Why History?

History? His story, her story, their story, our story, and your story have something to do with
my story. That’s how I learned about “History”, let’s convey it well.
“Salaysay na may saysay” that’s how one of the Filipino Historian translates it. Because it is a
narrative, research, and study in which acknowledge the past events that have occurred or
happened in our country or even in other nation, that deeply influence our present. In the most
common and short definition, it is the study of past events.
History in the wider sense is all that happened, not merely all the phenomena of human life,
but also to its environment. Experiences are also a history. It is a deep study that deals in
different academic discipline: Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Ethics, Psychology, and
Geography.
It is also stories well done that reveal how people, societies, technology, and government have
worked way back when so that we can understand more how it works now. Only through
studying it can we grasp how things change, identify the causes of change, and explain if there’s
a development. It should be studied because it is essential to individual and society.
When I was on the elementary stage, I admit that I had the unpleasant thought about history. I
used to call it as “boring subject” that whenever it is the subject to tackle, I feel so sleepy. But as
the time goes by, As I realized how important it can affect the present and the future, I’ve started
to like it. And I’m getting interested about it. And hearing the different thoughts of other people
about History, also influenced and enlightened my mind to appreciate how significant it is to
learn about it. They call it boring and I also used to call it boring that was before, maybe because
some of us don’t really understand what’s really history for.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” the famous line of George
Santayana, from just that quotation you can easily realize how important it is to study history. By
studying past, we can avoid doing the past mistakes twice. Through History, we can also
measure how much improvement we have today compare in the past. As an individual living
today, we can notice how advanced and modern our world is. In terms of technology, buildings
etc. It’s beautiful indeed, isn’t it? But we can appreciate it more to the great extent if we are
aware about the improvement and development of it.
The history enwiden our sense of appreciation that make us value what we have. Because it
helps us understand “change” and how the societies we live in came to be. It also gives us
courage for improvement. It helps us develop our ability. The ability to assess evidence, because
of learning in combining different kinds of evidence which are usually done by the
historians and the ability to assess Conflicting Interpretations, it is the understanding how society
work, and the experience in assessing past examples of change.
However, there are challenges in studying past. Because History requires deep
understanding and knowledge. It also requires evidence that carefully critique and investigate
that will prove it’s trueness. Primary source of evidence is the most important type of evidence,
though all evidence is important. Original documents such as diaries, speeches, manuscripts,
letters, interviews, records, eyewitness accounts, autobiographies , creative works such as poetry,
music, video, photography, empirical scholarly works such as research articles, clinical reports,
case studies, dissertations are examples. Secondary source of evidence is still useful which are
publications such as textbooks, magazine articles, book reviews, commentaries, encyclopedias,
and almanacs. Archaeological evidence is also use, usually involves ancient artifacts that can be
studied.
Based on the article that I’ve read, some of the challenges that historian facing are
problems of sources, knowledge, explanation, objectivity, choice of subject. And the problem of
sources is their serious challenge because many things have been lost, and if they still exist, it is
difficult to interpret. And for them to master the historical field, it will take a lot of time.
As the History is the record of past events, it preserves our culture. It also let us
rediscover, learn, change, improve, appreciate, value, and make us aware. Aware, so that we can
avoid the same mistake. The past also helps us interpret the current and social and political
situation. Especially in political matter if there’s an improvement in the system compare in the
past years. By examining the past experiences, we able to determine today, if they avoid doing
the old problems and there’s a development on how they lead in our country. It helps us assess
past examples of change and help us identify the causes of it.
Nowadays, we’re experiencing a great nightmare of our lives which is “pandemic” due to
“covid-19”. We’re all affected, when it comes to health, economy, system and even the way we
live right now. But despite of it, many realizations and lessons were made. In the future, I hope
we may not experience this kind of difficulties we have today. This experience will surely be
marked to everyone’s heart and mind, it will also be a great history to all of us. We’re all praying
that it will not be happen again, but we can never tell what’s the future ahead. But in case that we
encounter it again, at least we’re more aware than we are right now. Our present sufferings, and
experience will be a great help, lesson, awareness in the future.
History is not just to make us aware from the past mistakes, it can be our inspiration as
well. By looking back at the greatness of our heroes, their sacrifice, and achievements, it can
inspire us and motivate us to do better today. It also allows us our moral sense and let us learn
about the complexities from the past people have encountered in hard situations. It also teaching
by example, not just for the heroes who successfully worked and did greatness, but also for the
ordinary people who contribute lessons and courage. There’s so much more to tackle about the
past, let use it as our guide for the better today and tomorrow.
As an individual, studying history has a significant in our lives. You, me, all of us are
living histories. Including the society, we live in with different cultures, practices, religions, and
traditions. And even the language we are currently speaking as we use to communicate. History
has a big contribution in our lives. From everything that our ancestors did that has a big impact
today up to everything we’re doing today that will be part of history in the future ahead. We’re
all living and learning in everyone’s past. Even if it’s a mistake, failure, or achievement. Because
all of us has something to do in each other’s life.
From all the readings I’ve read and videos that I’ve watched, I learned a lot. It
enlightened me and I must say, I appreciate it more. The question on my mind which are “Why
should study history? And what it’s for?” are already answered. History is for all of us. There’s a
line that really marked on my mind that History is about
“His story, her story, their story, our story, and your story has really something to do with my
story.”

K.Espi