Why did you decide to become a history major?

I originally came to Carleton thinking I would be an English major. However, after my A&I with Pierre Hecker, English didn't seem to be in the cards. The next term, I took my first history class with Susannah Ottaway and I loved it. After debating between the SOAN and history major, I decided on history because it seemed that with history there was always more to learn and discuss. What I also like about history is that it helps me contextualize some of the sociological phenomenon I'm interested in and incorporate it into something that can help explain how the world came to be.

What’s the most surprising or interesting historical event, story or fact you’ve come across while at Carleton?

I really enjoyed learning about the modern history of India and Pakistan. I had never learned about South Asia before, which is why this is so interesting to me. Partition is a fascinating topic with so many viewpoints and explanations. I enjoyed discussing the role of colonialism in the development of these two nations and their ongoing conflicts. In our class, we also talked about the social effects and the history of Partition "from below." I found this to be super interesting too, especially the contrasts between the social history and the political history of Partition.

Who is your historical crush?

I would have to say Queen Elizabeth I. I wrote a paper about her in the 6th grade once and never quite got over her. She is one of my historical heroes as one of the most influential monarchs in Britain. I mean to rule England as a single lady in that era could not have been an easy job and she did so quite well.  Though she ended the Tudor monarchy, she was extremely strong and dedicated, which you can't help but admire.