I am applying for the Master’s in History (comprehensive) at Sacramento State because it would allow me to gain the knowledge and experience to fulfill my goal of teaching in higher education. I started my undergraduate career as a Psychology major at UC Davis. I was interested in understanding people and the complex ways in which we formed our identities. As I progressed in my studies, I became increasingly focused on memory – specifically, how we construct narratives to make meaning from our experiences. This focus led me to double major in Film Studies and History. My belief that these disciplines are intrinsically tied to identity and the formation of community, serves as the foundation of my approach towards academic study and my personal values. My academic background and career goals aligns with the History program at Sacramento State. I developed my core strengths in combining analytical inquiry, teaching and pedagogy through my experiences with Professor Traci Voyles and Professor Edward Dickinson at UC Davis. Professor Voyles’ classes introduced me to a more conceptual perspective on History, emphasizing historiography and its confluence with critical race and postcolonial theory. Professor Dickinson helped me understand the pedagogy of teaching history in a …show more content…
As a travel agent, I interacted with a diverse client base composed of a cornucopia of narratives. My background in history helped me understand the significance of their trip and the interrelatedness of culture, identity, geography and time. Shortly after, I served as an instructional assistant and afterschool program teacher. In these roles, I helped integrate students with disabilities and behavioral issues into the classroom and managed a class of more than 20 students. I believe that the key to working with students is both acknowledging their individuality and considering the social and historical contexts in which they