Just a Little Mid-Week Update!

You know its the end of Midterms week, when the mathematics computer lab has less than 10 people in it. There were less than 5 when I first came in, but slowly those studious individuals that don't believe a midterm entitles them to a night in front of the television surrounded by junk food have made their way here.

You may ask: "Why then, Kelly, are you not in front of the television surrounded by junk food?" You would be correct in assuming that I do not fall into the studious crowd that is more terrified of a low grade than death itself. I, however, did not have any midterms. So, I get to enjoy the wonderful peace of the mathematics computer lab, complete with two guys snickering over some sort of humor blog (which I find, surprisingly, amusing).

I look forward to coming to school tomorrow, for my ritual attempt at being productive on Friday, and having an even further deserted campus to myself. I do have quite a bit of work to get through, as I have some plans this weekend with friends. Oh yes, you caught that right, friends. I have them now.

Along with my attempt at productivity on Fridays, I've also attempted to spend more time on campus in general, whether it be productive or otherwise. I did this with the explicit purpose of being a known presence in the department. At APU, everyone knew everyone, you didn't have much choice within the department to be unknown. Here, we have quite a few more students to contend with, and all with varying schedules. So, I decided that camping out in the mathematics department atrium was the answer. The atrium is a nice, high ceiling room with tables that almost always have students gathered around them in tight circles discussing the mysteries of their respective courses. It was here that I came, usually by 10am every morning and sat with whatever I happened to bring to work on. In this way, students in my classes (most of them doctoral students teaching in the department) would pass by on their way here and there and typically stop and say hi once or twice during the day.

This was my ingenious plan, and it seems to have worked. I was included in a "math ed" e-mail invitation to a local happy hour on Wednesdays, of which only a few other master's students were included. And this week (after two lovely happy hour events) I was invited to a film festival of sorts that a group of students will be going to.

I consider this to mean that I have friends.

Having friends, however, does not mean I do not have to go to class. Granted, said friends are in said class.

Off to Analysis!