Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Spring Semester
So today was day two of the spring semester here at MIT. As a freshman, I am no longer on the beloved pass/no record grading system we had last semester. The more I think about it, though, the more I kind of like it. For the first time, I feel like a real college student. I mean, the first semester was a great transition, but now it hits me full force. I'm in college. I'm in Boston. I'm at MIT. I figured out the other day that I really want to major in Course 10B. For those of you non-Techies, Course 10B is Chemical-Biological Engineering (a Chemical Engineering degree with the inclusion of the Course 7 (Biology) minor). In addition, I plan to have an actual minor in Course 5 (Chemistry). Okay, that's all I got for now. I'm so excited!!! Oh well, time to do a reading for 3.094.
Friday, January 16, 2009
IAP
So, January here is Independent Activities Period, which is basically a do whatever you want time. Well, I'm back on campus for one, single class.
For those unfamiliar, the math requirement here is the entirety of calculus. Now, at most schools, that include Cal I, II, III and IV or Cal A, B and C. Here though, it's 18.01 and 18.02.
Normally, it would take two semesters. However, I took a version called 18.01A which let me skip the whole first half of 18.01 because we covered it in my high school class.
When that half ended, we did the first half of 18.02A, which ended in mid-late December. So now I'm back for IAP taking the second half of 18.02A, still on pass/no record. Yay!
So spring semester starts the first week in February. Until then, I'll be IAPing it up here in Boston/Cambridge, MA.
For those unfamiliar, the math requirement here is the entirety of calculus. Now, at most schools, that include Cal I, II, III and IV or Cal A, B and C. Here though, it's 18.01 and 18.02.
Normally, it would take two semesters. However, I took a version called 18.01A which let me skip the whole first half of 18.01 because we covered it in my high school class.
When that half ended, we did the first half of 18.02A, which ended in mid-late December. So now I'm back for IAP taking the second half of 18.02A, still on pass/no record. Yay!
So spring semester starts the first week in February. Until then, I'll be IAPing it up here in Boston/Cambridge, MA.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
"Roses"
When struck the clock upon an hour so early in the day,
My mind set to work upon thoughts weighing heavily.
Soon it turned to thoughts of infatuation and possibility,
Causing me to wonder, and to wonder, and to wonder.
It was upon this wondering of infatuation and possibility
That the concept of flowers began to form within my head.
True it is that many people like many different flowers,
But none is quite so preferred as the beautiful, perfect rose.
But from this rose, more and more lines were drawn,
Leading me to more and more, deeper and deeper thoughts.
When should one give a rose and to whom should he give it?
Better yet, which rose should he give and when?
A white rose is pure as snow and elegant as royalty.
It radiates a feeling of hope, a symbolism emblazoned in my mind.
It is in the beginning that one has only hope for how it all will go,
And at that time, white roses would show her just that: Hope.
A yellow rose coveys the warmth of the sun and happiness of spring.
Its color throws upon us feelings of joy and of happiness, the excitement!
These feelings slowly replace most hope when security has been reached,
And at that time, yellow roses would show her just that: Happiness.
A red rose, in its color, most resembles our life-giving blood and pumping heart.
These things within us are a physical need, much as most view the emotional need of love.
This feeling, the strongest perhaps of any other, becomes the central focus before long,
And at that time, red roses would show her just that: Love.
Each color has its own time, its own place unique to it and it alone,
A time and place when it is used to show her his feelings.
One for hope, one for happiness and one for love, each special, none without meaning.
The three act as individuals, but there is indeed much more to it.
For what happens after she receives the red rose? Is that the end?
Not so. Her bouquets should always have all three, for that holds the truth of the love.
White roses to show her the Hope to be with her always and forever thereafter,
Yellow roses to show her the Happiness she always provides and should receive, and
Red roses to show her the Love the two share, then and always, as long as it is to be.
Three colors, three feelings, two people, two hearts, one flower, and one love twixt them.
My mind set to work upon thoughts weighing heavily.
Soon it turned to thoughts of infatuation and possibility,
Causing me to wonder, and to wonder, and to wonder.
It was upon this wondering of infatuation and possibility
That the concept of flowers began to form within my head.
True it is that many people like many different flowers,
But none is quite so preferred as the beautiful, perfect rose.
But from this rose, more and more lines were drawn,
Leading me to more and more, deeper and deeper thoughts.
When should one give a rose and to whom should he give it?
Better yet, which rose should he give and when?
A white rose is pure as snow and elegant as royalty.
It radiates a feeling of hope, a symbolism emblazoned in my mind.
