Suzie Lloyd - History
Continuing her journey with History into postgraduate study has allowed Suzie to ask deeper questions, and find deeper answers.
Key facts:
Programme: Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History / Bachelor of Global Studies, majoring in Global Politics and Human Rights (Māori)
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts, in History
Master of Arts in History
High school: Pakuranga College
Scholarship: University of Auckland Research Masters Scholarship
“History has always been a deep passion of mine and, after studying it in my undergraduate degree, I knew that I wanted to take the next step with it into postgraduate research. History is an incredibly varied discipline, and there are so many different topics and approaches to work with and choose from!
“I love how much room History has for creativity and originality of approach and ideas. That might seem a bit surprising because there is still a lingering stereotype of ‘stuffiness’. But, in reality, History is about curiosity and discovery, and there are so many forms that can take! Looking at old newspapers and checking dusty books out of the library are definitely a part of it, but not the whole. Especially at postgraduate level, we’re encouraged to experiment and try out different approaches that get us asking new kinds of questions about the past.
“The History department at the University of Auckland is also incredible; they care so much about the work and practice of history and about sharing and encouraging that same enthusiasm in their students.
I have always loved that across the diverse range of Arts subjects, there is a shared love of people − past, present, and future. There’s a sense of community across disciplines. Everyone encourages each other to think deeper and more creatively and ask more interesting and useful questions about the wider world.
“There are always going to be stressful parts to studying, especially at a tertiary level! Despite that, the best word that I can use to describe being a student in postgraduate History is ‘joyful’. It’s such a great thing to be able to walk into a room of strangers for the first time and know that they share your love for this subject. The History community is full of kind people who are generous with their time and expertise, and always keen to help out when you’re struggling.
“I’ve grown so much as a historian over the last year and a half, and I owe a lot of that to my cohort’s encouragement and support. My plan is to pursue a career in academic History. If everything goes well this year, I’m hoping to apply for a PhD after my Master of Arts.
“If I could have a chat with my 18-year-old self, I’d probably tell her to be kinder to herself and always find a bit of joy in the process. Even when things get a little hard and stressful, just do the best that you can, ask for help when you need it, and remember why you’re doing it in the first place − not just to get the bit of paper at the end, but because you love it!
“One of my professors, Professor Maartje Abbenhuis, says that everything is history, and the difference between disciplines is the questions that we ask. History is concerned with the stories that are told about the past, and the implications of those stories for those who lived them. It’s all about trying to understand people better, with all our messy human nuances and complexities!
“A lot of skills from History and other Arts’ disciplines are about questioning and interpreting different texts and sources of information. My studies have engrained some very useful habits that help me move through the chaos of current events and social issues! I always take a moment to stop and think about where the information is coming from, whose perspectives might be missing, how the information is presented, and why it is being presented in that way. I love that my studies have taught me to keep a mix of patience, curiosity, and compassion at the forefront of my mind.”