Student Reflections from HST 203: History of the United States

My class experience has been completely positive. The service learning part of the class kept me connected with the school...and helped me stay motivated to do as well as I could in the class. I believe service learning is the future of education and the best way to involve the students completely so they care...I appreciate this class and have learned more than any other college class.
--Lonnamae, HST 203 student

I was excited to write my paper...I am glad that I got this opportunity to do this [service learning] project because it gave me a new perspective on war history, heroes, and Colonel Carney.
--Chris, HST 203 student

I learned a part of history that could not be found in a textbook. This firsthand account of history gave me a real connection with the time period and the events my interviewee experienced...I will continue to take service learning classes because I gained valuable life experience that I could have gained only through this class. I now realize how beneficial [service learning] can be to the community and me.
--Zach, HST 203 student

What I really love about history [is] how it affected real, everyday people and the experiences of average citizens. I found the [service learning] project to be worthwhile and to really enhance my learning experience. Thank you.
--Katy, HST 203 student

A past few generations have forgotten to cherish and respect their elders. This project was a chance for my peers and me to stop and rediscover how cool our grandparents are...At the beginning of this term, I had many reservations...but by taking this class, I have enriched my life with a better understanding of my country's history...The experiences I have received in this class I would not trade for anything else in the world.
--Ashley, HST 203 student

[This experience] was a wonderful way [for me] to better understand and connect with my elder relatives. The knowledge of how two generations of my family reacted to WWII broadened my view of that historical period...I really appreciate the realization that we have living history and historical resources within our families and communities. This is a wonderful way to reconnect with history as an evolving force.
--Deidre, HST 203 student