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Taylor Boothe

1,615

Bold Points

1x

Nominee

1x

Finalist

Bio

I am a student of history and very passionate about learning.

Education

Monterey High School

High School
2019 - 2023

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Majors of interest:

    • History and Political Science
    • History
    • Film/Video and Photographic Arts
    • Business/Managerial Economics
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Computer Games

    • Dream career goals:

      Sports

      Cross-Country Running

      Junior Varsity
      2019 – 20201 year

      Arts

      • Monterey high school band program

        Music
        2019 – Present

      Future Interests

      Advocacy

      Politics

      Volunteering

      Philanthropy

      Entrepreneurship

      Ryan T. Herich Memorial Scholarship
      The ancient civilization of Carthage is one known almost solely for its three titanic clashes with Rome we know today as the Punic Wars. It was in the third and final confrontation in which the Romans, under the command of Scipio Africanus, torched the city and massacred its inhabitants, in an act of ancient genocide. I believe that the story of the lost civilization of Carthage contains an important warning for leaders in the modern world. The sad and brutal epic of Carthage's fall is one of hatred between cultures on a scale this world has rarely seen. I know how hatred can doom societies and I am alarmed at the hatred I see in today's societies. Yet, I am determined to do my very best to promote an understanding and empathetic mindset for all. The hatred the Romans felt toward Carthage was one of vengeance, but in the immortal words of Mahatma Gandhi, "An eye for an eye just makes the world blind." I am a young man who is fascinated with history and the stories and lessons it can contain. I am known across my high school campus for my vast knowledge of history and my ability to teach and present it. I believe that the way history is taught in most public schools in the United States misses out on such a massive opportunity to engage students in all aspects of life. I am unquantifiably fascinated and passionate about history. I study history through books and research as well as my creative outlets. To aid in the teaching of history, I have produced and narrated documentaries covering the political intrigue of Ancient China as well as the evolution of the Samurai. When given International Baccalaureate assignments to write essays on any topic, I researched the impact of the Battles of Midway, Savo Island, and Guadalcanal on the strategic initiative in the Pacific theater of the Second World War. I also dove into the complex evolution of the civil and military policies of the Byzantine Empire. I use this knowledge to aid me in many other subjects. I am also a programmer, having studied C++, Javascript, Python, and Scratch software. I use this knowledge to create historical pieces of work such as games, documentaries, and films. My work in filmmaking allows me to depict the raw struggle and pain caused by war. My work in history has opened my eyes to the suffering in the world, and the disarray that has existed through all eras. My historical research has taught me how to weed out misinformation and see the truth about what the world needs from the subject. This work has continued in my aspirations to adjust the inaccuracies and highly political policies reflected in the U.S. Midwestern history textbooks. I intend to use my knowledge of history to help our world recover from the mistakes of our ancestors. I am currently pushing to get outdated and highly biased textbooks that are almost twenty years old out of my Economics class, and replaced with better, more accurate, and more accessible alternatives. The original textbooks I have been reading in my Economics class frightened me as they were not only inaccurate but they were pushing a platform of fierce nationalism and loyalty to the capitalist system. Inaccurate, questionable, and heavily skewed Books like these are read by students like me every year. I don’t want purposeful misinformation to be taught to my friends. Through activism and actively persuing historical truth, I find I can better understand the world in which I live through history.