As someone who had little idea of what I was going to pursue in the future, the History Revolutions and Rebellions course at Godalming was appealing because of its range of topics, many of which I had never studied before, and especially the incredibly knowledgeable and passionate teachers. It has been eye-opening to learn about areas spanning from the French Revolution in the 18th century to modern British history, with the integration of politics into the course, a particularly fascinating area for someone like me who doesn’t study Politics. History has been such a rich and beneficial course, not only presenting me with many transferrable skills like essay writing, but also just in understanding the significance of modern events, particularly in the Civil Rights in the USA unit. My favourite aspect of the course has been learning from the amazing teachers in the department. Their knowledge for the subject has allowed me to ask any questions, and encourages everyone to discuss and debate different interpretations, which honestly just creates an engaging and enjoyable environment. Within the department, History offers different workshops, where I have had the freedom to bring periods which interest me and discuss them as a group, and the opportunity to apply for a range of trips, where the Lessons From Auschwitz project was particularly impactful.
I would recommend History alongside any other courses: the skills you learn in creating arguments and writing well-judged essays is useful in other subjects but also in everyday life. For example, I am able to link my studies in Women’s Civil Rights in the USA to studying A Streetcar Named Desire in English Literature, set in 1940s America. After College, I hope to study History at University, a decision that was partly based on my love of learning such a range of topics from expert teachers. I thoroughly recommend History for anyone who has an interest in everyday news, any historical periods or just loves learning about periods they are completely unaware of: it really is a brilliantly interesting subject which prepares you with so many transferrable skills for the future.
History: Revolutions & Rebellion
Queen's College, University of Cambridge, History