WELL I BROKE THE COPY MACHINE.
Elaboration: After our Proofs final this afternoon (which was surprisingly easy), I had to go copy the tests for STAT 251 (‘cause, you know, I don’t plan ahead like I should and instead waited until the night before the test to copy them). So Wayne and I went back to Brink. We went up to the stats department floor and he worked on his SAS project while I started the copier.
The first ¾ of the copies went fine, but then the machine stopped so I went to check on it. I figure it was just out of paper; I was making 145 copies, after all.
But no. What was it out of? Staples.
Replacing the staples in that particular copier is the hardest freaking thing ever.
So I manage to mangle the damn staple holder to the point where I’m pretty sure it’s broken. I’m totally freaking out because I’ve got 37 more copies to make, and Wayne, with his seemingly boundless patience, tries to fix the staple holder for like 15 minutes before we’re both like, “okay, screw this” and I leave a frantic note with the gist of “sorry, I broke the staple holder ‘cause I’m an idiot” and went to Kinkos to make the remaining copies.
Got home at 9:45. I have my probability final tomorrow at 7 AM.
Screw finals week, man.
Nerrrrrrrrrrvous
Linear Algebra Saturday Study Session!
I honestly don’t know which final I’m most worried about. I have three—one each on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—which is good ‘cause I have extra time to study, but bad ‘cause tests make me ANXIOUS and waiting to take said tests makes me OBSCENELY ANXIOUS.
Also, they’re all comprehensive. I don’t think I’ve ever had a semester where all of my finals have been comprehensive.
Haha, welcome to math, eh?
VvVvVvVvV
(In Alice Cooper voice)
SCHOOOOOOOOOOL’S OUT…FOR…SUMMER!
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII LIED…IT’S…FINALS!
Anyway.
I’ve taken like 400 classes at UI and this is the first time I’ll have a final on a Friday.
GROSS.
In not-even-slightly-related news, I found this Tumblr about 15 minutes ago and am entirely in love with it.
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.
It’s time for advising!
Which means it’s time for decisions to be made.
So here are some:
- Grad school. It’s going to have to happen again. I am about 99.9999% sure I want to spend the rest of my life teaching stats or doing something stats-related. The best plan for getting a permanent (hopefully tenured) position at some point? Getting a PhD. So…yeah.
- Grad school in Canada. If I’m going, I’m going up there. Reasons include: I’m too much of a coward to re-take the GRE (my old scores are expired), the GRE is dumb anyway and Canada seems to know that, and I have a chance of getting accepted at UBC again and I pretty much constantly daydream about walking Vancouver.
- If I don’t get into grad school (likely), the plan is to stay here and keep teaching for another year (Dr. Williams told me that they’d likely have work for me), get a few more degrees (I’m pretty close to two others after the math one), actually STUDY for the GRE, take it, and apply to US schools.
- And if a really good job comes up in the meantime, I’m going for it. I JUST WANNA TEACH STAAAAAAAAATS.
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?
WTF, mate?
EXPLAIN THIS TO ME: how in the hell did I get a 103% on that probability test?
Seriously, how?
Instead of making like two dozen incredibly stupid mistakes, I only made one incredibly stupid mistake, and then got one of the bonus questions right.
I think the universe is broken. I certainly didn’t deserve a 103%, that’s for sure.
Next week we’ll see how the Proofs test went.
NOW IT’S TIME FOR A NICE LONG WALK!
(Unrelated side note: every single one of my Amazon “based on your browsing history” suggestions is a book about Leibniz. I have trained you well, Amazon.)
The Devolution of the Pink Pearl
This is because:
- I make a LOT of mistakes
- I’m just not good at math
- I did about 1,000 practice problems to get ready for the tests (and because calculus rules)
Bitz n’ Thingz
1. School + Peoples
It took awhile to get into this semester for me, but now everything seems to be falling into place nicely (and will hopefully stay that way).
Also, math people are bundles of nerdy fun. Last semester I was taking classes that were mostly full of CS people and…ugh. Our personalities did not mesh at all. But there are several people—especially in Linear Algebra and Proofs—who I talk to on a regular basis. Which is a pretty rare thing for me.
2. Advertising
This is the cutest freaking commercial ever, even though I don’t think it’s intended to be.
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!
Alrighty!
