With school back in session (and because I’m a big nerd), I’ve been thinking about which historical figures I’d want by my side in the classroom and for the just-as-important extracurriculars. I selected 8 historical superlatives from the diverse group of figures included in my book, Who Wins? It was not an easy task but it was a fun one.
Hope you enjoy this twist on history!
Best Student? Theodore Roosevelt.
It’s no coincidence that almost all of the historical figures in Who Wins? are incredibly intelligent. But that’s not all being a student is about. Sure, smarts are required, but great students are social, pleasant, and have self-discipline, focus, and plenty of motivation. Albert Einstein, perhaps the smartest person in history, wasn’t a particularly gifted student. He lacked the ability to concentrate. The same goes for other intellectuals such as Leonardo da Vinci, Archimedes, Hypatia, Isaac Newton, and Pythagoras. So, my pick is Theodore Roosevelt. The guy was popular, eager to learn, and extraordinarily smart. He was an author, politician, soldier, boxer, fisherman, hunter, and succeeded at just about everything he put his mind to.
Winning Quote: “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”
Best Study Partner? Confucius.
The perfect study partner needs to be patient, smart, and encouraging. History is full of people who fit the bill. You could make a case for Marie Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington, Mother Teresa, or Mohandas Gandhi, but for me there’s one clear choice: Confucius. His life’s work was all about education, his intellect was well-rounded, and he was kind, forgiving, and a perfectionist. Whether it’s cramming for a trigonometry quiz, brushing up on world geography, or trying to learn the finer points of economics, I’d want Confucius on my side.
Winning Quote: “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”
Class Clown? Charlie Chaplin.
This may be the easiest pick! Plenty of history’s most famous people were fun, funny, and mischievous, including Harry Houdini, Louis Armstrong, or Muhammad Ali. But only one stood out to me as clear winner: Charlie Chaplin. The entertainer revolutionized comedy, starring in classics like The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. It was Chaplin’s life’s mission to make people laugh and provide entertainment in even the worst of times.
Winning Quote: “A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
Class President? Abe Lincoln.
Because Class President is a position voted on by the student body, that means plenty of campaigning and putting the best foot forward. Candidates need to be—at least seemingly—wholesome, nice, relatable, confident, and generally well-liked by peers. I considered Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I, but neither were elected to the throne. So I chose the person who, by many accounts, is the most popular American president: Abraham Lincoln. He governed during one of America’s darkest eras. But even with the country split during the Civil War, Lincoln’s outstanding leadership and popularity allowed him to accomplish a lot of good.
Winning Quote: “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Yearbook Editor? Nellie Bly.
We all know history is full of gifted writers and talented communicators, but a yearbook editor needs to have the ability to tap into the pulse of the student body. That means an innate sense of pop culture and current events, mixed with a terrific personality and general likability. Some of my top candidates include William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, and Mark Twain, but I’m picking Nellie Bly. She was a writer, editor, and adventurer, with plenty of personality and fearlessness. She was smart, popular, and extraordinarily talented.
Winning Quote: “I have never written a word that did not come from my heart. I never shall.”
Most Athletic? Babe Didrikson.
This one was tough. Who Wins? features dozens of awesome athletes, including Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joan of Arc, Jim Thorpe, and more. But I think Babe Didrikson is the best choice. Why? In an era when women were undervalued as athletes, she nearly single-handedly changed the perception of strong, powerful women. Didrikson saw success in golf, basketball, and track and field, winning two gold medals in the 1932 Summer Olympics, then turned to professional golf, winning 10 LPGA major championships.
Winning Quote: “Before I was in my teens, I knew exactly what I wanted to be: I wanted to be the best athlete who ever lived.”
Homecoming King? Martin Luther King.
We all know the truth: Homecoming Kings and Queens are usually synonymous with popularity. So, the choice here needs to be equally likable, respectable, and representative of peers. My gut says people like Alexander the Great or George Washington would work best, but I’m going to think outside the box. That’s why I say the very best Homecoming King would be Martin Luther King Jr. He was inspiring, a terrific leader, and represented himself and his peers with class, patience, and a nearly otherworldly focus.
Winning Quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
Homecoming Queen? Josephine Baker.
Like the Homecoming King category, there are some obvious choices here: Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria. But there’s something predictable about choosing real-life royalty for Homecoming Queen. That’s why I’m picking Josephine Baker, the legendary dancer and entertainer. She grew up in St. Louis singing on street corners, but soon graduated to the biggest stages in Europe thanks to hard work, determination, and talent. Baker was independent, smart, beautiful, and uniquely skilled. In her later years, she dedicated her life to crusading for racial equality, even speaking alongside MLK at the historic March on Washington. If being Homecoming Queen equals popularity, grace, and representing peers, there are few better than Josephine Baker.
Winning Quote: “All my life, I have maintained that the people of the world can learn to live together in peace if they are not brought up in prejudice.”
Did we miss anything? Suggest your historical superlatives in the comments below!
Wishing you a smooth and successful school year!
ALL DRAWINGS BY TOM BOOTH.
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