Callie Hernandez is a fourth-year history major with a double minor in North American Studies and Archaeology and Heritage Studies at Laurier’s Waterloo campus. Callie is passionate about Canadian history and the preservation and conservation of heritage sites and lands. During her time at the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada she has worked in three positions, assisting Laurier professors with their own research. Throughout her time at LCSC Callie has learned a great deal about Indigenous history and heritage studies in Waterloo region, and was able to work on a project with the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum.
What field of Canadian history are you most interested in and how has this influenced your research topic?
The area of Canadian history I am most interested in is Indigenous, local, and community based history. I enjoy learning about ordinary people and the small stories about different families, communities, and towns. Through my research position I was able to study local Indigenous history and listen to people from the Waterloo Indigenous community tell their stories.
What research and writing tips do you find have helped you the most during your studies?
One of the two most important writing tips I have received during my studies is to take time to properly plan out the structure of your essay long before you intend to write it. The other is to make sure to do your citations, notes, and bibliography as you work, and not leave it until the end, to prevent any mistake or improper citations.
What activities or hobbies have best helped you destress after a long day of writing?
After a stressful day of writing, I find it is best to make time to do something for yourself that is relaxing, such as spending time with your friends, doing something creative that does not involve screen time, going for a walk, or going to the gym.
What advice do you have for others who are also working on history research?
The advice I would give to other people working on history research is to explore areas you are interested in and passionate about. Not only does it make the writing process easier, but also the research process. It is much more fun and engaging to read, learn, and write about things you are interested in than not. Additionally, the final product is more rewarding when the writing process is also fun!
Off the Cuff is an interview-style series hosted by Kyle Pritchard which explores the research of early-career academics with ties to the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada. The series allows scholars the opportunity to present their research to a wider online audience and to express the goals and challenges that they see in the field of Canadian History today.