Alright y’all, my “for fun” class has been decided!
Ready?
*drumroll*
It’s LINEAR ALGEBRA!
But Claudia, you say, you already have taken Linear Algebra!
Indeed! But here are some reasons why I want to take it again:
1. It’s IMPORTANT. And I’m about 99% sure I could get a lot more out of it now than when I took it back in 2009. Now that I know I want to go study multivariate statistics—probably SEM specifically—I need to know my linear algebra. I need to know it very well. I knew it decently when I took multivariate stats and SEM, but now that I know how it’s used in those types of analyses, if I go back and take Linear again, I think I’ll be able to better pick out the really important stuff. At least to a greater degree than I did before.
2. I’m also taking Numerical Linear Algebra this semester as well, which (surprise, surprise) has Linear Algebra as a prereq. Since it’s been so long since I’ve had the prereq, I figured a little in-semester refresher could only be a good thing.
3. Calculus, trigonometry, and geometry are my friends. Algebra and I still spread dirty rumors about one another and glare hatefully at each other whenever we pass. This needs to change.
4. It’s being taught by Dr. Abo, the professor I had for Discrete Math last semester. Dr. Abo is very intelligent, very awesome, and very good at teaching. He’s also hilarious at times.
Yeah so anyway.
The Graffiti of Ag Sci Room 106
As I mentioned on a previous blog, I’m teaching next fall. But rather than my section being held in TLC 40 like pretty much every STAT 251 class ever, I’m going to be in Ag Sci 106.
Even though my dad’s taught in there since like the dawn of time, I’ve never actually been in there. So that’s what I did today.
BIG ROOM.
These chairs look like they’re from a different era.
As I was walking around on the stage in front, I noticed that while most of the desks had writing/graffiti on them…
…Some of them had super intricate designs that were really quite impressive. Check it:
Awesome.
I didn’t find any graffiti about my dad (he’s been teaching in that room since the ‘80s), but I didn’t really look, either.
Noooooooooooooooo
Calc III is over. :(
It’s a sad day! It was one of my favorite math classes.
I just seriously hope that the answers to the 10-question final were 4, 1, 4, 6, 6, 1, 6, 55/23, 4, and 1, because that’s what my answers were. We’ll see. I gave myself a 60-point leeway to get an A with my homework and midterm scores and I don’t THINK I made 60 points worth of mistakes, but who knows. I’m fantastic at screwing up. I missed one point on the midterm because I completely abandoned a negative sign like two steps into a cross product. FAIL!
Also, migraines suck.
Alright. So.
I very soon need to make a decision as to what’s going on with my life next. I’d really love to continue teaching here, but since I’m turning 26 next February and have to make the big switch to my own insurance rather than hanging on my parents’, I need to get a job that allows me to do so.
So here’s what’s what:
Math degree is scheduled for completion in Spring 2014. What shall I do after that?
Well, I’m going to schedule a meeting with Dr. Williams soon and ask him if there’s any chance that my current position could turn into something full time (like…being in charge of intro stats perhaps?). If that’s possible, then I’ll just stay here and, in my free time (what’s left of it, at least), continue to take classes.
If not, I pretty much have to go back to grad school somewhere. Not around here—neither UI nor WSU offer a PhD in statistics (yes, seriously. WTF?). But there are a few schools I’m interested in.
So I’m either going to be here forever or I’m leaving YET AGAIN!
Hopefully I’ll know soon. I’m really not too keen on packing all my crap up again, but what’re you gonna do. Life’s weird.
Okay, sorry. Just wanted to give y’all an update as to what’s going on in Claudia Land academic-wise.
(Like it matters.)
WHAT
Holy hell, I got an A in Computer Science?
Holy hell, I got A’s in everything this semester??
(This is totally a Tumblr post disguised as a legit blog entry. I apologize.)
We Now Return to: Life!
Well, that was a nice 4-day break.
Now back to the grind with summer class/summer jobs!
Ugh.
I’m FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
This fucking semester, man.
I’ve always felt stupid, but I’ve never felt so hopelessly stupid as I have this semester.
And the fact that the depression hit practically right as the semester started REALLY didn’t help things at all. It just exacerbated the crappiness.
But now it’s over. Now all I have to do is wait for grades and hope I didn’t totally botch things.
And then summer school starts.
