I was math-y, when math-y wasn't cool...

[dellwood]

Confession: I was once a math geek. Captain of the high school math team. We traveled to colleges around our small state, competing against other high schools. Word problem battles. Geometry challenges. Algebra jousts. Midway through my senior year, I even found myself attending an informational recruitment session hosted by MIT and seriously

Comments

[jawnbc]

I too was the prez of our math league team AND our branch of Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society). And all my friends went into engineering, comp sci, or bio sci. None of it fit me properly (I started uni as a dual math/meteorology major) and it wasn't until my 30s I learnt the difference between aptitude and interest.

I loved--still love--math, but couldn't imagine myself swimming in it 40 hours a week. And I'm glad I took as many humanities and social science courses during my undergrad.

I got a 4 on AP calc, but none of the 5s were freshly showered or decently dressed (100% cotton, of course) like me. Wotja get? ;)

PS this is my HS grad photo. Not very math geeky I know...

[dellwood]

Geez, I don't remember if I got a 4 or a 5 now. Sexy high school photo. I would have snoggered you in the back of the school van.

[jawnbc]

I alternated between TRaSh-80 hugging nerd and rock-n-roll par-tay boy. Not a bad look, all in all.

*blush*

[lilmeangirl]

Your impression of MIT is actually somewhat wrong. The underground dance music scene in Boston was pretty much run by MIT students. Most of my DJ/ clubbing friends went to MIT. They study hard, but they play harder to be honest. Yes, there is the geeky side, but then there is the side of MIT that throws "pajama jams" in loft spaces complete with pillow fight rings and girls in skimpy nighties. And at least one man in a diaper. Also the students there seemed to love art- the more avante garde the better. And you can major in robots.

[lilmeangirl]

p.s. I am going to end up like your math team coach with my journalism team.