Welcome to my Independent Inquiry blog! My name is Aman Tiku, and I’m currently a senior at The American School in Japan (ASIJ) in Tokyo. I’m an American citizen, but have lived all over the globe, from Hong Kong to London, a life experiences that have engendered this inquiry.
During seventh grade, our final social studies project was to write a creative historical story. I chose to depict the life of a Red Army soldier in World War II. The enormity of the subject served to inspire rather than overwhelm me. What was meant to be a short piece of middle school writing sprouted into a 60-page narrative of the Eastern Front.
My passion for history has since expanded into a variety of social science fields: politics, economics, and so forth. Having experienced all the advanced classes my school has to offer in the department, I knew I wanted to extend myself even further. This “independent inquiry” was thus born.
Though I am an American citizen, I have lived abroad most of my life. I have an emotional connection to the country but am paradoxically separated from ingratiating myself with it (for the time being). This “American” inquiry is meant to address that disparity. Here, I examine specific time periods and themes in American history to clarify my understanding of modern American society. It’s a platform for exploring American history through my academic passions, and ultimately arriving at a cohesive, if broad, understanding of the nation today. In addition, I’m hoping my work here will allow me to develop my historical thinking and analysis as I continue to seek excellence in that field.
Reflections:
Brainstorming My Final Presentation
Approaching the Semester’s End
An American Inquiry 