I had a great time attending the WHA!! I had the opportunity to learn so much from both junior scholars (like myself) and senior scholars as they discussed their research and the significance of their work. I attended many different panels, met new people, attended the Graduate Student Reception, and bought sooooo many books. Not only was I able to hear about exciting and important new research by junior and senior scholars, but I also connected with fellow graduate students from various institutions, which I would not have had the chance to do without this conference. It was so enjoyable to meet new people, such as fellow junior scholars. And, of course, it was great to gain new Instagram followers. (LOLOLOLOL)

I introduced myself to well-known academics in Western History. At one point during the WHA, Loneise Thomas (one of my peers and dear friend) and I were waiting for an elevator when the 2024 WHA president, Dr. Kelly Lytle Hernández, came out from an elevator on the other side of the hallway. Loneise and I saw Dr. Hernández, and I (not shy at all) made eye contact with her, waved, and said, “Oh!! Hello, Madam President!!” President Hernández politely said hello to us, and we introduced ourselves as PhD students from the University of Oklahoma. I am sure that Dr. Hernández does not remember this interaction as fondly as Loneise and I do, but it remains one of those moments that stands out in my memory. Almost immediately after our interaction with President Hernández, Loneise and I excitedly told all our conference friends that we had introduced ourselves to the WHA President by chance as she walked out of the elevator!! It was so funny and such a great memory.

I also made nice memories with my conference buddy and dear friend, Zach Nora, and I met and introduced ourselves to several senior scholars. We attended multiple panels discussing Latino communities. In one instance, we went to a panel on Latina women and the various ways they resisted and challenged legal and social obstacles aimed at controlling and oppressing their lives and autonomy as women. We were very interested in the panel because it covered an important and engaging topic, but we also attended because we recognized the name of the panel chair, Dr. Mary E. Mendoza from Penn State University. In our Race and Environment seminar with Dr. Kathleen Brosnan, we planned to discuss proofs of Dr. Mendoza’s book (where Mendoza served as an editor) Not Just Green, Not Just White: Race, Justice, and Environmental History, the week after the WHA. Zach and I met Dr. Mendoza excitedly, but we were NOT done with our assigned readings of Not Just Green, Not Just White!! It was an interesting experience to meet a scholar whose anthology we had not completed reading. We DID finish reading the proofs before we met for seminar the week after the WHA, with Dr. Mendoza as a guest speaker.

On the last morning of the conference, Zach wanted to go to a panel focusing on Texas and California borderlands in the early twentieth century, one of Zach’s research interests. Being a good conference buddy, I got up early and was ready to attend this panel with my friend, which started at 8:15am!! We went because we were both interested in the panel aaaaand we were able to meet Dr. Sonia Hernández from Texas A&M University!! Meeting and speaking with Dr. Hernández was great; she took time out of her very busy day to speak to Zach and I about our

research and who we are. It was really nice to see one of my friends make such a great connection with a scholar he really wanted to connect with.

Not only was I able to speak with scholars, such as Drs Hernández and Dr. Mendoza, but I also made new grad student friends that I met at the Graduate Student Reception. I had so much fun at that reception!! I won the raffle, which gave me a mug with “WHA” on it (!!), and I met grad students from different institutions and various graduate career stages. I also gained Instagram followers, which may not seem significant in the grand scheme of things. Still, it mattered to me because I enjoy getting new followers on Instagram. (I felt as if I were an Instagram influencer every time I got a ‘new follower notification’ LOLOLOL.) In addition to meeting new people, I finally had the opportunity to meet the junior scholars who presented with me on our panel about the transnational American West. I had previously communicated with Faith Bennett, Annie Delgado, Jonathan Laska, Abigail Scott, and Ashley Harms Somawang online, so it was wonderful to see them in person and hear their voices!!

Overall, I truly enjoyed my time at the conference. I got to meet new people, make new friends, and reconnect with old friends. My online friendships (including but not limited to junior scholars Abigail Scott and Ashley Harms Somawang) transformed into real-life connections, too, as we met in person!! Now, I have both online and in-person friends because of this conference. I bought several books that I will read when I have time (as a grad student, I cannot guarantee when that will be LOLOLOLOL). I had the opportunity to speak with many junior and senior scholars; it was a fantastic experience. It was so much fun to learn new things and take a selfie with Dr. William Bauer for my mom!! Dr. Bauer was a professor I had during my undergrad years and, luckily, again during my time as an MA student. I shared the selfie in our family group chat (like my mom asked), and my siblings, in true sibling fashion, responded with, “you’re such a nerd but that’s cool. have fun.” And I DID have fun!! I give this conference a 10/10 rating and highly recommend attending!!