Alyssa Bowling

MPC’s history program provided me with many opportunities to hone in on my writing and organizational skills, which have proved to be absolutely essential in my transitioning from semester to quarter systems as I’ve moved on to Cal Poly. The professors in the history department were always so passionate and encouraging, from feedback on essays to office hours after lectures ended. I thank Professor Finell for inspiring me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in History and minor in Ethnic Studies, as the two are and will continue to be disciplines wholly relevant to contemporary society. I also thank the DRC as well as the Writing Center in the library for contributing to my success at MPC - thank you, thank you, a thousand times over!

Guadalupe Vannessa Sanchez Gonzalez

These history courses equipped me with a lot of writing and reading experience that will prepare me for university.

Jordan Leininger

When I started at MPC, I began as a Marine Biology major. I soon learned that I was not good at science, but excelled at history. I was greatly inspired by Professor Finell's teaching and changed my major to History. I loved taking every history class at MPC. The variety of courses available made each class unique and a lot of fun. I was always excited to attend class, especially when I was able to learn about my favorite historical eras: Ancient Egypt, the Crusades, and the American Revolution. MPC showed me that I had a passion for history and was excited to pursue this passion. I truly believe that if I did not discover my passion for history, I would not have succeeded in school. I am truly grateful for the experience MPC has given me, and the exceptional passion Professor Finell has passed onto me.

Nicola Brigantino

MPC’s history program prepared me to transfer to a four-year university because I had grown accustomed to being challenged in my classes. My history professors were incredibly educated in their subjects, which bolstered me with the confidence to ask questions and participate in discussions. The passion they felt about history was tangible in their lectures and commitments to their student’s success. Their proficient professional achievements made it quite impossible for me to skate by in their classes. My writing skills became fine-tuned over many hours editing revisions given to me by talented professors. I am incredibly thankful for MPC’s history professors and their tireless work in crafting my education. I graduated from CSUF with a bachelor’s degree in history and I am currently working as a crew member at Trader Joe’s. While I am not utilizing my history degree, I do feel more confident knowing that I have it, just in case. I also started at a higher wage because of my degree. I originally wanted to become a teacher, but I know longer want that as of right now. This may become a goal of mine later on, and it will be easier to become a teacher with a bachelor degree in my possession. I would not have been able to obtain my degree without my semesters at MPC.

Steven Clyde Bech

My name is Steven-Clyde Robert Bech and I recently graduated from Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) on May 30th, 2020 with an Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T) in History with Highest Honors and successfully completed the IGETC requirements. Today, I am an undergraduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) majoring in history and minoring in film, television and digital media and anthropology

While attending MPC, I enrolled in five history classes. In my first semester (Fall 2018) I enrolled in HIST 18 (U.S. History From 1865) with Jennifer Grohol. One year later (Fall 2019), I enrolled in three history classes: HIST 7 (World History to 1500) with John Finell, HIST 8 (World History Since 1500) with Elizabeth Mullins, and HIST 17 (U.S. History to 1877) with Elizabeth Mullins as well. My final history class, HIST 12 (Women in U.S. History) was also taught by Professor Mullins.

As an international student from Germany, I have not had much previous exposure to the American history until my first semester at MPC. Originally a communication studies major, I enrolled in HIST 18 with the intention to fulfill my GE requirements and learn about U.S. history along the way. Little did I know, it was this class that kindled my interest in history and convinced me to change my major. Armed with curiosity about the past, I entered the history classrooms in my future semesters with enthusiasm. As someone who questioned his abilities to succeed in a foreign school system while simultaneously assimilating into a foreign culture, I believe choosing MPC was one of the best decisions I made in my life. The small class sizes and the helpful and welcoming history professors not only sparked my interest in this field of study, but also prepared me to succeed at UCLA.

The advice I received over the years from MPC’s history faculty helped me for a successful transition. Confident in my ability to write high-quality college-level papers and read in a historiographical manner, I continue to be a grade A student today. Additionally, the opportunities MPC offered also helped shape my undergraduate experience at UCLA. In the Fall 2019 semester, I received the opportunity to take part in an archaeological excavation for one weekend in Manzanar, one of the ten Japanese internment camps from World War II. With professional archaeologists and teachers from MPC’s history and anthropology departments (Elizabeth Mullins and Elias Kary), the students, including myself, excavated the Children’s Village, the only orphanage in the incarceration camp system—an incredibly memorable and unforgettable experience. Because of my participation, I was interested to learn more about the orphanage and therefore started an independent research project with an archaeology faculty mentor at UCLA. For this ongoing project, I specifically aim to learn more about the living conditions of these young internees and juxtapose their upbringing with the children of the Russian Gulag. Without Professor Mullins’ invitation, I would have never learned about this part of history to be able to conduct my own research project. It also convinced me to add an additional minor to my undergraduate degrees—anthropology. 

In the future, I plan on educating and inspiring others by cementing my historical knowledge in my future motion picture and book projects and learn how to truthfully depict these past events on the big screen. Learning about history at MPC provided me with a realistic outlook for a future career in the film industry, as I want to also earn a degree in film and enlighten people about the past. With the historical insight gained at MPC and UCLA, I hope to accurately combine many historical events with the art of storytelling, similar to what Director Sam Mendes did with his motion picture 1917. I want to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming an author, screenwriter, and director, and draw ideas and inspirations from the many non-fiction books and stories my professors taught at MPC. As a filmmaker, I will make it my priority to evoke the same fascination for history in young minds that I feel today, just like I have been inspired by other directors such as Randall Wallace and his movie We Were Soldiers to pursue this journey.

Zachary Diaz

MPC taught me so many things over the years I was there: passion for the social sciences and humanities, the ability to write papers and articulate myself clearly (especially in front of others), as well as the ability to learn, grown, and engage with a host of wonderful teachers, classmates and staff. MPC prepared me to successfully transfer to my dream school, UCLA and continue onto graduate school and my dream job!