Message for high school students

Thinking about history and about what constitutes a region—whether particular places have their own distinctive characteristics, and if so, what they are—means not only gaining a better understanding of who we are and where we stand in the “here and now,” but also learning to view this “here and now” and even “ourselves” in a more relative and critical way. I hope that you will make the most of your time at university, study widely and deeply, and cultivate a rich and expansive perspective on the world. I very much look forward to meeting all of you.