In my first semester at LMU, I’ve built a foundation that strengthens both my skills and my emerging focus as a History major. I’m taking Premodern World History to begin fulfilling the European section of my major requirements, which has helped me understand early global developments and the roots of modern societies. I have also been taught how to analyze primary sources better and follow a line of reasoning. My second essay for Professor Anderson's course has been my best work yet, as it touches on feudal styles of government in Medieval Europe. My course, American Catholicism, adds another layer by exploring the history of the Catholic faith in the United States, connecting religious history to broader cultural and social movements. It is fascinating to get a closer look at how Catholics shaped social movements and political ones as well. I’m also enrolled in Rhetorical Arts: Speech and Debate, where I’m learning to communicate clearly, argue effectively, and present ideas with confidence. My favorite assignment in this course was my debate against Daylight Saving Time, as well as my informational speech on the union busting here at LMU. My Personal Finance class rounds out my schedule by teaching practical life skills that will support me beyond academics. Finally, History 1995, the introductory course for History majors at LMU, is helping me understand what it means to study history at a deeper level, from engaging with primary sources to thinking critically about how narratives are constructed. Together, these courses give me a strong start both in the major and in the broader intellectual community at LMU.