Online Party 2K20
Yup, I was right. We got the email today that we’re supposed to use this weekend to convert our classes to some sort of format that can be delivered online; students will not be coming back to campus for the foreseeable future.
Converting to an online format won’t be too hard for my courses, but I imagine there are a lot of profs who are in a bit of a panic right now. Two days is not a lot of time to make this transition…
Cancellations
So classes were cancelled today.
Classes are never cancelled here.
It can be -40 degrees with ice covering every inch of every road and the U of C will still be like “lol campus beckons, children.”
From what I’ve heard, the last time classes were cancelled was during the 2013 floods.
I suspect they’re going to have us move to some sort of online format. When? Who knows. It wouldn’t surprise me if we have to do it over the weekend, even though as I’m writing this it’s 5 PM and we haven’t gotten any information yet other than that classes are closed today and are supposed to resume “in some format” on Monday.
So fun times.
Edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BASEBALL IS BEING POSTPONED
HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO L I V E
FAKEY FAKEY
I’m super late in doing this, but I finally remembered to make my fake UI class schedule for next semester.
Y’know, like I always do.
COMMENCE!
M/W/F
CS 470: Artificial Intelligence (9:30 – 10:20)
PHIL 325: Historical Figures in Philosophy (11:30 – 12:20)
STAT 516: Applied Regression Modeling (12:30 – 1:20)
W
ENGL 582: Techniques of Fiction (3:30 – 6:20)
T/H
PEB 106: Wall Climbing (9:30 – 10:45)
CS 479: Data Science (12:30 – 1:45)
GEOG 401: Climatology (2:00 – 3:15)
Will I ever stop doing this?
No. The answer is no.
SPRING 2017 UI SCHEDULE, BITCHES
Yo.
So it’s time for that semi-annual joy of joys event: making a fake UI schedule for the upcoming semester.
Because even when I’m no longer in school, I’m always in school in my mind.
Let’s do it!
M/W/F
PEB 106: Road & Trail Running (8:00 – 9:15)
CS 210: Programming Languages (9:30 – 10:20)
STAT 504: Introduction to Bayesian Statistics (10:30 – 11:20)
MATH 536: Probability Theory (11:30 – 12:20)
PLSC 205: General Botany (1:30 – 2:20)
MATH 476: Combinatorics (3:30 – 4:20)
T/H
PLSC 205: General Botany Lab (9:30 – 12:20 T)
MUSA 121: Concert Band (12:30 – 1:45)
GEOG 401: Climatology (2:00 – 3:15)
This is a few more credits than you’re allowed per semester, but since when did I ever pay attention to that even when I was actually in school?
FAKE CLASS SCHEDULE OMFG
HEY, SO…
The Spring 2016 class schedule is out for the U of I. YAY! Time to make a fake schedule!
This schedule’s going to be filled with basically all the classes I find interesting rather than ones that I have the prerequisites for.
‘Cause why not.
LIFE IS SHORT; TAKE CLASSES YOU’RE NOT PREPARED FOR!
M/W/F
MATH 386: Theory of Numbers (9:30 – 10:20)
PLSC 205: General Botany (1:30 – 12:20) (shut up, it sounds cool)
F
THE 440: Playwriting (10:30 – 1:20)
T/H
MUSA 321: Concert Band (12:30 – 1:45)
ENGL 492: Advanced Fiction Writing (2:00 – 3:15) (I actually did take this class, but this time it’s offered with Orozco and he’s fantastic, so I’d take it again)
T
PLSC 205L: General Botany Lab (9:30 – 12:20)
Also: Alex (Dr. Woo) will be teaching Analysis of Algorithms in the spring? OH MY GOD, that would be a fun class to take with him as the prof. Alex is badass.
(Not that it wasn’t a fun class when I took it with Dr. Nielsen—‘cause it was—but Alex has a totally different style.)
Classes!
