From Nationals: Lindsay Moynihan

The National Contest seemed like an impossible goal for me when I first started competing in sixth grade. Now, as my sophomore year of high school is ending and I am making the trip to the National Contest for the second time, I realize what an impact that not only Connecticut History Day has had on me, but also the National Contest.

Last year, when I first qualified for Nationals, after competing the three previous years, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement that stayed with me the entire week. From the student dance to the Team CT trip to Washington D.C. and meeting our State Senators, I was so excited to meet people who also loved history. When I qualified for National Finals, I could not believe how lucky I was to share my research with a wider audience. Of course, being able to say that I was ninth in the nation for my category was amazing as well, but this year I learned something much different

After not qualifying for finals this year, losing to the eventual winner of the entire category, I was heartbroken. I did come second in the room, earning me a top twenty finish, but I wanted to move on, to show my hard work, and of course, to win. After quite a few tears and some ice cream, I realized that it was not all about the win. This may sound cliché, but I realized that for five years of competition, the way that I measured my success was in winning. Not the skills I learned, the people I met, the advice I received, or being able to teach others about my passion, but a gold medal. Winning each time is impossible.

The day after I did not qualify for finals, my mom and I visited the National  Zoo  and the National Cathedral, a beautiful example of Gothic architecture.  I visited Woodrow Wilson’s grave, saw tapestries that were more than 450 years old, and busts of important American figures, like Helen Keller and Jane Addams.  Had I qualified for finals, I would have not had these experiences, because I would have still been competing. Seeing the history that surrounded me made me realize that I did not start doing History Day because I wanted to win. The scared sixth grader who took on the challenge did not start NHD because she wanted a medal. She started because she loved history. She loved sharing it with other people. Nationals helped me to find this part of me again, and I will forever be grateful for it. ​

Lindsay Moynihan is junior at Conard High School in West Hartford, Connecticut.