Child wants to be a Historian

[Priceyyy]

Hi all, any advice please. My ten year old is absolutely mad about History and has wanted to be a Historian since she was five. She is currently greater depth in History and it’s something she’s really serious about. Is there anyone she could speak to that could give her more ideas and information as not sure who I would go to. This probably sounds like a silly question but every careers fair she goes to she gets excited there will be someone to talk to but there never is 😔

I popped into The Treasury on a whim when I was visiting Winchester and was agog at all the Ming vases the teachers and pupils had collected during their school holiday travels during the 18/19 centuries! A bit different from the raffia sangria basket and straw donkeys my parents brought back in the 70s.

Just to say I work in outreach at a uni and we
probably get 2/3 requests a week from primary schools with support for careers events like fairs! So not as uncommon as you’d like. Its since the Gatsby benchmarks came in, although they don’t officially apply to primaries yet

@Priceyyy Academic degree and become a lecturer. Or work for a museum or for historic houses. Whatever the route, it’s competitive and academic. Is she academic? I agree with @claryin that it’s tough and most historians are not Dan Snow (famous dad) or Lucy Worsley. Most are teaching or doing behind the scenes research. So, if she’s academic, go for it. The best university possible and probably a first is required to get started. Then a lot of luck!

My DD also loved history at primary school - not so much at A level. The joy gets knocked out of it. DD still is interested in history and culture so you can keep enthusiasm going, even if you don’t do history for a living.

Historian here. Chuckling at AI setting up an exhibit

Do you attend them though? I’ve worked in outreach and still oversee some of that work and we just don’t have the resources to attend primary school events.
We have to activities with a more direct link to recruitment. As much as I’d love to do the sort of primary work we used to do in the hey day of Aimhigher!

Can I ask the many historians who have replied where the “n” has gone? Has it evolved out of use? I always thought it’s “an historian”.
I’d for sure go to an AI curated exhibition - the hallucinations and labelling quirks would be fascinating and demonstrate why human learning is critical. Just don’t let the AI care for the objects…

Both acceptable, but an historian is becoming less common.

(See also: an hotel.)

The best university possible and probably a first is required to get started.

I'm a historian. I didn't get a first. I did do a very highly regarded M.A, and subsequently a Ph.D. I haven't had a full time university post and I haven't made a lot of money but I have done a lot of research and writing.

There are many ways to be a historian. The young girl in question can't know yet what path her career will take and it's too soon to start talking about getting a first.

Main thing at this stage is to encourage and develop her interest in the subject and see where it takes her.

This thread gladdens my heart, so thank you OP. I work at a large heritage property/museum, and it makes my day if a child visits who really loves history. They love sharing what they know and their eyes light up when you take an interest and add to what knowledge they have.

We occasionally take on archaeology/history/curator undergrads as volunteers or casuals and they have gone on to very interesting careers (a couple are still here - they love it!).

Your daughter sounds a delight!

Thank you again for all your great replies. She has gone today with her class to the museum in the University Of Cambridge. She’s been so excited about it 😊

Hope she has a great day.

Hope she has a great time. She'll be bursting to tell you all about it later!

Your DD sounds like she is an amazing, intelligent young lady.

I suggest you do your best harvest her interest for history and buy her a kindle but a kindle for adults with the settings adjusted for kids by yourself.

I am suggesting this because your DD is bright and could be well ahead of her peers eventually as her interest in history can accelerate her knowledge of both English as well as comprehension.

I suggest you don't make her wait for her birthday or xmas. Buy her a kindle, set it up so its safe and go to projectgitenberg website. There is a massive amount of literature on there including history.

All these books are in the public domain.

Project Gutenberg

@HelenaWilson How long ago? Life has changed. A first is a better platform to launch from.

We have a primary project so we’ll try if it’s feasible and they’re an eligible school! But the resource we can put against it is limited so literally depends on the day. We’re more likely to manage a talk we can send a student to than an all day careers fair, but we also don’t generally do all day careers fair for secondary as it’s a poor use of resource. Aimhigher predates me, but our managers talk about it like the glory days 😂

Oh it was!! My first outreach job was funded entirely by Aimhiger and I worked with primary schools and years 7s.
We actually had money to run HE experience days with transport, lunch and goody bags for the kids!

Love your username btw 😀

Sorry, what? I didn’t realise I’m actually AI! What a revelation…how should I break this to my family?

Great stuff! Best of luck to your DD

Our eldest has always had a fascination about history. He read books, listens to podcasts, watches documentaries and wanted to study history at university however by the time he was 15 he realised he wasn’t going to make much money in that career and is now a chartered accountant, still with a love of everything about history.

museums were always a favourite weekend attraction for us too.

Accountancy firms often specifically target history graduates as the skills they learn are transferable to accountancy! So his love of history has probably helped his career!

Accountancy firms often specifically target history graduates as the skills they learn are transferable to accountancy! So his love of history has probably helped his career!

I've known a few history graduates over the years who have ended up in accountancy.

And Law.