EPTThe past three days have set up for one of the oddest experiences I'll ever encounter in my career as a math professor, and so clearly the best way to express this event is through a University/ Zelda mash-up. So grab your ocarina and shoo away Navi; here we go!
------------------------------
TUESDAY.
I woke up on Tuesday, grabbed my master sword, and prepared to head out to Hyrulean Institute of Technology, where I teach PRECALC (Preparing Rather Effectively: Cantering After Lacerating Cuccos). As I was riding to my university, the postman ran alongside me and asked me to stop.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/pBDpcQ1.png)
*huff huff new huff huff math huff huff course huff huff*
I pulled over and the postman handed me a letter. I gave Epona some carrots and read the message: It was from my boss, asking me if I could cover another course at HIT for the rest of the semester.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/TpwMmuA.jpg)
Note: The role of my female boss will apparently be played by an old man named Mutoh.
As a first year Adjunct Kokiri, I was quite flattered to be given such an opportunity, but I wasn’t sure if it would fit into my schedule. After all, besides teaching PRECALC at HIT, I’m a PhD (Princess hunter Dekuscrub) student, and I privately tutor TRIG (Triforce Resistance, Impeding Ganondorf) and the infamous SAT (Sheik Attractiveness Test). I sent a message back, notifying my boss that I would check my schedule after work.
That night, I checked my schedule and found that I could indeed teach this second class, which happened to be STATS (Stabbing Tektites And Terminating Stalfos) on Thursday nights for three straight hours. I messaged my boss, asking when I would start. I did not receive a response until the following day.
------------------------------
WEDNESDAY.
It wasn't until Wednesday afternoon that I received a response from my professor: "Effective immediately". In other words, "tomorrow". I enthusiastically responded, "TEK! TET! HYAHHHH!" After all, I could use the extra rupees! However, I needed more information, and so I asked my boss for the resources I needed for the course (the location of the class, class roster, class syllabus, any previous grades the students have earned, etc.). I did not receive any further information until the following day. I was fine with that though, as I was too preoccupied with my current teaching and studying.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/2gSvacr.jpg)
Octahedron of Time?
Skyward Chord?
The Minus Cap?
Majora's Math?
Any others?
I also used this extra time to plan out my Halloween costume for the next day...
I needed a mask:
+ Show Spoiler +
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/d1qI8PF.png)
And I needed an outfit:
+ Show Spoiler +
------------------------------
THURSDAY.
With the moon fast approaching, I eagerly awaited a message from my boss. I headed to my university to teach my PRECALC class, not even knowing yet if I was going to be teaching STATS that evening.
Finally, it came:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/6jwANtx.jpg)
With fewer than three hours to prepare my three-hour lesson, I was finally given the location of my classroom. I was also given a book, and e-mailed a list of the previous grades thus far for the students (most of which were missing... figures). The previous professor apparently had to leave due to "personal reasons", and I was in charge of running the class from here on out. Personally, I think he was busy doing this...
+ Show Spoiler +
Unsheath your master sword; let's see if you've got a biggoron.
Oh, one more thing. Exam next week. That I'm creating. For students I've never met, let alone taught and assessed. So I used our single three-hour lecture to briefly touch upon all five chapters they've been learning over the past nine weeks, and then I created a very broad exam for them. They'll be taking it this Thursday. This should be even more interesting than the final battle of Ocarina of Time...
And finally, for those of you who have made it this far... a Zelda rap:
~DPB
