Karen got to meet Matt, my differential equations instructor from this summer, and we got to meet his wife and kids.
MATT to KAREN: Tyler is one of the best students I’ve ever had. No, he actually is the best. I have never been asked so many questions by one student before. He knows me better than I know myself.
Of course, how do you respond to something like that? I was embarrassed for a moment.
MATT: I mean, you know what his grade was. What was his grade?
KAREN: (slight hesitation) It was a 4.0!
MATT: Exactly!
On our way to finding a table, we passed by two of my three teachers this semester, both of which were seated together—Yan Sun, my probability teacher; and Guifang Fu, my linear regression teacher. Guifang was very surprised to see me, so she stopped us.
GUIFANG: What is your name again?
ME: Tyler.
GUIFANG: I didn’t know you were part of our department. What do you do?
ME: Yeah, I’m a recitation leader for Stat 2300.
GUIFANG: Oh, so you’re part of our department, then?
ME: Yep!
Guifang and Yan spoke with us for a bit as they met Karen and Rich. Guifang tried to say hi to Rich, but he cried—his general response to every stranger tonight.
It was kind of weird seeing my current professors in attendance at the dinner because...they’re my current professors. But it was awesome! We enjoyed getting to know a few people better, and I think it was good for me to be exposed more to the amazing faculty and staff of the Math/Stat department. There were probably 60-ish people in attendance.