Heeeey, so my second year (fourth year technically, but who’s counting?) of grad school started today! I was all excited to give you a review of my classes like I always do when a new semester starts, but then I remembered I only have two classes total—one that starts today and one that starts tomorrow.
BUT I WON’T LET THAT STOP ME!
Today was Theory of Estimation, taught by Dr. Chen. It sounds like it’s going to be an interesting class…not sure if it’s going to be as hard as the class he taught last fall. We shall see.
I also had my first TA assignment today, but my schedule’s still being thrown around, so who knows if I’ll have to do the same thing next week.
Short blog is short!
Claudia’s Complete Undergraduate Classes: The Comprehensive List that Nobody Asked For
This was inspired by a conversation Nate and I had about the classes we’d taken in college. These are just the undergraduate ones, mainly because I’ve blocked out as much of my UBC experience as I can without physically removing part of the memory section of my brain. But I remember all these semesters!
There is absolutely no purpose for this list, other than perhaps as a reference sheet for myself when I’m old and gray and feel like reminiscing about school.
So yeah.
Fall 2006 (20 credits)
- CORE 116 (The Sacred Journey): The only reason I took this particular core class was so that I could get that one “international” credit or whatever the hell it was for my psych degree.
- ENGL 102 (College Writing and Rhetoric): I got to skip 101 because of my SAT scores.
- MATH 143 (Pre-Calculus Algebra and Analytic Geometry): NO. Screw this class.
- MUSA 119 (Marching Band): Awesome times!
- PSYC 101 (Introduction to Psychology): I met Sean in this class! This was also my *very first* college class, since it was the first one I went to on that first day.
- THEF 100 (Introduction to Theatre): I wrote a play for this class. It was goddamn horrible. My prof liked it though; she said it was like a weird mix between MAD TV and Chekov.
- THEF 105 (Basics of Performance): We held this class in the combat room in the old gym. Most of our time was spent pretending to be children playing children’s games.
Spring 2007 (20 credits)
- BIOL 102 (Biology and Society): UGH, BIOLOGY. Had to take this for the psych degree. My prof was cool, though.
- BIOL 102 L (Biology and Society Lab): Labs are stressful.
- CORE 166 (The Sacred Journey): Yes, this was a TWO SEMESTER THING. Blaaaah.
- ENLG 258 (Literature of Western Civilization): This is one of the most impactful classes I ever took. It introduced me to Voltaire and philosophy and how everything across all disciplines really do connect to a certain level. I’m so glad I took this class.
- ENGL 292 (Beginning Fiction Writing): Yay! I barely got into this class; I was on the waitlist until like the day before classes started.
- MUSA 121 (Concert Band): Was this the he-brides semester? I think it was.
- PSYC 310 (Psychology of Personality): Interesting class. My second one with Sean!
- STAT 251 (Statistical Methods): I was terrified of this class. I had no idea I would be teaching it in five years’ time.
Summer 2007 (6 credits)
- ENGL 208 (Personal and Exploratory Writing): This would have been a fun class, except for the fact that I was in a major writing slump at the end of the spring semester.
- PSYC 499 (Directed Study): I had to read a book. That was pretty much it.
Fall 2007 (22 credits)
- GEOG 100 (Physical Geography): I learned about clouds! This was also the first professor I had who couldn’t write tests. I think all 150+ of us failed the first one. He got better, though!
- GEOG 100 L (Physical Geography Lab): I repeat: labs are stressful.
- MATH 160 (Survey of Calculus): Also known as “business calculus.” Hated it. Why do you have a class like this at 8 in the morning? Where is the justice in the world?
- MUSA 319 (Marching Band)
- PHIL 320 (History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy): My first philosophy class! No Leibniz yet, though.
- PSYC 218 (Introduction to Research in the Behavioral Sciences): Dr. Bustamante. That is all.
- PSYC 320 (Introduction to Social Psychology): This class was surprisingly difficult, believe it or not. Probably because I no longer cared about any other aspect of psych after the glory that was Tests and Measurements.
