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Alex Furr, 2021 recipient of the Ethel Chapin Morgan Scholarship awarded annually to a student majoring in History or Chemistry, on why they chose to major in history.
I didn’t start college as a history major; I jumped around quite a bit before eventually landing here. I dabbled in theater, environmental science, pre-med biochemistry, and more, but I always found myself most interested in the history of whatever subject I was currently engaging with. It wasn’t until I left school to work for a while that I realized my true passion had been history all along. Returning as a transfer student, I tentatively selected a history major. Thankfully, that ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Being a part of this department has changed my life; every day, I can pursue my personal passions through research and study, with continual guidance and support from the incredible educators around me. After a single semester in an environment like this, I knew that history was the right major for me and that I would dedicate the rest of my life to studying it. Winning this scholarship has been incredibly validating for me. I feel that not only has my work been recognized, but more importantly, there are faculty members in the department that are actively seeking to help me (and other students like me) succeed. Thank you, UTC History Department, for the greatest experience I could have asked for.