It is in the beginning that one has only hope for how it all will go,
And at that time, white roses would show her just that: Hope.
A yellow rose coveys the warmth of the sun and happiness of spring.
Its color throws upon us feelings of joy and of happiness, the excitement!
These feelings slowly replace most hope when security has been reached,
And at that time, yellow roses would show her just that: Happiness.
A red rose, in its color, most resembles our life-giving blood and pumping heart.
These things within us are a physical need, much as most view the emotional need of love.
This feeling, the strongest perhaps of any other, becomes the central focus before long,
And at that time, red roses would show her just that: Love.
Each color has its own time, its own place unique to it and it alone,
A time and place when it is used to show her his feelings.
One for hope, one for happiness and one for love, each special, none without meaning.
The three act as individuals, but there is indeed much more to it.
For what happens after she receives the red rose? Is that the end?
Not so. Her bouquets should always have all three, for that holds the truth of the love.
White roses to show her the Hope to be with her always and forever thereafter,
Yellow roses to show her the Happiness she always provides and should receive, and
Red roses to show her the Love the two share, then and always, as long as it is to be.
Three colors, three feelings, two people, two hearts, one flower, and one love twixt them.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Curtain Call: Semester One
So, first off, I'm going to introduce all of my Arabian friends with MIT nomenclature!
So, for classes, the number BEFORE the decimal indicates the department (major).
The number AFTER the decimal indicates the course itself.
The number AFTER the decimal AFTER the decimal indicates the section.
So, in my first semester, I took these classes (I'll give each an explanation):
5.111 - Principles of Chemical Science. This is a Course 5 class (Chemistry) that is one of the three intro classes that will fulfill the chemistry General Institute Requirement (GIR).
8.01 - Physics I. This is a Course 8 class (Physics) that is one of three classes that fulfill the Classical Mechanics GIR.
10.A13 - Chemical Accidents. This is a Course 10 class (Chemical Engineering) that serves as a Freshman Advising Seminar. Most classes are 12 units (12 hours of work per week, 4 credit hours), but the advising seminars are all six units.
18.01A - Single Variable Calculus Accelerated. This is a Course 18 class (Mathematics) that fulfills the first calculus GIR. It begins halfway through the course and lasts six weeks, covering any topics that weren't covered in AP Calculus AB and Mrs. Haynes's Calculus class.
18.02A - Multiple Variable Calculus Accelerated. This class fulfills the second calculus GIR and starts six weeks into the term (when 18.01A finishes). It can be finished in either January, which we call Independent Activities Period (IAP) or in the first half of the spring semester.
21W.732.03 - Introduction to Scientific and Technical Writing. This is a Course 21W Class (Writing) that fulfills part of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) GIR. In addition to counting towards my eight required HASS classes, it counts as my required CI-HW class, which is a communication intensive humanities writing class. The .03 indicates my section, which was Writing About The Environment.
So those were my classes. One of the most awesome parts of MIT is that all first semester freshmen are on pass/no record. I'm proud to say I passed all of my classes, with the exception of 18.02A because I still have to finish it in IAP.
I, like many other freshmen, also had a very close call with 8.01. Many, many students fail this class, and the early reports are that I have passed the class. For some perspective, I made an 87 on the final... Out of 192. The average was 104. So we failed on average, pretty well I'd say. But I get to move on to my next semester, without losing any units, yay!
For those of my uninformed fellow Arabians, I pledged and am now a brother in the Sigma Nu fraternity. Those of you seniors about to go off to college:
PARTICIPATE IN RUSH!
You don't have to pledge anywhere, but you need to at least go through it. It was sooo much more fun than our orientation program.
Now to give you what's going on next semester.
3.094 - Materials in the Human Experience. This is a Course 3 class (Materials Science and Engineering) that fulfills part of the HASS requirement. It is basically two hours of lecture each week where we will learn how different cultures used different materials with a three hour lab where we will actually use those same materials. This is also a 9-unit class.
5.12 - Organic Chemistry I. This is not a GIR class, but it is a requirement for both majors I'm considering (more on that a little later).
7.013 - Introductory Biology. This is a Course 7 class (Biology) that fulfills the biology GIR. That's basically it. Ha ha.
8.02 - Physics II. This is one of two classes that fulfills the Electricity and Magnetism GIR.
18.03 - Differential Equations. This class fulfills a Restricted Elective in Science and Technology (REST) requirement for both majors I'm looking at. After this class, I have no other required math classes in my undergraduate years.
Unless otherwise stated, all classes are 12 units.