- PSYC 430 (Tests and Measurements): YES YES YES YESYESYESYESYES. This was the class that solidified my desire to do quant psych. I would’ve married this class if I could have.
Spring 2008 (25 credits) [God, why did I do this?]
- MUSA 321 (Concert Band)
- PHIL 202 (Introduction to Symbolic Logic): This was a really difficult class for me at the time, but Dr. O’Rourke was awesome and helped me learn a lot.
- PHIL 321 (History of Modern Philosophy): I discover Leibniz and the world is forever changed.
- PSYC 305 (Developmental Psychology): Meh. I didn’t really care about this class too much.
- PSYC 456 (Psychology of Emotion): Haha, another Sean class. We had lots of fun trying to decipher the tests.
- PSYC 330 (Human Sexuality): Very chill and laid back, which is good for an 8:30 AM class.
- PSYC 499 (I/O Psychology Research): My first research experience! Got to run participants and do stats.
- STAT 401 (Statistical Analysis): I was also terrified of this class because we had to use SAS and I had no idea what that was. I still have the book we used and the topics are SO EASY now.
- STAT 422 (Sample Survey Methods): Also terrifying. My first class with Dr. Williams, though, who is awesome.
Summer 2008 (6 credits)
- PHIL 307 (Buddhism): This was a LOT of work over the summer, but fun.
- PSYC 311 (Abnormal Psychology): I wish I would have taken this in a classroom setting rather than online.
Fall 2008 (22 credits)
- MUSA 319 (Marching Band)
- PHIL 103 (Ethics): We read Watchmen, which makes this whole class worth it.
- PHIL 351 (Philosophy of Science): I really liked the material in this class, but was at 8 in the morning. Who can think at 8 AM? Not me!
- PHIL 442 (Philosophy of Mind): Dr. O’Rourke! Very interesting class. Lots of heated debates.
- PSYC 390 (Psychology of Learning): Online class. Super easy.
- PSYC 421 (Cognitive Development): There were only like six of us in this class and the prof took a lot of pity on me because he knew I was trying to graduate early and was really stressed out about it.
- PSYC 499 (I/O Psychology Research)
- STAT 514 (Nonparametric Statistics): I was the only non-graduate student in this class. I think I needed more math, though.
Spring 2009 (22 credits)
- ENGL 392 (Intermediate Fiction Writing): This class was taught by Dr. Orozco, who is super cool and really into running writing workshops.
- MATH 330 (Linear Algebra): No.
- MUSA 321 (Concert Band)
- PHIL 240 (Belief and Reality): I was very fortunate that this class was offered when it was; normally it’s just offered in the fall, so I wouldn’t have been able to complete my philosophy degree if that had been the case this year.
- PHIL 447 (Theory of Knowledge): More Dr. O’Rourke! Less debate, though.
- PHIL 490 (Senior Seminar): This was a three-hour Thursday only class. Rough.
- PSYC 499 (I/O Psychology Research)
- STAT 519 (Multivariate Analysis): YAY, my introduction to R and factor analysis and PCA and all the fun things you can do with multivariate data. Dr Lee rules.
FAST FORWARD!
Fall 2012 (12 credits)
- ENGL 293 (Beginning Nonfiction Writing): Wrote my Leibniz/Newton story in here. This was also the first class in which I made friends during my second round of undergrad.
- MATH 170 (Calculus I): I was nervous about calculus after my business calc experience in 2007, but this class was SO MUCH BETTER. My prof was amazing.
- MUSA 321 (Concert Band): Concert band was not the same without the old group of dorks.
- STAT 426 (SAS Programming): I’ve forgotten pretty much everything about SAS since I use R so exclusively and so often, haha.
Spring 2013 (15 credits)
- CS 120 (Computer Science I): Fun and useful class. I wish I had a reason to use C++ more frequently so that I don’t forget how it works.
