My name is Sarah Brophy, I am from South Florida, and I have always loved history. My mum was a History major in college, and my parents actually met when they both did an MA in Latin American Studies. My mum researched Indigenous populations in Mesoamerica during her time there. So, my bed-time stories were always Aztec and Mayan myths. That is really how I got hooked on history.  

At FSU, I took a class on the History of Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. with Dr. Martinez, and I fell in love with the History department. Since then, I have taken classes with quite a few different professors; including a Direct Individual Study with both Dr. Mooney and Dr. Martinez. All my classes, including the senior seminar on Researching and Writing the Holocaust with Dr. Gellately, have been both interesting and rewarding.   

After finishing my bachelor’s, I plan to do an MA in International Affairs, to pursue a career as a diplomat in the State Department.  

How is history at the university level different from high school? 

It is a lot more comprehensive. In many of my classes, we are still discussing the same national histories but in a much broader context. Often classes focused on connections across and between different continents and countries.  

Furthermore, the professors are specialists in their respective research areas meaning they have amazing insights on so many different topics within their fields. Classes can feel more like a collaborative experience than being only lectured too.  

What made you select FSU? 

I had offers from a few places, but when I researched them further, what convinced me to come to FSU was the money that was being put into research and the opportunities for undergraduate research. That was unique for a school this size, as in many other places, research is reserved for graduate students. I also loved that most of the teaching here is done by professors, so that I can build up one-on-one connections with them. That is invaluable for me.  

You are a Service Scholar. What does that entail?  

It is a four-year long program to which I applied before I came to FSU. It’s dedicated to service learning. As a Service Scholar I need to complete 75 hours of community service per semester. We go into different areas of the community, helping from getting homes ready for homeless veterans to picking up trash to mentoring elementary students. It is a way to not just volunteer but also to understand why we are volunteering. It teaches us the best ways to volunteer by listening to communities and their needs rather than going in and imposing our own beliefs and ideals on them. The program provides me with a second family who truly care about one another. 

What is your second major? 

Political Science. Combining Poli Sci with History was a great decision. There is a lot of overlap, Politics and History go well together. Often, I feel that in Poli Sci we can get lost in just numbers, and bringing in the human aspect of history helps me better understand and better how programs are working.  

Which undergraduate research opportunities did you pursue at FSU? 

Quite a few. For my Poli Sci major, I did a project on the history of the Frenchtown neighborhood in Tallahassee and the evolution of its food desert, this culminated in a Civic Action Plan where I proposed a solution for the food desert. This was part of an Urban Politics course offered to students participating in the Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience (APPLE). Frenchtown used to be this amazing place for civil rights and jazz music, there was a top hospital and a well-performing high school. With desegregation, the city of Tallahassee moved both the hospital and the high school out of that community, which led to that area’s urban decline.   

I am also involved in an Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program project with Dr. Culver. The project is called: The Shogun’s Grand Niece. Dr. Culver is writing a book on a Japanese American noble family, and part of my research involves verifying that family’s history. I am looking at the homes they lived in –what the homes looked like, researching their naturalization process, their internment period.   

I am also doing background research on what the middle of the 20^th century was like for Japanese and Japanese American families on the U.S. west coast more broadly. A lot of my work focused on the Japanese community in Los Angeles between the 1920s and the 1940s. These are the decades before the internment during WWII. I discovered, for example, that estimates show that up to 98% of all the berry farms in California were owned by Japanese and Japanese Americans. Ensuring continued agricultural output while interning Japanese Americans was one problem that officials had to negotiate. I help establish the historical backdrop for the family that Dr. Culver is writing about. 

I am planning to research and write an Honors in the Major project, too. 

You are a volunteer for the Rosenstrasse Foundation too. How did you get involved with that? 

I initially applied for the RSF project through UROP. Once I had decided to work with Dr. Culver on …. project, I still wanted to be involved with the RSF and allot some of my community service hours to it. The RSF is dedicated to documenting and commemorating the only successful women-led civil resistance against Jewish deportations that happened in February/ March 1943 in the Rosenstrasse in Berlin. I am enjoying this project immensely. I like micro history, and I think teaching ‘dark subjects’ is best done through stories of resistance, as it provides a hope, an example that resistance is possible. It also inspires people to think: “Even when these terrible things were going on, these people stood up and resisted.”  

For the RSF, I work on crafting biographies. We are looking for the stories of the descendants of the original RS protestors. In addition, we are trying to find as many examples of German civil courage during WW II as we can. We look at the broader historical context and ask, why did this family choose to resist? We are combing through different archives [name one or two?], looking at video and audio testimonials, articles, so that we can put together a picture of resistance events of this time. We put all this information in one centralized location in the form of articles.  

What made you decide to do a DIS? 

At the end of my class with Dr. Martinez, I asked if she was teaching any other classes. She told me that Dr. Mooney and she were thinking about offering a DIS on the effects of football on American society. I did not come to FSU as a football fan, but I loved Dr. Martinez’ teaching style, and so I said: “I’ll do it.” I learned so much! I learned how race plays into spectator sports in America, the monetization of African-American players, especially those that die young, how things evolved over time and the current context. It was truly fascinating.  

My assignment for the DIS was a literature review plus a presentation. I looked at three main aspects: the impact of football on the civil rights movement, the initial desegregating of football, and how it has played into the Black Lives Matter movement.  Each of these moments highlighted a different way in which football players intervened in the broader societal changes. In the 1960s, players lent support by giving money, but they were explicitly told by their white coaches to not say anything. Today, with the BLM movement the image of African American players has become an important part of the BLM. Seeing that change, reflecting the changes in society and technology, was very enlightening.  

How do you know about all the things available at FSU? 

I check my emails regularly – and I read them.  I also signed up for all the newsletters from the different departments, organizations, and initiatives I am interested in. The career liaisons at the Career Center have been especially helpful with looking over resumes, applications, creating LinkedIn profiles.  

What internships did you do so far? 

I am the fellowship coordinator for my state representative. I have been a communications intern and policy intern for her before. As a college freshman, I would go to the capital three days a week, and learned how the legislature works. I went to committee meetings, dealt with constituent issues, and helped write press releases and talking points. I was just recently named an intern for the House Democratic Office where I help the analysts and communications team– all of it has been an amazing experience.  

What was the best thing about coming to FSU? 

I have made a lot of amazing friends. There is so much to do on campus, whether it be going to Paint-a-Pot or reading on Landis Green, FSU gives me so many opportunities to connect with others. History majors are usually passionate about the History classes they take, and this common passion gives you something to talk about.   

I have also really enjoyed the classes here. Every teacher has been so passionate about their topic, professors and TAs. That is really the key for me, if someone is passionate about their subject, I will be interested in it too.  

What advice would you give to students coming to FSU? 

Talk to your professors and learn about their research. They can share a lot of knowledge with you and give you support as you navigate college.  

Read your emails – a lot of good information comes to you via emails.  

Also apply to UROP in your first or second year. That is an amazing opportunity.  

 What would you do differently if you could go back in time? 

I would tell myself that it is OK to not do everything and just concentrate on a few good opportunities. Quality over quantity.