I started this blog a few years ago when I was still an Undergraduate History Major at Liberty University. Today, I am a full-time Graduate Student at the same school. Things have slightly changed since that first blog post when the journey first began. While I am still focusing on American Military History, the emphasis has altered.

When I first enrolled back in college after so many years away, I always believed that Civil War History would be the only area that I would specialize in. That is until, a certain professor named Professor Ritchie, showed me that I had the aptitude for more than just the Civil War. He believed in me when I could not believe in myself. He had faith in my ability to conquer just about every major American Military event when I thought he was crazy. So today, I am proud to say that my Master’s will focus on Aviation in the Pacific during World war II.  One day, I hope to go on to have a Ph.D. in Civil War with an emphasis on Prisoners of War, but for the next year, my focus will be on Boyington, Chennault, and Doolittle.

I plan to use my blog a lot more often than I have in the past. I want to blog my journey as an Online student earning her Master’s while writing a Thesis. So while the occasional blog might have something to do with a thoroughly researched topic or opinion from time to time, the bulk of my writings will focus on the day to day life of a student immersed in research. The ups and downs of attempting serious research within the Archival systems, how difficult it can be to access primary source documentation from these sources when you live so far away from them. The joy it brings you to find that little nugget of information or document that will propel the research to heights previously unimagined.  The frustration that occurs when you want to travel to a certain location for research but find that time and funds do not allow it.

Most importantly, I want to be able to show that it can be done. To encourage someone who may be saying, “I am too old to go back to school,” or “I do not have time for serious research” that as long as you are willing to put in the work, have patience with yourself, and communicate with professors, anyone can achieve the previously unachievable dreams they may hold.

Life can be tough there is no question about that and adding in serious academic scholarship can often feel overwhelming, but if you are passionate about something then go for it. There is nothing standing in your way but yourself.  FDR said in his first inaugural speech that “The only thing to fear, is fear itself.”

So I hope that by setting my own fear of writing on the internet will inspire you to follow your dreams.