- ENGL 393 (Intermediate Nonfiction Writing): The class in which I finally got all the Vancouver out of my system by writing a 50-ish page story about my time there.
- MATH 175 (Calculus II): This class was pretty rough, but also very enjoyable. I somehow managed to get a 100% on our second test, which doesn’t happen with me and math tests. Ever.
- MATH 176 (Discrete Mathematics): My first class with Dr. Abo! This was a super interesting and not too difficult class. This was also the first class in which I was explicitly taught summation notation (though I already knew what it was, of course, ‘cause of stats).
- MUSA 321 (Concert Band)
Summer 2013 (3 Credits)
- MATH 275 (Calculus III): Best summer class ever. I loved multivariate calc mainly because we got to write the integral symbol so often.
Fall 2013 (13 Credits)
- ENGL 492 (Advanced Fiction Writing): Easily my favorite writing class, partially because of my classmates and partially because I was able to write two of my best short stories in it.
- MATH 215 (Introduction to Higher Mathematics): OH MY GOD this was a fun class. Everyone was a total freaking nerd (including our prof) and it was fantastic. I was really nervous about this one, but it was actually pretty easy.
- MATH 330 (Linear Algebra): Yes, I took linear algebra a second time. I had to make up for that B the first time. Also, Dr. Abo taught it this time around and it was so much better and made so much more sense. It helped that half the hooligans from MATH 215 were in this class as well.
- MUSA 321 (Concert Band)
- STAT 451 (Probability Theory): This was quite difficult when I was in it, but looking back on the textbook and comparing it to grad school stats, it’s not that bad at all.
Spring 2014 (13 credits)
- MATH 395 (Analysis of Algorithms): Very laid-back and interesting class. Sorting algorithms FTW!
- MATH 420 (Complex Variables): I have such an appreciation for imaginary numbers after this class, man. It makes me feel cool.
- MUSA 321 (Concert Band)
- STAT 452 (Mathematical Statistics): I have no idea how I did as well in this class as I did. Luck and fear, probably.
- STAT 453 (Stochastic Methods): This was EASILY the most difficult class I’ve ever taken (apart from Algebra II in high school, but that doesn’t count). I got a B in this class and I was just glad it wasn’t lower, let’s put it that way.
That’s 72 classes in a total of five years. That’s a good number of classes.
(Yes, I would do it all again.)
Yes, I’m going to keep doing these until the U of I no longer exists
The UI schedule for fall is out! You know what this means…
HYPOTHETICAL SCHEDULE MAKING TIME!
Because why not.
There’s only one stats class posted for the fall that I haven’t already taken, and most of the math classes are super upper division stuff that I don’t think I could ever do, so let’s make it an artsy-fartsy semester, eh?
MTHF
GERM 101: Elementary German I (9:30 -10:20)
MWF
STAT 507: Experimental Design (12:30 – 1:45)
TR
ART 111: Drawing I (10:30 – 12:20)
ART 261: Ceramics I (2:30 – 5:20)
W
GERM 101L: Elementary German I Lab (9:30 – 10:20)
That’s only 13 credits! There’s not a very good offering in the fall.
Best Part of the Year
GUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYZ IT’S SCHEDULE TIIIIIIIIIIIME!
Hi.
Okay, so…good news! I don’t have to take Stochastic Methods: U of C Version! I get to take two classes I REALLY am excited for!
Next semester’s classes include:
STAT 517: Practice of Statistics
This is technically for senior undergrads, but we can take up to two 500-level courses as grad students and have them count. This one is taught by my supervisor, Dr. Chen, and he recommended I take it, so there ya go. Apparently this is like a “real world stats” class intended for students going out into the work force as statisticians. Says the official description: “The emphasis is on how to address real world scientific and social issues by applying the various statistical methods acquired in the earlier years in a unified and appropriate way. This involves method selection, data handling, statistical computing, consulting, report writing and oral presentation, team work, and ethics.” Apart from the teamwork aspect, YAY.
