Interesting people of Samo: Eleanor Hutman

Samo is home to many interesting students with varying interests. Juliette Dana Vale (’20), Leo Gilman (’21), Eleanor Hutman (’20) and Kole Lee (’21) are four students who are passionate about their specific interests.  Eleanor Hutman:Eleanor Hutman (’20) has always been drawn toward history throughout the years and enjoyed weekly visits to museums and concert halls growing up. But an enthusiasm for the Middle Ages sprouted when she took AP World History with teacher, Shannon Cox. Cox inspired Hutman to learn about history, and to be the best student she could. “The class completely changed my life and Mrs. Cox pushed me really hard to do my best. She encouraged me to pursue history...A day has not passed since AP World that I have not thought about history,” Hutman said. Hutman’s particular interest is in 12th century Western Europe. It was during this period that her favorite historical figure, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and her husband, Henry II ruled most of Western Europe together. She is particularly interested in them because they ruled over such a large empire and she is impressed in the way in which it was governed. While some may think history’s irrelevant, Hutman’s favorite thing about history is the way our world’s history dictates what is happening now, and how we as a society can grow from what it teaches us. “Society generally looks at [the Middle Ages] as an archaic and irrelevant epoch. But, if you really look at it, there are countless parallels between the modern world and the medieval world. So many of the values we’re trying to shake off come from this time. The only way to really shake them off is by studying them,”  Hutman said. Hutman took a class last summer at UCLA about gender norms during the Middle Ages, and it was there that she began to read and analyze primary sources. Primary source documents, as well as historical fiction, are just some of the things that Hutman reads on a daily basis. Since the summer course, she has become affiliated with the UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and attends monthly seminars and lectures through it. During these classes, a professor presents his/her work and an in-depth discussion follows. Being that most of the other people there are graduate students or professors, she is grateful to be amongst such esteemed pupil.“It’s not a huge historical niche, especially at the universities nearby, but it’s still really exciting to be a part of a discussion with published medievalists from around the world.” Hutman said. She eagerly looks forward to studying history on a deeper level and possibly pursuing a career in the field.“I would love to be a college professor, I can’t imagine anything better than spending my life studying and being a part of a field that I love so much. ” Hutman said.