Here's a brief overview of my plans:
I want to declare my major as Course 5 at the end of the spring semester, but after about a year of study, provided I have a 4.0 (MIT uses the 5.0 scale: A 5, B 4, C 3, D 2), I want to declare a double major, also doing Course 10. To review, 5 is chemistry and 10 is chemical engineering.
I want to apply to Harvard grad school and get my Master's of Education.
Okay, I'd say that's a fair amount.
If you have any questions, you can leave them in comments, but leave an email address so I can get back to you if I need to.
Sincerely,
Drew
So, for classes, the number BEFORE the decimal indicates the department (major).
The number AFTER the decimal indicates the course itself.
The number AFTER the decimal AFTER the decimal indicates the section.
So, in my first semester, I took these classes (I'll give each an explanation):
5.111 - Principles of Chemical Science. This is a Course 5 class (Chemistry) that is one of the three intro classes that will fulfill the chemistry General Institute Requirement (GIR).
8.01 - Physics I. This is a Course 8 class (Physics) that is one of three classes that fulfill the Classical Mechanics GIR.
10.A13 - Chemical Accidents. This is a Course 10 class (Chemical Engineering) that serves as a Freshman Advising Seminar. Most classes are 12 units (12 hours of work per week, 4 credit hours), but the advising seminars are all six units.
18.01A - Single Variable Calculus Accelerated. This is a Course 18 class (Mathematics) that fulfills the first calculus GIR. It begins halfway through the course and lasts six weeks, covering any topics that weren't covered in AP Calculus AB and Mrs. Haynes's Calculus class.
18.02A - Multiple Variable Calculus Accelerated. This class fulfills the second calculus GIR and starts six weeks into the term (when 18.01A finishes). It can be finished in either January, which we call Independent Activities Period (IAP) or in the first half of the spring semester.
21W.732.03 - Introduction to Scientific and Technical Writing. This is a Course 21W Class (Writing) that fulfills part of the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) GIR. In addition to counting towards my eight required HASS classes, it counts as my required CI-HW class, which is a communication intensive humanities writing class. The .03 indicates my section, which was Writing About The Environment.
So those were my classes. One of the most awesome parts of MIT is that all first semester freshmen are on pass/no record. I'm proud to say I passed all of my classes, with the exception of 18.02A because I still have to finish it in IAP.
I, like many other freshmen, also had a very close call with 8.01. Many, many students fail this class, and the early reports are that I have passed the class. For some perspective, I made an 87 on the final... Out of 192. The average was 104. So we failed on average, pretty well I'd say. But I get to move on to my next semester, without losing any units, yay!
For those of my uninformed fellow Arabians, I pledged and am now a brother in the Sigma Nu fraternity. Those of you seniors about to go off to college:
PARTICIPATE IN RUSH!
You don't have to pledge anywhere, but you need to at least go through it. It was sooo much more fun than our orientation program.
Now to give you what's going on next semester.
3.094 - Materials in the Human Experience. This is a Course 3 class (Materials Science and Engineering) that fulfills part of the HASS requirement. It is basically two hours of lecture each week where we will learn how different cultures used different materials with a three hour lab where we will actually use those same materials. This is also a 9-unit class.
5.12 - Organic Chemistry I. This is not a GIR class, but it is a requirement for both majors I'm considering (more on that a little later).
7.013 - Introductory Biology. This is a Course 7 class (Biology) that fulfills the biology GIR. That's basically it. Ha ha.
8.02 - Physics II. This is one of two classes that fulfills the Electricity and Magnetism GIR.
18.03 - Differential Equations. This class fulfills a Restricted Elective in Science and Technology (REST) requirement for both majors I'm looking at. After this class, I have no other required math classes in my undergraduate years.
Unless otherwise stated, all classes are 12 units.
Here's a brief overview of my plans:
I want to declare my major as Course 5 at the end of the spring semester, but after about a year of study, provided I have a 4.0 (MIT uses the 5.0 scale: A 5, B 4, C 3, D 2), I want to declare a double major, also doing Course 10. To review, 5 is chemistry and 10 is chemical engineering.
I want to apply to Harvard grad school and get my Master's of Education.
Okay, I'd say that's a fair amount.
If you have any questions, you can leave them in comments, but leave an email address so I can get back to you if I need to.
Sincerely,
Drew
Monday, December 15, 2008
"Class of 2009"
To my dearest friends of the Class of 2009,
I wish you joy, blessings and strength.
I know how you feel.
I used to be you.
Anxiously watching the clock tick the days away.
I was invincible. Nothing could stop me.
Don't be like me.
April will hit you like a rock.
It did me.
I've never been so scared.
I've never been so depressed.
My life was put into perspective.
