Week 1: Introduction

Hello all, and welcome to my blog! Here I will be documenting my experience as a Public History Intern at UCF, specifically working with the Veterans History Project. As a preliminary to diving further into my expectations and excitement regarding the project itself, some self-introductory measures are in order. My name is Scout Rogers and I am in my senior year of pursuing a bachelor's degree in computer science with a minor in history. This may be a comparably unique combination for interns of the history department, however this is the result of having been torn between my love of computer science and related engineering, and the beautifully broad field of history and archival sciences. I hope to pursue a masters degree in archival and library sciences to combine these passions with the perspectives gained from my time at UCF. I am, and have always been, fascinated by the interpretations of the world around us -- forged by historians and mathematicians alike -- and how one's personal experiences and biases shape these conclusions that limitlessly impact future generations and various cultures. I firmly believe the humanities and STEM fields are not, and should not be treated as, competitors nor opposition, but rather as collaborators who are inextricably linked and wholly necessary to the success of either discipline. 

For this project, I will have the honor of collecting and sharing the varied and deeply personal experiences of veterans involved in this project. The Veterans History Project, in its own words, aims to bring light to these experiences "so that future generations will better understand the realities of conflict". The lessons gathered by those involved are invaluable pieces of history, and without which we can never fully comprehend the breadth nor scope of struggle, conflict, and war. I believe that the exposure to these stories will provide me with an insightful new perspective on the impact of military service, not only on those who serve, but their immediate community and reaches far beyond. The cultural impact of conflict surrounds us always, and documenting the cases of those directly involved will provide a crucial frame of reference for the everlasting consequences. This internship has the potential to greatly enhance in me skills related to interviewing and accurately recording oral histories as they are obtained, and logging them in a way that makes them easily accessible and understandable to all those curious to learn. 

This will be my first internship with UCF and I am beyond excited to begin this journey, learning curves and all! I look forward to next week's post and the newfound encounters I hope to share with you all then.