STAT 621B: Research Seminar
This is a year-long course, so I’m already in it and know what it involves. It’s actually a cross-listed seminar required for all the statistics, pure math, and applied math students, and we all have to give a talk on a research topic of interest. This semester all the math people are going and it’s actually been really interesting stuff so far. I can’t wait ‘till I get to tell them about MEASURING MODEL FIT!
STAT 625: Multivariate Analysis
I’ve had like forty* multivariate analysis classes, but according to Dr. Chen, this one will focus more on the theoretical side rather than the applied side. Which will be super cool. If we get to do factor analysis, I’m going to pee my pants from joy.
ALSO:
U of I schedule is out!!!! Time to make my fake schedule for Spring 2015:
MWF
MATH 386: Theory of Numbers (9:30 – 10:20)
HIST 350: The Age of Enlightenment (11:30 – 12:20)
STAT 516: Applied Regression Modeling (12:30 – 1:20)
MUSA 317: University Chorus (2:30 – 3:20)
MW
ENGL 492: Advanced Fiction Writing (5:00 – 6:20) (I don’t care that I’ve already taken this)
TH
ART 241: Sculpture 1 (8:30 – 11:20)
PHIL 325: Existentialism (12:30 – 1:45)
Why does UI start offering the badass classes AS SOON AS I LEAVE? A lot of other good ones overlapped with these though (Concert Band, for one, which is why I’ve got University Chorus on there. I haven’t sung since elementary school but WHO’S GONNA STOP ME?!), so it would be hard to do this for real.
*Two. I’ve had two multivariate analysis classes.
Nonficpalooza
I finally had Advanced Nonfiction today!
It’s a Monday-only class!
I’m still in fiction mode and I have no idea what I’m going to write about for my three essays, but I never know what I’m going to write about until it happens, so yay.
Maybe this semester I’ll try an essay about anosmia rather than a fictional story. We’ll see.
MINECRAFT TIME!
SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL
YAY YAY YAY YAY
HERE ARE THE CLASS REVIEWS!
Mathematical Statistics (STAT 452): Part II of the “Journey to Fuse Math and Stats in a Glory of Distribution Orgies.” Super excited.
Complex Variables (MATH 420): DUDE THIS CLASS ALREADY LOOKS SO FREAKING INTERESTING. At one point in the semester we’re going to be doing calculus with imaginary numbers. Whaaaaaaaaaat I can’t wait.
Stochastic Methods (STAT 453): I think this is going to be the hardest class of the semester. Stochastic methods, from what I’ve gathered thus far, involve attempts to model randomly-behaving variables based on how they have acted in the past (or in the present).
Analysis of Algorithms (MATH 395): I’m going to flip out once we get to the sorting algorithms, I know I am. Excited about this, too!
Looks like a good semester so far. I have Concert Band tomorrow, which doesn’t really need a review, but once we finally meet for Advanced Nonfiction on the 27th, I’ll let you all know how that goes.
‘Cause I’m sure you all give a crap.
SCHEDULE CHANGE!
Okay, duders, I’m changing my spring schedule around. ‘Cause I always do that. ‘Cause I’m me.
Reason: I’ve wanted to take STAT 453, Stochastic Methods, ‘cause my knowledge of such things is pretty much zero. I knew that it was offered in the spring, but I thought that I needed both 451 and 452 as prerequisites. However, I randomly decided to check the course catalog (again…) and it turns out that only 451 (which I’m in now) is the prereq. So Stochastic Methods is in! It knocks out poetry and leaves me with just Advanced Nonfiction as my only English class next semester. Kinda sad, but I’m excited about Stochastic Methods.
Updated schedule (as if anyone cares):
WOO!
