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2 I The Best Online Education System in the world
What can history teach us?
Joseph Arre Class of 2008,
University of Baguio
B.S in Nursing
History is important because it provides us with lessons for the future. Our history is rich with answers and
such answers can help us better understand the world and also ourselves. Man’s history is filled with
interesting characters such as Julius Ceasar, Alexander the great, Napoleon Bonaparte, Aristotle, Alexander
Graham Bell, Albert Einstein and several other individuals. By understanding their lives, we will be able to
improve our own lives and we will be able to know how they lived during their time.
Through the past, we will also be able to measure our own failures and successes. We often try to work very
hard in life. From the moment we learn how to speak we already start studying. Most people study for a couple
of years while some even study until they grow old. Once we finish our studies, we end up with the type of
work which is suited for our talents and skills. The decisions that we do and the hard work that we did before
will be our measurement for success. By looking at the many challenges that we have faced before we will be
able to measure our lives and we will be able to find out what will happen in the future.
One of the things that we can learn from history is experience. Most people experience a lot of things every
day. Because of their experiences they learn how to face life and they learn various things about themselves.
For instance, people who had a car accident before will most likely try to drive more safely in the road. Because
we have experienced a traumatic experience before we are often afraid to do the same mistakes. We learn to
do things better and eventually the product of our hard work will often be perfect. This type of concept is
common in all types of occupation, whether a person is a teacher, a writer, an artist, a programmer or an
electrician.
Most students also learn a lot of things because of history. They learn more about things that they should do
and not do. They also learn from their mistakes and they often try to work hard in order to be better in the
future. By understanding their mistakes, they will eventually be able to do better.
Lastly, various countries also look at history as a guide for the future. Most calamities happen every day and
they are often due to human error. By looking at the errors and the reasons why calamities happen in the past,
we will be able to prevent calamities from happening in the future. Such are the different things that the past
can teach us.
Questions:
1) What are the different things that we can learn from history?
2) What is your definition of history?
3) Who are the famous historical people that you know?
4) What do students learn about history?
5) Why is learning history important?