I can almost swear just last week was the beginning of September. I really can’t believe that we’re already into October. I even saw that midterm exam coming up in an anthropology class. A midterm?! That’s crazy! I really can’t believe how fast time goes by during the semester when you’re constantly trying to keep up with your work. I’ve mentioned it before, this is what I’d call my last ‘difficult’ semester. Next semester I’ll have two online classes, an internship for Digital Humanities, and then Japanese. I’m hoping that this quick pace for the semester continues, but I also hope it slows down at the same time, it was a very confusing state of mind as I came to write this blog post.
The more readings I do for this class, the more my respect for my old roommate and computer science major friends goes up. I talk in comments on readings often about the human element behind any kind of digital tech being the most eye opening aspects to me. I distinctly remember what it was like when I learned companies can pay to be the first result on google. I was so shocked because I realized that just like most people, when I search something up, nine times out of ten I’m going to click one of the first few links. This same concept extends to things like database entry and archival work, there’s always a person entering the data, and there’s always someone who’s telling the person entering the data how to enter it. It makes me think of characters in shows and movies who maniacally sit behind computers and laugh while making things difficult for the main characters.
I’m someone who is guilty of not thinking too far ahead in what I would really use technology for, especially in regards to career prospects. I used to believe that all I would need to do is stay friends with my roommate and computer science peers, and all I’d need to know how to do on a computer is make a power point and google things. However, seeing how much more work goes into it, and how many career opportunities in regard to history there are through things like Digital Humanities, the more I realize the multitude of options that are available to me in the future. Things like Omeka, GIS, Story Maps, and now more management software like Tropy, make me realize that there are tools out there that companies will pay me to help them use, if those companies are doing historical research all the better. However, more importantly for me, it gives me the opportunity and tools to try and do something I’ve always done. That is simply make my career talking about, and studying history.
Now, I’m a practical guy. I know simply saying “I want to start a history podcast/discussion website” isn’t going to be paying my bills. However, with how vast and wide the internet is, there is a real chance with good research and skills in Digital Humanities, doing something like this is viable in the long run. I don’t want to think too far into the future right now, however, with me suddenly blinking and it being October, my graduation is getting closer and closer. By the time I get there, however, I like to think I’ll be plenty prepared.
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