Them Verses Me
Posted 09-14-2010 at 06:45 PM by EmmyNoether
I was considering my students who took AP calculus as a junior in high school. I had an opportunity when I was in 7th grade to skip ahead in math. When my parents considered my mathematical aptitude, they thought at the time that it would be a good idea, but when they planned it out realized that after I took AP calc as a junior there would be nothing else for me to take in high school. They valued consistency and developing a in-depth core competency in the subject. It brought me back to remembering two people I went to high school with, who did opt for taking AP calc as juniors. Both were considered among the brightest of the college preparatory school I attended. Both were friends of mine and both ended up back-stabbing me and ruining my senior year. The question that most humans ask: how am I doing compared to them? So, of course, with the question about how people who take AP calc as juniors fare behind me, I google/facebook-stalked them last night.
One has become a glorified account specialist at a computer software firm. The other, who I grew up being thrust into constant competition (both of us had two parents with scientific phd's -- teachers, parents, everyone compared us), ended up being only listed as a grad student in Harvard's department of Public Health. I don't want to sound mean, but math phd verses public health graduate program? It's horrible, but when I found this out, I had that gleeful who-laughs-last moment. Truth is, I'll never get the chance to express these feelings to her in (or anyone else from my high school) in person. I refuse to go to any reunions... ever. I was so brutally treated by everyone (students, teachers, administration) at that high school that it is quite difficult for me to do anything but scowl when the thought of that place comes up.
Anyway, it got me thinking about google-ing myself. It's rather scary what information is readily available about you and, furthermore, how easy it would be to purchase any information that you might want about anyone. It's a bit unnerving. I updated my profile on mathjobs.org and changed some of my online information available through the department. I met with my adviser, and asked him to be a reference for me. It was definitely awkward to do so. On one hand it is a sign of complete disrespect if I didn't ask him, however I am never one to presume. I literally said: "This is a silly question, but I don't want to presume: Would you be a reference for me?" He responded: "yes, that is a stupid question... of course!" On that note, I went and asked another person to be a reference for me and collected their information. I also finalized my dissertation committee. This last step was a whole lot easier than I anticipated. I asked, they said yes, done. However, this person will be in and out of the area all next semester so I'm a bit worried that it will be difficult to schedule. We shall see - only time will tell.
One has become a glorified account specialist at a computer software firm. The other, who I grew up being thrust into constant competition (both of us had two parents with scientific phd's -- teachers, parents, everyone compared us), ended up being only listed as a grad student in Harvard's department of Public Health. I don't want to sound mean, but math phd verses public health graduate program? It's horrible, but when I found this out, I had that gleeful who-laughs-last moment. Truth is, I'll never get the chance to express these feelings to her in (or anyone else from my high school) in person. I refuse to go to any reunions... ever. I was so brutally treated by everyone (students, teachers, administration) at that high school that it is quite difficult for me to do anything but scowl when the thought of that place comes up.
Anyway, it got me thinking about google-ing myself. It's rather scary what information is readily available about you and, furthermore, how easy it would be to purchase any information that you might want about anyone. It's a bit unnerving. I updated my profile on mathjobs.org and changed some of my online information available through the department. I met with my adviser, and asked him to be a reference for me. It was definitely awkward to do so. On one hand it is a sign of complete disrespect if I didn't ask him, however I am never one to presume. I literally said: "This is a silly question, but I don't want to presume: Would you be a reference for me?" He responded: "yes, that is a stupid question... of course!" On that note, I went and asked another person to be a reference for me and collected their information. I also finalized my dissertation committee. This last step was a whole lot easier than I anticipated. I asked, they said yes, done. However, this person will be in and out of the area all next semester so I'm a bit worried that it will be difficult to schedule. We shall see - only time will tell.
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