I think there's something unique about knowing the past and why certain laws are passed, especially in this country. Being a history student opens your mind. 

Why did you decide to study history?

I decided to study history because history has always been a strong suit of mine. I always loved history. I've had a special bond with history because I'm from Ethiopia. There's a lot of history, but there's also a lot of mystery surrounding my country, surrounding cultures and historical facts. In order to tackle that, I always loved going through forums of different historical articles. I always try to find non-biased sources, but that's very hard to come across because history is very dividing in a way sometimes. Some people have different recollections of certain events and you have to piece that together.

What do you plan on doing with your degree?

With my history degree, I plan to expand on more historical research, collaborating with other historians across America and abroad to explore more and eventually write a comprehensive analysis on our findings. I envision my research to be an intersection between history and medicine, particularly about ancient midwifery traditions and women’s health. Eventually, I would like the opportunity to get a Ph.D. in history, become a professor, and perhaps someday I will write a book. 

With my M.D. I plan on becoming an OBGYN or a general surgeon. I also plan on doing a J.D./M.D. or M.P.H./M.D. which are dual degrees that touch upon medical laws and go well with my interest in history. The M.P.H./M.D. degree deals with a lot of social/behavioral sciences which goes well with the humanities and medicine degrees I am currently pursuing.

Why did you choose VCU?

I love VCU and I love the city. I always wanted to study in a city. I love the area. I love the people. Most of us in Richmond have similar views on things. So, it's nice being surrounded by young people your age that have similar perspectives.

Why should students consider history as a major?

The benefit of being a history student is mostly for yourself. The world is always changing and one thing I love about being a history major is you are kind of in the middle of that. Sure, everyone is in the middle of it, everyone is a part of it, but as a history major it is different from everything else, because you have to look back on everything that led up to this moment. You kind of feel sad but also happy that you know you have knowledge of it. You can tell people about why certain things are a certain way.

I think there's something unique about knowing the past and why certain laws are passed, especially in this country. Being a history student opens your mind.