I have spent a lot of time preparing for this conference by re-writing my paper and making it into a professional nine page paper that will be easy to understand and easy for me to convey to others. I really enjoyed writing this paper last semester during my Researching American History class (which is featured as a ‘cool class’ at Rollins!) and I have learned a lot not only about my subject, the Ohio Wesleyan Football game in 1947, but also about researching, working in the archives, and writing.

I know that I have grown a lot as a writer, and it’s very exciting to be able to share my growth with others. The Phi Alpha Theta conference is a conference by the history honor society where history students come to present their research and can even compete with one another over presentation. In order to compete, you have to be a part of Phi Alpha Theta. That’s another thing I am excited for – I will be able to be a member of Phi Alpha Theta next year (again, the history honor society on campus), and next year at the conference, I will be able to present my research and be in the running to compete with others.

I’m excited for this experience because it helps me with my life goals—being a researcher and writer. The most rewarding things in my life are the things that feed my passions and further my goals. I am also really glad that Dr. Ewing and Dr. Strom encouraged me and all the other history students to do our best in the classroom, and then to go further and encourage us to do things like this. This conference is an awesome opportunity for me to grow. It doesn’t just look good for Rollins or good for me, but it helps me grow in my presenting skills, my writing skills, and my critical thinking skills.