Every day in the hallway, many students complain about the history class they are in by saying “it is useless” or asking “why are we even learning it in the first place”. However, many students do not realize that history education is an essential part of human knowledge and can serve us great benefits in the long run which greatly outweigh the workload or supposedly lack of “practicability” of the subject. 

As historian.org suggests, though historians cannot build highways or code for computer softwares, they can, however,  provide data about how society behaved in the past with the presence of technology and infrastructure. These data are essential to the basic information about how society functions and serve as the primary source of the social environment just like how a laboratory functions in the science field. 

Nevertheless, history provides us with an identity.  By learning about history, individuals are able to learn about their past and the story of their origin. In history books, the transformations and stories of countries, communities and families over the past centuries can be condensed into pages filled with details and images, giving students a way to see the world in a short amount of time. By diving into the history of one’s own identity and family, we are able to see what role your family has played in different historical arenas in the world and how your community reacted to changes and conflicts. 

Lastly, history education can serve as a warning and lesson for the present generation. By learning about the history of war and political turmoil, we are able to be warned about the potential consequences of war and value the ideal of peace and prosperity of the society. By learning about how certain individuals and politics change people’s lives for the worse or the better. 

In conclusion, learning history can help us become better citizens of the world. By being aware of the cultural and political background of the country, we are better able to protect the democracy and freedom that our identity is built upon. It helps us become active in the current political environment and better able to voice our opinions and engage in the development of the country. 

So the next time you enter your history class, instead of looking on your phone and staring at your textbook, try to engage in the class discussion and remember the true purpose of history education that is far greater than your textbook notes.