IT’S HAPPENING
STATISTICS AND CALCULUS ARE MERGING
THE GREAT SYNTHESIS
THERE ARE SO MANY INTEGRALS
CANNOT HANDLE JOINT DENSITY FUNCTIONS
(sorry, I’m freaking out from joy)
The Best Part of the Year
LOOK AT THIS SCHEDULE
LOOK AT IT
We’ve got:
- ENGL 291: Beginning Poetry Writing
- ENGL 492: Advanced Nonfiction Writing
- MATH 395: Analysis of Algorithms
- MATH 420: Complex Variables
- MUSA 321: Concert Band (of course)
- STAT 452: Mathematical Statistics
Plus two sections of STAT 251, which are represented by the little red boxes.
PARTY TIME! I’m super excited.
Cannot wait to register for classes!
Two things:
- I can graduate in May!
- I might not have to take an Engineering Outreach class after all! I talked to my advisor and told him of my issue, and he looked through the course list and said that he could probably petition to get MATH 420 to substitute for one of the other classes I need (all the other ones offered are through Engineering Outreach). MATH 420 is Complex Variables. According to my advisor, it’s basically calculus with complex numbers. That…sounds…AWESOME.
I hope the petition works.
WOO! I’m stoked for next semester.
YES
FINALLY.
SPRING SCHEDULE.
MY LIFE MAKES SENSE AGAIN.
*Spends an hour perusing all pages*
The good:
- Nothing conflicts with my teaching schedule! (I already knew that, but it’s good nonetheless.)
- I can pull off a Writing minor if I want to.
- ADVANCED CALCULUS I!!
- If I miraculously don’t botch things up, I can graduate in the spring.
The bad:
- No History of Math. (I already knew that too, but it’s bad nonetheless.)
- To pull off said Writing minor, I have to take Beginning Poetry. *gags in iambic pentameter*
- Since I’m “off” by a semester (I took calc III over the summer), I have to take Advanced Calculus I via Engineering Outreach. That means that it’ll cost me about $800 for that single class.
- I don’t think I’ll be able to pull off one of my signature “all my classes are in one solid block and my week is symmetrical, look at all this sweet, sweet homework time” schedules.
So yay?
CLASSES!
Classesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclasses
classesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclasses
classesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclassesclasses!!
*Deep breath*
I’m back, bitches! Here’s the rundown:
Probability (STAT 451): This is the class I’ve been waiting for. I think this will be the one where calculus and stats will finally mate in a glorious orgy of bell curves and integrals.
Linear Algebra (MATH 330): I really think I’ll get more out of it this time, especially since Dr. Abo is awesome and I like the way he teaches. Plus there were three of us who got there early and we kind of bonded into a “let’s study together” group, so that’s cool.
Advanced Fiction (ENGL 492): After writing non-fic almost exclusively for quite some time now, it’s going to be interesting to switch back. But I’m excited! I love writing and I love reading others’ stories.
Numerical Linear Algebra (MATH 432): Hmm…not sure about this one. Today we just talked about some of the problems we were going to solve, including ones involving least squares methods and singular value decomposition. I’ve used both of those things in the context of multivariate stats, but never in depth. Though our professor did ask us what were some characteristics of a non-singular matrix and we all kind of hesitated before answering, so hopefully that means that we’re all at least on the same page as far as our familiarity with (or memory of) linear algebra goes.
Intro to Higher Math (MATH 215): Why are 200-level classes the most difficult ones? I’ve never understood that. Anyway, I foresee this being similar to Symbolic Logic (that’s code for insane amounts of work). I’m excited, though. And if I can make it through, I can take advanced calculus (Math…471? I think?) next spring! *flailing*
END!
SCHEDULE!
Shedulescheduleschedulescheduleschedule!
Check out that Tuesday/Thursday, eh? Depending on when I end up teaching, I may just have band on those days.
But I do want to add something else somewhere…not sure where…but somewhere. I don’t like this 12/13 credit thing.
IT’S HARD.
Maybe I’ll shove an art class in there if I can. Or another stats class. Though I’m not sure if anything that I haven’t taken/aren’t already taking is being offered.
SCHWING!
