need a advice about history study and careers, plz read?

Question

I'm doing a research project about history major and careers, and i need to ask several questions with someone who is occupying in history. Please help me to answer these questions if you could, and I'll appreciate your respond.

1st. How serious the young Americans pay attention to history study?

2nd. Can you tell the advantages and disadvantages for study history?

3th. As I know there are many divisions and classes in history study, what is your suggestion that which division(s) should I study and why?

4th. What kind of careers for a student after his or her graduated in history major?

5th. What’s your advice for the future students who want to study history as their major?

Thank for your time and kindness.

Answer 1

Winston Churchill said "The one thing we have learned from history is that we don't learn from history."

I think Americans like history when it's a good story, but have a lot of trouble thinking about how it applies to them today. Yes, to answer your question, young Americans pay attention to history, especially when it is told in a way that applies to the now, but no, they don't take it so seriously that there are significant demonstrations of their 'owning the now' because of their understanding of the past. History today, I think, is most important for the storyteller. Our generation is very self-important, but not very informed. It's when the people who can address those self-important ones in such a way that they can understand it that it finally makes its way through the skull. So you know, most history majors I know are teachers and intended to be that the whole time... so if you're headed that direction, the only thing I have to say to you is this: learn it as a story.. and apply it to today.