I'm an aspiring finance major, how should I introduce myself to the field before classes next year?

Find out some of the books that your first year's courses will use, and read through them. I am sure that even doing something as simple reading through the tables of content will give you a better overview off the field!

The best thing you can do is get an internship. You get first hand experience and you will learn a lot. Look for companies with a good finance department and write them an email explaining what you are looking for - even if they aren't actively looking for an intern they may be open to the extra help (since you will be volunteering your time a lot of companies would appreciate the extra unpaid help)Plus a lot of times companies will hire interns after the internship is over/after you finish school.

Even if they don't hire you after the internship you can get a great letter of recommendation.

A great way might be to see if any finance companies might be looking for interns this summer.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.