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Student Stereotypes Uncovered: The History Student

Aila Kubat Uncovering Student Stereotypes

Five students from different studies share their thoughts on students they never met. ‘A smart nerd with a great memory’ is the first thing that came to mind when the students thought about a history student. But is it true?

The stereotypical history student
In the eyes of the interviewed student the history student is an old-fashioned person who:
– ‘Spent their free time reading books’
– ‘Is passionate about how we can use the past to grow in the future’
– ‘Looks too much to the past and forgets the here and now’
– ‘Wants to become a teacher in the future’

The student behind the stereotype
How much did the students get right? Jordy Zuidhof is a first-year History student at the University of Groningen. In his free time, he doesn’t only read books. ‘When I want to relax, I play video games, watch Netflix with my family, or I paint’. So what are Jordy’s passions? ‘Outside of history, I am also very passionate about space and politics.’

‘Everyone immediately assumes that I want to become a teacher’

And what’s his worst habit? That he looks too much to the past? No, he explains, ‘I consider being bad at receiving criticism a bad habit of mine.’ But what do you do when you graduate with a history degree? Does Jordy want to become a teacher in the future? ‘When I tell people I am studying history, everyone immediately assumes that I want to become a teacher, but that isn’t true at all. It’s something I know for sure, but what I am not sure about yet, is what I do want to become. Probably something with politics or history.’