Connecting Our Past to Our Future, Through The Land

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Richard and Donna Tadler P ’05 ’09, this summer I was lucky enough to embark on the road trip of a lifetime. With my 20-foot travel camper in tow, I set out to connect with the different landscapes of the United States. Traveling over 5,800 miles in total, I adventured through seven national parks and many other outstanding locations across the nation.

Each day and every state brought new experiences. Driving across the Corn Belt, I was able to observe the unfathomable amount of crops generated for and by our nation. Hiking around canyon tops in desert landscapes, I saw stone carved by years of erosion and seasons of change. Passing through the midwest on portions of the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail, I saw the impacts of people on the land, covering its once raw and harsh terrain with pavement and buildings. I felt excitement with every turn, and spent many days processing and reflecting on what I saw.

When I talk to my students about US History from 1800-1900, there are so many stories of wonder as settlers and pioneers set off across a land they did not even truly know. There are also the awful truths of land already occupied being taken from its indigenous inhabitants. I truly love talking to my students about all of the highs and lows of our nation’s development because our past is connected to our future. My students are old enough to have firm opinions about their nation, its past, and its future. Driving across the United States this summer opened my eyes to the continued preservation, growth, and destruction that occur when humans interact with the land around us. Having furthered my own perspective, now I can’t wait to ask my students what they think.

If you haven’t already, you can follow Ms. Blynn’s journey on Instagram at @where_has_katie_blynn