The Personal is The Political and The Professional

Abstract

I always wanted to investigate and write about the past. At age eleven, fascinated by ancient history and classical mythology, I decided to become an archaeologist. In high school I took four years of Latin from a wonderfully enthusiastic teacher. I enjoyed the language for its own sake, but also thought of it as a tool for my future profession. But when I discovered how much hard science, not to mention physical labor, was required for archaeology, I shifted my focus to the era of written records that could be examined in the comfort of an air-conditioned library. I briefly considered a career in journalism, as a foreign correspondent, but although I considered myself a good writer and liked the image of myself dashing around the globe wearing a faded trench coat, I wanted the opportunity to study issues in more depth than daily deadlines would allow.