Hey everyone! I am Iris Swaney, a junior history major, also pursuing a master’s in secondary education . I was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia; I love vicinity to both D.C. and the great outdoors of the Potomac River and the Appalachian Trail. For those reasons, I also love Blacksburg. It’s a small town surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of the New River Valley, but I don’t feel like we’re in the middle of nowhere, thanks to Roanoke.
I’m excited for this semester as a whole and specifically this class- I’m not as knowledgable in WWII history, so learning about the effects of the war as well as refining and adding to my skills as a historian is motivating. I am particularly interested in social history, learning about how the lives of regular people were influenced by global events and decisions of the people in charge. Specifically in this class, I’m looking forward to hearing stories about how citizens uninvolved in the war were affected by the war, both directly and indirectly in unexpected ways. Understanding the past is key in understanding the complex world we live in today and key in making our collective lives as productive and happy as possible. Can’t wait to see how this class deepens my understanding of the world!
