As a 5th grader, I struggled to stay awake while learning about the American Revolution. History to me as a whole seemed nonsensical and annoying in remembering trivial details. However, everything changed on my first visit to the Richard Nixon Museum. As I passed through the different hallways I gazed at live recordings of civil rights riots and official documents signed by President Nixon that established revolutionary environmental protection policies. For the first time, I saw history as more than just dates and names to remember, but as a way to understand how our past shapes our present lives.
History is something that I love dearly, so when I realized that children seem to be just like my 5th-grade self in the sense that history feels out of touch in their lives, I knew I wanted to enact change. I wanted to give children in my local community the opportunity to view history as more than just words in a textbook, but rather as a compelling story that allows us to appreciate diverse perspectives. I wanted children to be passionate about history the same way I am.
The first step I took was revisiting the Richard Nixon Museum and taking notes on any aspects I thought would be captivating for an 11-year-old. I then curated an appealing, informational brochure that encourages kids to visit our local museum. Following this I designed an interactive website that listed my favorite museums from around the world and how they contributed to my endearment for history. Lastly, I went to my former elementary school and distributed the brochures with a QR code to my website.
My journey in this project has made me step out of my comfort zone and embrace moments of vulnerability. My time working on the project has allowed me to appreciate the value of pursuing passions to solve problems within our community. Finally, this community outreach initiative has taught me that community improvement is possible through persistence and a will.
You can get involved in this project by visiting my website and sharing it with friends and family. Here is a link to my website.