Whether it鈥檚 between her two areas of study鈥� history and political science鈥攐r the way she helps to build community in her role as president of the Undergraduate History Society, Kriti Maini is all about connections.
Maini arrived with her family from India in 2017 and completed high school in Halifax. She鈥檇 known she鈥檇 study the humanities from the time she was in middle school, so after high school graduation she jumped into the University of King鈥檚 College Foundation Year Program鈥攔ight as the COVID-19 pandemic began. After an unorthodox start to her university studies, she entered the history program at Dalhousie.
鈥淚 like to study the process of studying history itself or historiography. It鈥檚 not so much a specific century or subject area, but how people engage with history鈥攈ow we create it, how we relate to it, what role it plays in our lives.鈥� In her second year Maini took a political science course and discovered the connection between the theories of that discipline and her understanding of history.
鈥淚 feel like the two disciplines answer questions very differently, and often in ways that complement each other.鈥澛�
鈥淚 feel like the two disciplines answer questions very differently, and often in ways that complement each other.鈥澛�
She鈥檒l graduate in spring 2025 with combined honors in political science and history.
Apart from connecting her two areas of study, she鈥檚 also interested in connecting students with similar interests. As president of the Undergraduate History Society, she鈥檚 worked to gather a great team not only to publish the undergraduate journal, Pangaea, but also to create programming for history students and others in the faculty. They鈥檝e had movie and trivia nights and a winter social, with plans for more events in the future. Maini says student societies can be a source of peer support and a way for students to make sure their university experience is not all work and no play.
鈥淪ocieties and events are such an important social resource for students,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he social aspect of school is easily missed between class work and assignments. To offer events in a non-stressful, friendly atmosphere is essential and people enjoy it.鈥�
Further reading: Cheers to the Class of 2024!
This story appeared in the聽DAL Magazine Spring/Summer 2024聽issue. Flip through the rest of the issue using the links below.