Claire Bloom has always loved history—and at Michigan State University, that passion turned into a fast-paced, fulfilling college experience. After graduating in just three years, she’s setting her sights on law school, carrying forward the skills and perspective she gained as a Spartan historian.
In this profile, Claire reflects on her time with MSU History and the path she’s building next.
Why did you major in history at MSU?
I decided to major in history at MSU because it has always been my favorite subject, and I think it’s important to know about the history of your state, country, world, etc. In my opinion, you can never stop learning about history, and every history is worth remembering!
I chose to study history specifically at MSU because I had heard about the extensive resources available in the College of Social Science, the passion held by the professors, and I was excited to see what the university did in terms of research and outreach; and I’m so glad that I did.
How would you describe your overall experience?
I am very satisfied and happy with my overall experience the past three years as a history major at MSU! I grew up in the area practically “bleeding green and white,” so my heart was always set on MSU.
In and out of the classroom, I always felt supported by my professors and other faculty members, and I never felt “backed into a corner” over a grade or course or anything like that. I have finished my undergraduate degree with an extensive and inclusive set of knowledge, and I feel that I am able to be a better person, citizen, and future lawyer because of what I have learned here at MSU as a history major.
Did you have a favorite history professor who made a lasting impact on you?
If I had to pick just one, it would be Professor Ethan Segal. I had the opportunity to take two of his courses back-to-back these past two semesters, and I am very glad that I went out of my comfort zone to do so! My confidence lies within the North American region and Europe, so HST 369, a class on ancient Japan (and later HST 370 for Modern Japan), was kind of scary to take on.
Despite having a lot of personal hardships and a harder time understanding the material, Professor Segal was always supportive and there to help, and he is a professor who truly cares deeply about his students. He also is great at teaching and puts an insane amount of time, love, and effort into preparing materials and readings. I now have a newfound love and appreciation for Japan, and I am planning for that to be one of my first international trips!
What’s one project, paper, or research experience you’re especially proud of?
As a history major, research is a part of almost every course, however I am most proud of a research paper I wrote for a senior seminar in the Fall 2025 semester for HST 485. The course was focused on historical healthcare for women in East Asia, specifically ancient reproductive health, rights, and medicines. I chose to do my final research paper on Eugenic Abortions & Sterilizations in Japan surrounding the WW2 Era.
It was a very heavy topic emotionally to research and write about, but I am glad I did because women's rights and their experiences throughout history are important to me. I believe one of the main ways to continue forward and protect our rights as women is by remembering what happened, and trying to figure out why, so we can prevent it from happening to other women in the future.
What are you doing now (or hoping to do), and how has your history degree helped prepare you for that path?
I am currently 19 years old, about to be 20 later this month, already having graduated with my bachelor's degree. I want to take a gap year to just work before applying for law school, hopefully here at MSU. I minored in public policy and law along with my history major, so I feel well prepared having some experience with basic law and a depth of historical knowledge.
To me, history is relevant to a law degree because I can better understand how our country was built, including the Constitution, Supreme Court, and Congress; these institutions are important to law because they are the deciding factors on creating legislation, determining what is constitutional, and even determining the law itself. Additionally, I believe that knowing how laws have changed over time in different regions, and what the outcome of the laws were on the people will make me a better lawyer. It is a heavy responsibility, but I feel well prepared because of my background in history. I plan to specialize in Immigration Law.
Fun fact: I have been working at a dog daycare for the past year and a half, and this is where I plan to stay throughout my gap year and law school! It seems random with me not going into an animal career, but I have loved every minute of it. It has been fun to have a job that wasn’t directly related to my education, and I am the biggest dog lover so I can’t complain about what I get to do!
What advice would you give to current MSU history majors?
Slow down and enjoy your time at MSU! I only took three years for my degree, but those three years absolutely flew by, and I wish that I could go back to my freshman year and start it over again!
Branch out into different regions than you normally would, you’d be surprised how much you will love the new experiences and learning about new places and new people.
And finally, form relationships with your professors and classmates; I have many professors that I will remember for the rest of my life, and classmates that I hope to keep in touch with for years to come. History is all about connections and understanding one another. Don’t pass up on the opportunity to have fun while learning. And Go Green!
Describe your MSU experience in one word:
Life-changing.