dylan estes

Dylan Estes

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

When did you graduate? Fall of 2010

What were some of the most rewarding/influential classes in your major? I did a lot of work in African American history and was really drawn to this subject. I especially enjoyed the course on the Civil Rights Movement. I also liked Role of Arkansas in the Nation.

Where did you live? I was a little bit of a nomad. I moved around a few times, but always lived in Conway.

What groups did you belong to? Phi Alpha Theta and Alpha Chi.

Did you participate in any experiences outside the classroom in your major field? No

What other experiences did you have that enriched your time as a student at UCA? The Research Seminar course required for the B.A. degree brought the study of history full circle for me. This course helped me to grow from utilizing passive learning techniques to actively researching, discovering, and proposing interpretations of events of the past. My course paper, on the migration of Arkansans to the western states during the Great Depression, is one of my most prized achievements from my undergraduate career because of the amount of dedication it took and the amount of academic growth it represents for me.

What did you plan to do with your degree? My time working on my undergraduate degree was a time of soul searching for me. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to do something, so I decided to pursue a major with coursework that most interested me. I’m a person with a lot of curiosity, and I liked how studying history gave context to more recent events and helped me to better understand them, so majoring in history seemed like the best path for me.

How are you using your degree? I am enrolled in medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. At first glance it wouldn’t seem that a degree in history would be very useful for someone entering a career in health care, but I’ve actually found that my education (both in history as a whole and my minor in anthropology) has helped me to better relate to patients I’ve met.

What are your plans? What will your degree allow you to do/accomplish as you move forward? I plan to work in primary care. I hope that as a future physician who has an atypical undergraduate education I will be able to relate to people from many different walks of life and do all that is possible to make them well.

What advice would you give someone who wants to get a BA in history? Keep in mind that it’s going to be hard work. But also remember that just because it’s called “work” doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. Take courses you know you’ll enjoy but also be open to trying something new. The things you expose yourself to might help you to grow in new and unexpected ways.