The algebra lion

Miracle of miracles, I spent time with my family this morning and early afternoon. I've been so busy that posting on my blog—which usually consists of copying and pasting from my journal—has been challenging. This semester is crazygonuts.

The definite upside? I scored 100% on my first probability exam and 79% on my first linear regression exam! Linear regression is a very difficult course—easily the most brain-demanding course I've ever taken—but I'm getting through and making sense of it. Right now, my overall grade stands at a 93%, which I'm very happy about.

Guifang, my linear regression professor, commented on the results of the first exam yesterday. She told a story about her first semester in America, how she hardly understood the language and struggled through her abstract algebra course. She didn't perform well at first, but, she said "I have a strong heart." She worked hard and got through it. And now she's teaching! I think her first semester in America was six years ago or something like that. Pretty incredible.

I've got the whole Kilimanjaro in my hands

Spencer Sitton, my multivariable calculus instructor from the summer term, told me the other day that he had some books he wanted to give me. He said that he looked at one and thought, “I bet Tyler would want this,” and he encouraged me to come by his office to pick them up soon.

So to his office I went this afternoon, and he handed me a stack of five different probability and actuarial books, almost all of which I have already referenced several times for one reason or another. There was no adequate way to express my thanks given his abundant generosity—because let me tell you, these books are not cheap—but I did thank him. He also offered his assistance in finding an actuarial internship through his connections in Phoenix should I need it in the future. Simply, for an aspiring actuary, Spencer is the friend to have. He has been nothing but generous to me.

And, of course, I asked Karen to pick me up from campus. Because no way was I going to haul that Kilimanjaro-size stack of books on a walk home.