I didn't like what I saw.
Why am I telling you this?
I want you to be happier than I was.
These words are not meant to frighten,
But frighten they may.
The sooner you realize the truth,
The longer you have to overcome it.
I did.
The journey was not easy.
But no one ever said life would be.
Cherish this time.
Do not wish it away.
Yesterday's history.
Tomorrow's a mystery, as it is said.
Live for today.
Don't regret chances not taken.
Keep your friends close now.
You'll want to keep them tomorrow.
So, to you, my friends:
Please, don't wish it away.
Whatever you do.
It will be your greatest mistake.
Instead,
Cherish it.
It will be your greatest happiness.
I wish you joy, blessings and strength.
I know how you feel.
I used to be you.
Anxiously watching the clock tick the days away.
I was invincible. Nothing could stop me.
Don't be like me.
April will hit you like a rock.
It did me.
I've never been so scared.
I've never been so depressed.
My life was put into perspective.
I didn't like what I saw.
Why am I telling you this?
I want you to be happier than I was.
These words are not meant to frighten,
But frighten they may.
The sooner you realize the truth,
The longer you have to overcome it.
I did.
The journey was not easy.
But no one ever said life would be.
Cherish this time.
Do not wish it away.
Yesterday's history.
Tomorrow's a mystery, as it is said.
Live for today.
Don't regret chances not taken.
Keep your friends close now.
You'll want to keep them tomorrow.
So, to you, my friends:
Please, don't wish it away.
Whatever you do.
It will be your greatest mistake.
Instead,
Cherish it.
It will be your greatest happiness.
My Goals: A Revisitation [Original post: October 1, 2008]
Greetings one and all!
So, do many of you remember this posting from about 15-16 months ago? Don't stop though, there's more after the original post.
[OLD NEWS STARTS HERE]
This past week I've made some decisions for how I want my education and career to go. I want to put them on here just so that I will not forget (I tend to do that).
1) Become class president
Yes, I realize I will need much help from some of the most important to me, my friends.
2) Become valedictorian.
It's time to lock in and keep my grades up, no time for senioritis.
3) Get accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
That's a hurdle, yes. But, if I'm going to do this right, I'm going all out.
4) Be able to pay for college.
With a $40,000 per year price tag, this could get pretty expensive.
5) Earn a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
Just so that all my hard work will count for something.
6) Become a Harry S Truman scholar.
Graduate school will be expensive.
7) Get accepted to Harvard Law School.
Once again, to do it right, I'm going all out.
8) Earn my law degree.
Why else go to law school?
9) Pass the Alabama Bar Exam.
Yes, that's right. I'm going to come home after school.
10) Become certified to teach.
It's always been a passion of mine, and it's nice to have another fall-back.
11) When eligible, become elected to the Alabama House of Representavies or the Alabama Senate.
We have a good state, there's just a few things holding us back (and, no, I am not referring to the *ahem* incident).
There you have it, my goals for education and one for my career. Until I'm old enough to complete number 11, I'll probably rotate between engineering, practicing law, and teaching. If you have any input, I'd be happy to hear it, good or bad. Well, that's all for now, byes!
[END OLD NEWS HERE]
All right. So, I just wanted to release my revised list.
[COMPLETED GOALS]
1) Become class president [Check]
Thanks to everyone who helped! It was a task!
2) Become valedictorian. [Check]
I hope you guys enjoyed my speech!
3) Get accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [Check]
March 15, 2008 baby! It roxxored my soxxors.
4) Be able to pay for college. [Check]
MIT Financial Aid = <3
[THINGS TO COME]
5) Earn a double major in chemical engineering/chemistry
I want the ChemE, but I'll need the chemistry. You'll see.
6) Get accepted to the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
If I want to teach something, it has to be my major (hence chemistry).
7) Pay for graduate school.
Nuff said.
8) Earn my Master's in Education.
Finish up the one year program at Hahvahd.
9) Become certified to teach.
The perfect way to pause an academic pursuit.
10) Get a job at Arab High School.
I want to be there. That's where I belong.
So there you have it, Drew's Revised List of Goals! I did four within a year, but the next five will take at least five years. The last one may take longer.
Hope you enjoyed exploring my mind.
Peace, all!
So, do many of you remember this posting from about 15-16 months ago? Don't stop though, there's more after the original post.
[OLD NEWS STARTS HERE]
This past week I've made some decisions for how I want my education and career to go. I want to put them on here just so that I will not forget (I tend to do that).
1) Become class president
Yes, I realize I will need much help from some of the most important to me, my friends.
2) Become valedictorian.