The Fisher-Yates Shuffle is not a dance
So I’ve been screeching for like the past five minutes because THE FALL CLASS SCHEDULE IS UP ZOMG!
The bad:
Agh, the ONE CLASS I really, really, really wanted to take (History of Math) is not offered.
[frustrationfrustrationfrustrationfrustration]
The good:
Well hell, everything else looks good, though. Regardless of which section(s) I end up teaching of STAT 251, none of them will conflict with the other classes I want to take.
Tentative schedule:
(MWF)
STAT 451: Probability Theory (8:30 – 9:20)
ENGL 492: Advanced Fiction Writing (12:30 – 1:20)
MATH 432: Numerical Linear Algebra (1:30 – 2:20)
MATH 215: Intro to Advanced Mathematics (2:30 – 3:20)
(TH)
MUSA 321: Concert Band (4:30 – 5:20)
I also really want to take HIST 404: History of Science until 1800, but I can’t find the prerequisites anywhere (it’s a special topics class, so who knows) and it also conflicts with Advanced Fiction.
ANYWAY.
Throw one (or two?) sections of STAT 251 in there and we’re good.
But DAMMIT I wanted History of Math.
Why explaining the Binomial Theorem to a fellow student is a big deal (to me)
Today I explained the Binomial Theorem to another dude in my discrete math class.
“Who cares?” You’re probably saying.
Well, let me tell you a little story.
I used to be good at math. Like, when I was a kid. In elementary school I was one of three kids who were in “advanced math” (we sat in a broom closet and did math out of junior high textbooks. We also gave each other really dorky math nicknames, but I can’t remember mine).
I wasn’t bad through Junior High, either. The only difference was that I’d hit the “who gives a crap about school” phase of my life, so I didn’t really try very hard.
But then I took Algebra II. And I had the worst teacher ever. He was the track coach, so he was really only teaching so he could stay the track coach. He’d stand in front of the class for about 10 minutes, write out a bunch of equations and graphs without explaining them (seriously), then go back to his desk and review track film for the rest of the period. We were to spend the rest of the time doing a bunch of questions from the book, and he would get visibly irritated if we came up to him to ask questions.
I’m not even kidding.
What’s worse is how stupid he made us all feel when we did ask questions. And algebra’s never been my strength anyway (geometry and calc FTW), so you can imagine the number of berating comments I got because I always had questions. And me being me, I associated the “you’re so stupid” feeling with math, and that quickly turned into “you can’t do math you idiot.”
I’ll spare you all the crappy details, but by about January that year I would literally break out in hives whenever I walked down the math wing of the high school. I managed to stick it out, though, and ended up with like a 69.97%, which turned out as a C minus on my report card. And if you know me, you know that’s HORRIBLE. Even in my “I don’t give a crap about school” phase I didn’t get C minuses in any of my other classes.
The “Claudia’s too dumb to do math” attitude lasted into college as I took Math 143 in fall 2006 (though I submit that class was just a horrible class in general) and had like 40 panic attacks over Math 160 (“Survey of Calculus,” kind of an abridged version of calc I with a lot less integration) in fall 2007. I didn’t hate math—I appreciated everything it gave us and the amazing applications—I just hated doing it. (Which is actually kind of funny, because I NEVER felt like that when I started taking statistics. But I see stats and math as very different topics. But that’s another topic for another blog, so moving on…)
Once I got far enough along in the field of stats, I obviously started doing things that involved a lot more advanced math than anything I’d ever dealt with before (e.g., calculating eigenvalues and eigenvectors in factor analysis). And I think at some point I realized that if I was ever going to get anywhere in stats, I might as well stop being an idiot, face my fear of not being good at math (yes, it’s a fear of not being good at math, not a fear of math), and take some freaking math classes
And so that’s my life right now.
Every once and awhile, especially if I see a problem that I have no idea how to solve, I still get this incredibly visceral feeling of fear and dread and despair and self-hatred over being too stupid to do anything of worth, but I try to fight it and stay calm (well, calm for me).
