History's Life Lessons: Matthew Freeman (BA '25)

by Matthew Freeman, BA '25

originally published August 20, 2026

                Last year I graduated from Rochester and have since gone on to pursue a master’s degree in history.  I fell in love with studying history at Rochester and always find myself wanting to learn more about the past. 

                I went to Rochester knowing I wanted to study history, and I was quickly drawn to the idea that events from the past shape the world today.   The first course I took was “The West and the World to 1500” with Professor Devaney.  That lined up with a family trip to London, and seeing the Sutton Hoo burial displayed at the British Museum right after learning about it in class made something click.  Suddenly, I wanted to know everything about history.  I took every history class I could, I joined the undergraduate history council, and even worked in the department as an undergraduate peer advisor.

                I remember when I was meeting with Professor Flores about wanting to pursue a master’s in history, and he said that it was clear I had “caught the research bug.”  He had noticed how my interest in history had changed, even before I had.  I was initially drawn to history because I found the stories of the past to be interesting, but it had become something more than that.  I now see the past as a way of answering questions about the present and learning more about the world today.

                That “research bug” has led me to where I am today, completing a master’s in history in London.  As my program comes to an end soon, I’ve been reflecting on how studying history has changed the way I view the city around me.  This is not my first time in London, but I have a new perspective on the presence of history here.  Seemingly everywhere you look, there’s something historical: a centuries old building, a plaque about a previous resident, or a statue of someone random from the past.  These little bits of history are fun to see but also raise questions.  Why is this building here? Why is this person relevant? What is the reason for this statue?  These smaller details now feel so much more relevant as I explore the city.

                I really appreciate the smaller details of the world around me, and this is one of the best things I have gained from studying history.  There is so much more to see than just what is on the surface.  The way history teaches us to think analytically about the past has allowed me to interact with the world around me and changed the way I view the city.

                As my time in this historic city is coming to an end, I’ve been thinking about how much history I interact with on a daily basis.  Even something as simple as walking through an area that was once a coal storage warehouse tells something about the past and has many stories to tell.  History is all around us and has shaped the world we live in today, and I would not have been able to experience cities like this if not for the love of history that I developed at Rochester.