It's time to lock in and keep my grades up, no time for senioritis.
3) Get accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
That's a hurdle, yes. But, if I'm going to do this right, I'm going all out.
4) Be able to pay for college.
With a $40,000 per year price tag, this could get pretty expensive.
5) Earn a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering.
Just so that all my hard work will count for something.
6) Become a Harry S Truman scholar.
Graduate school will be expensive.
7) Get accepted to Harvard Law School.
Once again, to do it right, I'm going all out.
8) Earn my law degree.
Why else go to law school?
9) Pass the Alabama Bar Exam.
Yes, that's right. I'm going to come home after school.
10) Become certified to teach.
It's always been a passion of mine, and it's nice to have another fall-back.
11) When eligible, become elected to the Alabama House of Representavies or the Alabama Senate.
We have a good state, there's just a few things holding us back (and, no, I am not referring to the *ahem* incident).
There you have it, my goals for education and one for my career. Until I'm old enough to complete number 11, I'll probably rotate between engineering, practicing law, and teaching. If you have any input, I'd be happy to hear it, good or bad. Well, that's all for now, byes!
[END OLD NEWS HERE]
All right. So, I just wanted to release my revised list.
[COMPLETED GOALS]
1) Become class president [Check]
Thanks to everyone who helped! It was a task!
2) Become valedictorian. [Check]
I hope you guys enjoyed my speech!
3) Get accepted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [Check]
March 15, 2008 baby! It roxxored my soxxors.
4) Be able to pay for college. [Check]
MIT Financial Aid = <3
[THINGS TO COME]
5) Earn a double major in chemical engineering/chemistry
I want the ChemE, but I'll need the chemistry. You'll see.
6) Get accepted to the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
If I want to teach something, it has to be my major (hence chemistry).
7) Pay for graduate school.
Nuff said.
8) Earn my Master's in Education.
Finish up the one year program at Hahvahd.
9) Become certified to teach.
The perfect way to pause an academic pursuit.
10) Get a job at Arab High School.
I want to be there. That's where I belong.
So there you have it, Drew's Revised List of Goals! I did four within a year, but the next five will take at least five years. The last one may take longer.
Hope you enjoyed exploring my mind.
Peace, all!
Boston/Cambridge/MIT [Original post: August 19, 2008]
Aight guys. Here goes.
Well, I've been here since Sunday, and there's an epic story.
Flight leaves at 6:35. Well, I get there and they tell me there's a quicker flight so I switch over.
I arrive at Charlotte, NC, about 8:50 or 9:00 EDT. I rush over, across the airport, to get on my flight for Logan International Airport.
I arrive in Boston, MA, about noon. No one seems to know ANYTHING about a shuttle to MIT. So, I pay $2 and hop the Silver Line bus over to South Station, where I grab the metro (red line subway) over to Kendall Square/MIT.
Well, there are like no maps anywhere. I spent the following two hours navigating my way through MIT, terribly, to find MacGregor, my dorm building.
I spent the following 30 or so minutes trying to find my room itself. The room is much easier to get to with my MIT ID.
So now here I am. I've been doing stuff with the First-year Academic and Multicultural Enrichment program over the past day or so. It's been pretty cool and all. Some of us walked around Boston for a couple of hours tonight.
So far, things to be going fairly smoothly. I'm still getting a feel for where everything is, though.
However, Thanksgiving Break is going to rock my socks OFF! I'll be home and we are gonna rock Arab.
Have a great year everyone!
Well, I've been here since Sunday, and there's an epic story.
Flight leaves at 6:35. Well, I get there and they tell me there's a quicker flight so I switch over.
I arrive at Charlotte, NC, about 8:50 or 9:00 EDT. I rush over, across the airport, to get on my flight for Logan International Airport.
I arrive in Boston, MA, about noon. No one seems to know ANYTHING about a shuttle to MIT. So, I pay $2 and hop the Silver Line bus over to South Station, where I grab the metro (red line subway) over to Kendall Square/MIT.
Well, there are like no maps anywhere. I spent the following two hours navigating my way through MIT, terribly, to find MacGregor, my dorm building.
I spent the following 30 or so minutes trying to find my room itself. The room is much easier to get to with my MIT ID.
So now here I am. I've been doing stuff with the First-year Academic and Multicultural Enrichment program over the past day or so. It's been pretty cool and all. Some of us walked around Boston for a couple of hours tonight.
So far, things to be going fairly smoothly. I'm still getting a feel for where everything is, though.
However, Thanksgiving Break is going to rock my socks OFF! I'll be home and we are gonna rock Arab.
Have a great year everyone!
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