To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace. – George Washington.
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A desire for history has resurfaced within me.
My passion dates back to childhood. My cousin was my inspiration. From a young age, he was known in our family for his profound knowledge of presidential history. He eventually became the State Representative of Connecticut in recent years. My school trip to Washington D.C. in 2014 and Trump’s rise in politics also began at a crucial period when I was becoming conscious of political issues.
I yearned for knowledge and began researching the subject and watching political commentaries. I bought a book on American presidents a year into Biden’s term.
That was three years ago. I never read the book.
Last week, during work, I met a junior high school student who is an apt historian of American and WWII history. He came to my van with an enlarged presidential poster in his hands.
His intellect baffled me as a 24-year-old.
“Did you know that Americans fought against the British during The War of 1812?” the boy asked.
“No, I did not know that,” I said in defeat.
“Or have you heard the famous ‘Oceans and Seas’ speech by Winston Churchill?”
“No,” I said. I didn’t know that one either.
The closer we got to his house, the more this seventh-grader informed me about Hitler and France. It left me wondering, “Did I ever learn about history?”
Humans tend to push goals off more than we realize or admit to. There’s always an excuse as to why we couldn’t achieve such a dream or such an achievement. I’ve heard it best said, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and it’s all my fault. Every action I’ve taken to date has led me to not be proficient in history. And that’s the truth. The digital age has created an anxiety of choice. We are prone to distractions, streams of information irrelevant to the goals we want to achieve, and they take up the time we need to succeed in life.
For me, YouTube contributed to a cycle of indulgence and unconcerned living, scrolling through videos to find the next dopamine rush. I’m certainly better in other areas of my life when comparing myself to who I was three years ago. But historical knowledge hasn’t budged. It’s stagnated.
Perhaps I would live a decent life if I didn’t dabble in history, but I feel I wouldn’t be living up to my potential. I’d be unfulfilled, missing out on something I wanted to partake in. If I continued down this path, the future looked dim. I had to focus on a few goals at a time and cut out the noise.
I found the Presidents’ book I stored in the archives a few days ago. It was time to read it.
So far, I’ve gotten through George Washington’s section. The book talks heavily about his involvement at his Mount Vernon estate—the first place my class and I visited on our D.C. trip a decade ago. The author also mentions his involvement in the Revolutionary War and the people who accompanied him on his journey, including Marquis de Lafayette, the French officer who joined Washington’s Continental Army.
I remembered Lafayette’s name being one of the many historical figures who visited my town years ago. The Van Wyck Homestead down the road from me served as a supply depot headquarters during the war. Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and John Hancock were among its visitors.
If anything, I’m living surreal experiences, connecting the dots from my childhood to the newfound knowledge I’m learning now.
Focusing on history—a goal I want to achieve—has been empowering. I feel at peace with myself, investing in the person I want to be perceived as. I feel more confident talking with people about American history and sharing fun facts with them.
For example, did you know Washington enjoyed music and dancing in ballrooms but refrained from singing and playing musical instruments?
Neither did I until I took action to learn about it.
Or did you know Washington unintentionally created America’s first-party system when he appointed Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State? Jefferson and Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, had different ideological views, which led to the Democratic-Republicans under Jefferson and the Federalists under Hamilton.
I didn’t. But I’ve found a new friend in Jefferson—though I despise his view on slavery.
You become what you think. Therefore, I’m consuming media wisely and taking action.