After much deliberation, the committee chose Emree Lamb, an 11th grade student from Cheyenne Mountain High School. Emree submitted a paper on the topic of “Frontiers in Colorado Mental Health.” The committee enjoyed reading her paper, learning about her passion for history, and exploring the sources in her annotated bibliography. They were impressed with her pursuit of knowledge and that she made a trip to the Stephen H. Hart Research Center in Denver to engage with the “Sixth Biennial Report of the Commissioners and Superintendent of the Colorado Insane Asylum.” There is nothing quite like seeing those documents in person! Emree did an excellent job placing her topic in a historical context and using and interpreting evidence to support her thesis.
We asked Emree to share more about herself, her interest in history, and her development of her History Day Project:
- Tell us a bit about yourself – interests, hobbies, extracurricular activities
- I have been playing cello for nine years, enjoy painting, and falling down internet rabbit holes—especially the weird or dark history ones. I have a passion for both psychology and history, and I absolutely love combining the two in strange ways (such as the psychological analysis of historical figures and the effects they had on the world). I love watching the birds, and I love to travel and visit historical sites. I am a true foodie, and am very adventurous with the foods I will try. I absolutely love to read, especially when I’m reading about a different cultures or historical fiction.
- Why did you choose to participate in History Day?
- This summer I was a part of COSLI, the Colorado Student Leaders Institute. Within COSLI, a month-long program focusing on leadership, advocacy, and historical and social topics, we were also enrolled in NHD. At first, I was a little reluctant about NHD because I wasn’t sure what I was going to research. Then, in another internet rabbit hole of mine, I found out about the Colorado State Hospital (previously named the Colorado State Insane Asylum). This topic was perfect for me, as it combines two of my passions— history and psychology. I greatly enjoyed researching the topic, and I enjoyed writing my paper even more.
- What are some of your educational goals for the future?
- In the future, I plan on going to college and double majoring in biology and psychology, with a minor in Spanish and history (the minors are still up for debate). I hope to become a psychiatrist, a mental health doctor. I am extremely excited to go to college, where I can study within the realms of my passions.
- What would you say to encourage other young people to explore the past who may not find history interesting?
- My advice is to search for what you’re passionate about, and find it in history. If you are interested in science and engineering, research the WWI weapons such as the fighter planes and tanks, along with the impact they had on making WWI a deadly war. If you are interested in psychology, as I am, research the local history of how psychology was treated, along with how mental illness was seen, from it being the presence of the devil to it being something that can be treated. Overall, history can be something anyone is interested in, and it can take all forms. History is not just what we are told to memorize in class— it is what we make of it. If we take that leap and find what we are passionate about, we can truly see the world in a new light.