Chadwick Stokes: Passion for History
Passion is an indescribable feeling that drives people to accomplish their life goals and pursuits. How else does one explain the accomplishments of past figures, such as the Wright Brothers or Sir Walter Raleigh?
When a person discovers their passion for something, it can be an overwhelming feeling that is difficult to put into words. The pursuit of one’s passion means to devote countless hours to it. It will consume you, while at the same time giving you purpose.
As an adolescent growing up in Eastern North Carolina, I was fortunate to have a set of parents who took my older brother & I to various historic sites. These sites included the Lost Colony, Fort Macon, Battleship North Carolina and Tryon Palace. Each of these places afforded me the opportunity to engage with history, including being a part of interactive experiences. Seeing people from the past brought to life through interpreters gave these stories a sense of realism as if the characters from the history books were jumping off the pages. Those experiences created a desire to learn more and laid the foundation for what I am doing today.
During my visits to the area as a youth, I had become fascinated by the sights and sounds of the world’s largest outdoor living history museum. It had captured my imagination in a way none else had ever done before. Learning about what took place in our history many years ago helped me to understand the world we live in today. It is quite difficult to appreciate the luxuries we enjoy today, including air conditioning and motor vehicles, without first learning that modern conveniences are relatively new in our history.
That same conviction has enabled me to pursue a teaching career that allows for it to be shared with others. The greatest joy in this career has been the ability to share the delight of seeing history come to life and helping students understand the importance of the past. From dressing up as an historical figure to planning a field trip to a historic site, I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities to bring the excitement of discovering the past to my students.
History was never meant to be solely taught within the confines of a classroom. It must be experienced and engaged with. The power of live storytelling captures the imagination of all of us. We are fortunate to live in a town and local area that is filled with treasures from the past.
The historic periods of the American Revolution & the Civil War have direct connections to the area we live in. One does not have to travel far to see how ordinary & important people from our past laid the groundwork for where we are today.
I conclude with a challenge to others, pursue your passions and if you do you will never work a day in your life.
