Christine Peretik is no stranger to hard work and unexpected opportunities. A senior at George Mason University in the Schar School of Policy and Government, she is majoring in government and international politics with minors in both history and criminology, law and society.
But it was her passion for the past that landed her a fascinating internship at the Fairfax Circuit Court Historic Records Center in Fairfax, Virginia, a role she initially applied for on a whim.
“I had applied for it, not expecting much,” Peretik said. “I was very interested in it, but I didn’t know if it was going to turn up. And lo and behold, I ended up getting this internship.” (Let that be a lesson to all students considering internships. Help is here.)
Peretik’s work at the Historical Records Center placed her directly in the midst of history—literally. Housed in what was once the clerk’s office, the center holds an extensive archive of documents, from land records to court proceedings, and even a Fairfax Court Slavery Index compiled by a former George Mason University student.
“We have obituaries and just about every court proceeding you can think of,” Peretik said. “Even crimes that were committed back in the day, just about everything people went through.”
One of her main tasks was analyzing old court cases, which appealed to her higher ed interests, from government to history to law.
“My manager asked me to identify who was the victim in these cases,” she said, explaining how she often had to interpret the documents handwritten in the 1800s on the fly. “I had to go back over each letter, like, ‘Okay, this is how they write an A. This is how they write a T.’”
Beyond deciphering faded vintage calligraphy and researching legal documents, Peretik also contributed to the center’s public exhibits, which are displayed around the historic courthouse and judicial center. She helped create content for a walking tour that takes visitors through key sites, such as the Legato School, one of Virginia’s early schools, now a museum. Students attended the school between the 1870s and 1930 and is now furnished to mimic the look and feel of an 1870s schoolhouse.
“We also have a little stone slab from the Spanish-American War era,” Peretik said. “People believe it marks a grave, but neighbors say it was actually a cat named Clem.”
Peretik’s enthusiasm for learning and history is palpable.
“I am a huge, huge history nerd, for lack of a better word,” she admits. “I watch documentaries for fun. That’s one of my things.”
Despite her love of history, Peretik’s academic focus remains on government and law.
“I want to work in the government someday,” she said. “Maybe the Department of Justice, or Homeland Security. I’m keeping my options open.”
Among her outside-the-classroom experiences at George Mason include working as a telecounselor for the Admissions Office. She’s also been an active member for three years of the International Buddy Program, which pares domestic students with international students “with the whole purpose of forming connections between the two.”
Peretik’s decision to attend George Mason was an intentional one. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her family relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina, over a decade ago. She considered other universities but ultimately chose George Mason for its unique balance.
“It’s the hub for government,” she says. “You’re right near D.C., but also far enough away to have a real college experience.”
As she prepares to graduate in May, Peretik reflects on her time at the Schar School and the internship that deepened her appreciation for history.
“It was an incredible opportunity,” she says. “You never know where an email or a small decision might lead you.”