time in).
In addition, learning about the history of their hometown would give students a tangible connection to their community by learning about the events and people that have made it what it is. It would also strengthen students’ and teachers’ connections with each other through sharing and studying the history they all share as residents to the same town. Ideally, this would result in students becoming more invested in their communities and the people within these communities.
This class would hopefully be the ideal elective. It would benefit students by being intriguing and engaging to them, and by communicating valuable information that will affect them in meaningful ways. Lastly, and most importantly, by sharing in their town’s history, students will be better informed and motivated to share in their school’s, and their town’s, future.