Carrying out academic research might take some getting used to. You are in fact expected to adopt a new attitude toward the past. The days of simply gushing over certain historic events or people are over. Obviously, it is good if your topic inspires you, but as a scholar you are also expected to approach it critically and analytically.

This entails acting like a researcher, even if you are just starting out and have a lot to learn about doing historical research. Be aware that becoming a researcher is not something that happens after you graduate, but during your studies. The sooner you flip that switch, the better. Like your fellow researchers, your mission is to learn more about the past by doing research, either alone or as a member of a team, and by writing papers, debating and passionately arguing your point – even if this means squarely opposing others’ ideas.