What History Means To Me

2000 Winning Essay, High School

Cicero once said that "not to know what happened before one was born is always to be a child." Beyond doubt this statement is remarkably truthful. Whether we realize it or not, history plays an essential role in all aspects of our lives. My heritage, my experience and my knowledge of history constantly define the person I am. As humans who feel and remember, we all cherish the memories of the past—particularly those concerning us in a direct way. Many, however, go through life without ever recognizing the importance of the universal and fundamental discipline known as history. Every day of our ordinary lives, we witness or participate in extraordinary events that may appear in school textbooks in the near future or may determine the unfolding of small events leading to a climax. As a discipline promoting analytical skills and global awareness, history seeks to conserve the treasures and lessons of the past, to understand and improve the present, and attempts to predict the future ahead. For not to know what happened before one was born is not to understand what is happening today, and what may happen tomorrow.

As a little girl in faraway Europe, I easily recognized a historic place when I saw one. There was something so incredibly fascinating about walking along old streets or crossing a bridge that had been crossed for hundreds of years. In a cemetery of fallen soldiers I would sit quietly for a while, reading their names. I knew nothing of when or why they fought, yet I knew within my naíve self that I ought to pay tribute—that someone should. A life lost in sacrifice is never lost in vain. I would soon add countless facts to this simple beginning, yet the original feeling has never changed. Since then, the sense of awe has come back persistently as I learn to cultivate my passion; whether admiring the overwhelming greatness of Rome or looking at history captured on film, the past has come alive and enlightened my perspective of the world. Ever since, the tie to the past has always held me with a tight grip.

The centuries old tension in the Balkan region is the single event most directly linked to my short existence. As a witness to the most horrid sort of war—a war among neighbors, brothers, friends—I have developed an intense awareness of the importance of history in predicting and possibly preventing tragedy. Human beings need countless wake up calls to restrain from repeating a destructive behavior. History must thus give voice to the outcry of past victims. The cry has reached my ears loud and clear, and powerfully resounds ever since. Yet history is not just about shameful massacres and failed philosophies; it is about celebrating the strength and beauty of the human spirit, and honoring the power of human progress. For every Hitler and Stalin attempting to destroy the dignity of man, there are thousands of genial, heroic minds promoting the most noble of human qualities.

As a most global and sensitive field of study, history has provided me with the overwhelming feeling of belonging to something greater than any cultural or national group. For the struggle of the human race goes well beyond nationality, race, or language. Therefore, let history offer you a glimpse of its wisdom and teach you how to look back attentively, face the present wisely, and look ahead with the greatest of hope.

by J. Zubac
Sponsoring Teacher: Mrs. McComas
California
April 1, 2000