91ÖÆƬ³§

William Kirkpatrick '26

What is a history major?

Are you fascinated with how things used to be and what that means for us now? History is the study of the past and how that knowledge can inform the present and the future. This is a broad degree program, allowing you to focus on a particular country, region, time period, or aspect of human culture that interests you, such as religion, science, or cultural movements. You’ll develop the skills in critical reading and writing that form the basis of a solid liberal arts education and prepare you for a wide range of careers, as well as graduate or professional school.

Meet William Kirkpatrick '26, a history major from Eliot, Maine, who has found a close community on the 91ÖÆƬ³§ campus, with plenty of room to explore by studying how dinosaur bones may have influenced Greek mythology and by studying abroad in Turkey.

10 questions with a history major

1. Why did you choose 91ÖÆƬ³§?

I chose 91ÖÆƬ³§ because the campus has the appeal of the beautiful small schools of New England while providing enough opportunities, classes, and people to feel like a significant step up from my small Maine high school. Growing up with two parents who worked at 91ÖÆƬ³§, I also had the opportunity to meet some of the professors, faculty, and staff, all of whom were extremely kind and welcoming. It seemed like an easy choice.

"I chose 91ÖÆƬ³§ because the campus has the appeal of the beautiful small schools of New England while providing enough opportunities, classes, and people to feel like a significant step up from my small Maine high school."

2. What is your favorite thing about the College of Liberal Arts (COLA)?

My favorite thing about COLA is that almost every class I took during my first three years allowed me to explore topics I had never considered before. Coming in my first year, I certainly didn’t think I would write a final paper two years later comparing Odysseus in Homer’s "The Odyssey" to Mad Max. I can’t think of another college that would actively encourage such ambitions.

"Almost every class I took during my first three years allowed me to explore topics I had never considered before."

3. Why do you love your major?

I love the history department because of the many subjects it offers. One class will have me writing about medieval hunting practices, and the next will provide the opportunity to present about why dinosaur bones have heavily influenced Greek mythology.

4. How has your liberal arts education prepared you for a career?

I believe, above all, that my liberal arts education has given me the ability to think critically and present my thoughts in a convincing manner after considering the presented material. Paraphrasing Professor Gregory McMahon, a liberal arts education is a lesson in persuasion, critical thinking, and independence presented in the most fascinating way possible. I agree!

"I believe, above all, that my liberal arts education has given me the ability to think critically and present my thoughts in a convincing manner."

5. Who has been your most impactful professor?

My most impactful professors are both Professor Gregory McMahon and Professor David Bachrach. During my first semester freshman year, Professor Bachrach taught me how to write like a historian and encouraged me to reach out to him with drafts of all my papers. I still refer to some of my papers from that year for format and grammar. Then, in my sophomore year, Professor McMahon helped me understand how fun it is to create new ideas based on ancient sources and supported me when I would come to him with frankly crazy ideas for papers.

6. What hands-on learning experiences have you had?

Professor McMahon sent me to study abroad on his archaeological dig in Turkey this summer. I never took people who said that studying abroad would change your life seriously, because how could it? However, my time in Turkey is one of the highlights of my college experience and probably my life. It’s such a vastly different culture from ours, but I fit right in since everyone I met treated me as if they had known me their whole life. In addition to the amazing Turkish culture, getting to see, touch, and excavate the artifacts that I’ve spent so much of my college career reading about, analyzing, and writing about is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I can hopefully turn into a twice-in-a-lifetime experience in the near future.

"I never took people who said that studying abroad would change your life seriously, because how could it? However, my time in Turkey is one of the highlights of my college experience and probably my life."

7. What scholarships or funding have you received?

I received the Trustee’s Scholarship coming in my freshman year. This scholarship allowed me to free up money to study abroad in Turkey this summer. I will be forever grateful that 91ÖÆƬ³§ allowed me the opportunity to experience Turkish culture from a perspective that many people are not afforded.

8. What advice would you give your first-year self?

There are two pieces of advice I would give my freshman self. The first is to explore the campus earlier. There are many cool areas, such as College Woods, the Fishbowl, and the tennis courts, that I never really used until later on. 91ÖÆƬ³§ is meant to be explored, and everyone has their favorite spot on campus to study and hang out. The second piece is to study abroad earlier. If I had the chance to go on a second trip before graduation, I would have taken it immediately. I was originally scared that I would feel alone, homesick, and out of place, but I found the opposite was true. There will never be another opportunity to experience international culture like that offered in college, so why not take it?

9. How have you found community at 91ÖÆƬ³§?

I have found a sense of community within my friend group. Most of us met during the "Become the Roar" tradition during orientation, and we have stayed very close friends throughout all four years. My freshman year roommate is still my best friend, and all of us shared an eight-person suite in Mills Hall during my sophomore year. 

10. What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?

One thing people might be surprised to learn about me is that during the summers, I work as a groundskeeper for my local cemetery. After someone learns this, I am immediately asked if I bury the people, too, which, yes, I do. However, I am hopefully far from the cemetery groundskeeper stereotype.