Last year’s juniors had a variety of different experiences of writing their National History Day papers. With the right topic and determination to stay on top of the work, some people found NHD to be an interesting learning experience. Some even found it enjoyable. People who avoided procrastination and who were willing to put in the necessary effort found the overall process of writing this long essay to be a positive one.

Those who let the work build up found NHD to be difficult and boring. The most important thing to remember is that NHD is meant to be a learning experience and as daunting as the idea of it is, staying on top of the work can make it interesting and enjoyable rather than stressful and just another thing to do. Choosing a good topic can also have a significant effect– on the experience. People choosing a topic should put some thought into it and try to find something that they find interesting. The writer becomes an expert on their topic so it is important that they are able to talk and write about it without getting bored during the process.

Last year’s essay topics ranged from analyzing Jimmy Carter’s decision making during the Iran Hostage Crisis to the effect Louis Armstrong’s music had on jazz music. Both of these topics related to the theme which was “Leadership and Legacy”. With such a broad theme everyone can find a topic to write about that interests them. Falling behind on the work is a common mistake made by juniors during the NHD process. Planning ahead will keepthe stress level as low as possible during the whole process. It is important to put effort in every step of the way.

Another common mistake that these NHD writers make is not using all of the resources available. Seattle Prep has a library full of useful books as well as great librarians who are always willing to help. But the most important resources that can often get overlooked are the teachers. Senior Kyle Lydon, who’s paper was entered in the state competition, says: “I really appreciated my teachers’s willingness to help with my paper throughout the whole process. One piece of advice I would give would be to take advantage of that and use the help that is there for you along the way”.

It can also be helpful to use classmates for peer editing or to get a parent to look over the paper. Most people are willing to help out so the best option is to take advantage of their help and get as many people to read it as possible. Fresh eyes looking at your paper can be extremely helpful for identifying errors and little mistakes as well as for solidifying arguments. Hanna Shiferaw, another senior who’s paper was also submitted to the state competition, says “It was a good experience to go back and fix what I needed to fix in order to do better in Collegio and in the competition, but it was also nerve wracking to have random people read my essay and criticize it”.

By taking advantage of the resources provided and staying on top of the work load, juniors can make NHD a positive experience.