NO REST FOR THE WEARY, NO INDEED.
Everyone’s cranky today.
I think Christmas Carnage is probably one of the most underrated Rage Quits Michael’s done.
Anyway.
I’ve got my last two finals of the year tomorrow: calc II at 7 AM and then computer science at 7 PM. I honestly don’t know which one I’m more worried about. If this semester screws over my GPA I’m going to be pissed. I already screwed it over with Linear Algebra in 2009, though, so I don’t know what I’m complaining about.
Juuuuuuuuuuuust complaining.
Bye.
Alright, so here’s the deal:
We’ve all seen the posts on Tumblr/Facebook/wherever that say “You are more than your grades.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah. For most people, that’s true.
But not for me.
I get a lot of crap for putting so much importance on my grades. “It really doesn’t matter what grades you get,” people say. “Past college, no one gives a crap.”
I know that, okay?
But I still put practically all of my self-worth into the grades I get. Why? Because I have no other redeemable qualities as a human being.
I suck at pretty much everything. I’m not pretty. I’m not funny. I have major anger issues. I’m not a good conversationalist. I have no original thoughts. I’m lazy. I’m messy. I have no close friends. I can’t even make friends anymore. I doubt I’ll ever be in a relationship again. I have horrible, self-destructive habits that also hurt others. I’m selfish. I’m negative. I’m uninteresting. I’m just…not a good person. But I’m pretty damn good at school.
So that’s where I focus my attention. That’s where I put all my worth, because that’s the only thing I’ve really got.
So yeah.
I don’t know why I had the sudden urge to make that declaration. Probably because I’m having yet another “stupid night” and I needed to either vent or go run into traffic.
Either way. I really don’t care anymore.
We’ve all seen the posts on Tumblr/Facebook/wherever that say “You are more than your grades.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah. For most people, that’s true.
But not for me.
I get a lot of crap for putting so much importance on my grades.
“It really doesn’t matter what grades you get,” people say. “Past college, no one gives a crap.”
I know that, okay?
But I still put practically all of my self-worth into the grades I get.
Why?
Because I have no other redeemable qualities as a human being.
I suck at pretty much everything. I’m not pretty. I’m not funny. I have major anger issues. I’m not a good conversationalist. I have no original thoughts. I’m lazy. I’m messy. I have no close friends. I can’t even make friends anymore. I doubt I’ll ever be in a relationship again. I have horrible, self-destructive habits that also hurt others. I’m selfish. I’m negative. I’m uninteresting. I’m just…not a good person.
But I’m pretty damn good at school.
So that’s where I focus my attention. That’s where I put all my worth, because that’s the only thing I’ve really got.
So yeah.
I don’t know why I had the sudden urge to make that declaration. Probably because I’m having yet another “stupid night” and I needed to either vent or go run into traffic.
Either way. I really don’t care anymore.
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Graaaaaaaaaaaades
So I think my calculus II test scores are the first few terms of an infinite alternating series that converges to 95.
Those of you who remember your tests grades: did yours ever follow a particular pattern? Depending on how many tests are scheduled for a class in a semester, I get the following patterns:
Two tests:
Test 1: High A
Test 2: High A
Three tests:
Test 1: Moderate A
Test 2: Low A
Test 3: High A
Four tests:
Test 1: Moderate A
Test 2: High A
Test 3: Low A
Test 4: High A
(and if there’s a fifth test as a final, then I usually do okay on that one)
Linear Algebra was the exception to this…I just had all Bs in place of the As and that’s why that’s been the ONE CLASS in which I haven’t gotten an A.
It’s the world “algebra,” man. We still don’t get along.
END!
Puh.
This damn English essay, man.
So in sharp contrast to just two days ago, I now have 15 pages of drabble for my Larger World essay in non-fic. Which is cool—that’s the necessary length—except for the fact that I’m probably only a fourth done with what I want to say.
So I don’t know if I should just write all this nonsense out and do some DRAMATIC CUTTING ACTION, or just start over with a smaller scope in mind.
I’ll have to ask my professor tomorrow exactly how long is “too long” for this last assignment. Though he’s already been more than patient with my spazzing over this freaking essay. It seems like the longer I know about an assignment the more I end up botching it.
TOO STRESSED TO BLOG SORRY.
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!
Eigenblogger 