But yeah. I’m absolutely loving my math classes and I’m really excited to get to Math 451 and 452, the two “Mathematical Statistics” classes, because I’m anticipating some big “click” where the two subjects merge into some beautiful orgy of integrals and probability distributions (and when that happens, good luck seeing a blog about anything else).
Anyway.
I just thought I’d explain that a little bit and give you a reason why you’re seeing a lot of “Claudia spazzes about math” posts.
It’s tiiiiiiiiiiime…
YES. SCHOOL.
Review:
MATH 176 (Discrete Math): I still dig that we’re going to talk about the pigeonhole principle. Totally excited about the material in this class.
PHYS 211 (Engineering Physics): There are like five of us in there who aren’t physics or engineering majors. This’ll be a lot of work, I think, but it sounds like it’ll be really fun as well. And my prof is awesome.
CS 120 (Computer Science I): Programming in stuff other than R and SAS! I see myself getting really obsessive about this class.
AND my class, which is super late in the day, especially for a stats class (3:30). I’ve got about half the students I did last semester due to the time, but hey…at least I’m not teaching the 8 AM section. I hope my students will like the class (and me).
WOO!
Nerves
Total distance walked thus far in 2013: 30 miles.
I need a car. And people need to shovel their damn sidewalks. The top of the hill on 3rd is an icy death trap.
Got my books today. I’m taking engineering physics because I want to take engineering physics and the book is GIANT. It looks like it’ll be a really interesting class.
I’m also taking discrete math. The first page I randomly turned to in the book had a discussion of the pigeonhole principle (a This Week’s Science Blog topic awhile back), so I have automatic love for that class. The professor is the same dude I had for linear algebra back in the stone age, so at least I’ll be familiar with his teaching style.
I think I’m actually more nervous about teaching this semester than last semester, mainly because now that I’ve done a class I feel like I have no excuse for any mistakes.
I need to chill. But I suck at chilling.
BAH.
Note: I’m having some issues regarding approving/responding to comments. Just letting you know that I’m not ignoring them (I love your comments, guys!), I’ll get to them as soon as WordPress stops throwing a hissy fit every time I try to type a response to one.
Are all Culligan men Aquarians?
Now this is a schedule.
I’m going to drop either applied regression (STAT 516) or discrete math (MATH 176) because even with my insane credit-taking, I’m not sure if I can pull 19 credits while teaching. Plus, I’ve heard that calc II is the bear of the calc trio.
But WOO! I love making schedules.
I teach MWF 3:30 – 4:20, by the way. So if you know anybody that still needs to take STAT 251…
It’s that wonderous time of the year of hypothetical semester schedules!
I’ve forgotten the joys of next-semester’s-schedule planning. Yayayayayay.
M/W/F:
MATH 175: Calculus II
PHYS 211: Engineering Physics I
CS 120: Computer Science I
STAT 516: Applied Regression Modeling
[Teaching STAT 251: Statistical Methods]
T:
CS 120: Computer Science I Lab
MUSA 321: Concert Band
H:
PHYS 211L: Engineering Physics I Lab
MUSA 321: Concert Band
It’ll be weird teaching 3 days a week. But I can’t WAIT.
I’m an educator!
Today I taught my first university class.
It was awesome.
I think it’ll take awhile for it to sink in that I’m actually independently responsible for a class of 130+ students. But I think it’s going to be the most fantastic time ever.
Oh, and I also had classes today!
- I’m taking SAS Programming, which will end up being super helpful because it prepares us for the SAS certification exam, which would put us way ahead in the job market because pretty much every company that does analyses uses SAS and wants people who know how to use SAS.
- And…CONCERT BAND! I haven’t played my clarinet in like three years, so the first few rehearsals will be interesting. BUT YAY MUSIC AGAIN FINALLY!
I’m done.
Eigenblogger 