E-mail this pageHistory Student Profiles
Krystal Lugo
|
"When I was in high school history was my favorite subject. I was fascinated by the figures of the past--Hitler, Ghandi, Mao Zedong, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, just to name a few. Studying their lives transported me to a different world. "When it came time to choose a college, I wanted a college and program that would help me deepen my understanding of the past. The history department here has a great faculty of well-educated individuals who really care about the students, whether they are gen-ed students, history majors, or history minors, I did not see this kind of dedication to students in other programs. "The history department and the history program here at Plattsburgh not only helped me to become a better student but by helping me gain a better understanding of historical interpretation of the past, they helped me to be a better person. I feel with my experiences here as a history major I can go out into the world, share my experiences in the history program at Plattsburgh State, perhaps inspire individuals as I was inspired by the history department." |
Nicholas Ostroy
|
"The study of history allows me to learn about the world and my place in the world. The acquisition of names and dates is only a consolation prize. By understanding who we are and how we have arrived at this moment in time we can prepare ourselves for the journey into the grey abyss of the future. Humans have achieved such great feats and twisted evils, and it is the job of a historian, through a blend of scientific reasoning and an eloquent literary language, to shape a vision of the past and to learn the lessons of the people who have come before us. The past reaches to us through autobiographies, newspaper articles, letters, diaries, census statements, etc, the list could go on. "The opportunity in my history courses to study the world, from French Acadia, Antebellum Boston, and Incan Peru, to Archaic Sparta, and Czarist Moscow enabled me to start weave together my own fabric about our past. Plattsburgh's small class sizes allow more interaction between the professor and the student. This setting facilitates learning and understanding that enriches my studies. The small setting is one of the biggest reasons I chose Plattsburgh and the history department." |
Woody Groves
"As a child I shunned the typical coloring book. Silly pictures of rabbits and wizards were not of interest to me. Instead, I often found myself gazing over 17th century maps of the colonial boundaries in the Americas. I can still remember the birthday when I received the greatest present anyone has ever given to me: a history of the world through maps. Oh, the hours lost in that book, imagining the possibilities and wonders of past nations and peoples!
"But my formative schooling did its best to curb this enthusiasm. Learning was not to be fun! My sophomore history teacher's idea of teaching us Roman culture was watching the movie Gladiator. It is perhaps then no surprise then that I entered school with no interest in becoming a history major. I instead attempted to become a English major, until my first English class, which crushed my dreams faster than the French were crushed in 1940. It was perhaps this tragedy that led me to leave university life and live overseas for several years. I ranged from Lisbon to London, Kiev to Belgrade, exploring history on my own. My favorite moment was visiting the Serbian War History museum in Belgrade and the second was standing at the spot in Sarajevo where the first shots of the Great War were fired.
"But eventually, constant nagging from my mother convinced me to return to school. This time I tried a different place: SUNY Plattsburgh. I figured this was as far away from my native Alaska as possible and it was really close to Montreal. I really feel quite fortunate to have found this college. In complete honesty I never knew it existed before looking at the SUNY website, but it is the perfect school for me in many ways. The best part is the ability and willingness for professors to interact with students. All of my professors know me by name and I have had many spirited and interested discussions with them outside of class. So finally, after my initial demoralization at the hands of inept high school educators, I have found academic redemption at the history department of SUNY Plattsburgh."
Eric Petersen
|
"Picture a thirteen year old having a cut-throat debate about the significance of the Russian or American Revolutions with his middle-aged father and you're looking at most of my adolescence. "The desire to be the best debater possible (a hobby I've since drifted away from) and some positive reinforcement sparked my interest in history and the social sciences. It has become a way to understand and give meaning to the world. I've always wanted intelligent, constructive feedback on my thoughts, which turned out to be a scarce resource in high school; I've found a lot of it in Plattsburgh, though. It comes from the professors and students alike. The professors in the history department mirror my enthusiasm, give helpful guidance, and show they care about my experience, while students who enjoy learning and discussing aren't hard to come by. "I continue to be impressed with each professors overall knowledge; they have invaluable skills in their respective fields and still understand broader historical topics and theory. Classes have kept me interested and busy, and I've had opportunities to get involved in extracurricular activities. I can't ask for much more from the program." |
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
For more information about the History program at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact
Wendy Gordon, Chair
History Department
Champlain Valley Hall
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Phone: (518) 564-2213
Fax: (518) 564-2212
E-mail: gordonwm@plattsburgh.edu