EPTWith a
20K blog with SC2 player pictures: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/417315-20k-ama-and-pics-yay
I’ve unfortunately been far too busy over the past two years with real life stuff. I’ve mostly stopped playing StarCraft, although I started playing Heroes of the Storm (my first MOBA) about 2 months ago and I really, really like it. Now instead of blaming hackers and lag in 1v1 games, I can blame my 4 shitty allies for the losses that are really my fault
(Speaking of which, if anyone ever wants to play Heroes with me, please let me know!) I’ve made some changes in my life. For the past few years, I had been juggling a full-time PhD in math education, teaching math at the university level as an adjunct professor, teaching at public tutoring centers, and private tutoring, all at the same time. But as I had been going through my PhD (finishing all my coursework and starting on my dissertation research), I started to realize just how much I favored teaching students over merely writing about them. Furthermore, I found that most tenured-track professorships require a huge emphasis on research, rather than teaching (because writing all those grants is what brings in money to the university), and that wasn’t my primary desire. So while I’m still teaching college part-time (in the evenings), I recently got a job as a high school math teacher at a nearby private school, starting in the fall. It’s pretty much the ideal job for me (except no tenure, which is a pretty big deal). And I decided to withdraw from the PhD program (for now anyways… who knows what the future will bring), as I would have at least 3+ more years of research and writing ahead of me, and I didn't want to be throwing time and money away if I wasn't really going to be using the degree.
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I was going to write out some stories about my experiences teaching college math, but I realized I’ve already written several blogs on that!
My background and passion for math and education: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/425427-im-a-professor
The oddest math class I’ve ever had to teach: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/438921-teaching-stories-part-1
My love for Pi Day and trolling my students: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/447556-the-best-holidays
My StarCraft math student: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/435060-my-starcraft-math-student
A mathematical proof for 1 = 2: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/436043-math-poetry
My background and passion for math and education: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/425427-im-a-professor
The oddest math class I’ve ever had to teach: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/438921-teaching-stories-part-1
My love for Pi Day and trolling my students: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/447556-the-best-holidays
My StarCraft math student: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/435060-my-starcraft-math-student
A mathematical proof for 1 = 2: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/436043-math-poetry
I severely underestimated the relief I would feel from leaving my doctoral program. I consistently felt overwhelmed, especially with everything else on my schedule, and now I have room to breathe. I now actually have nearly an entire month off this summer as a result (which I’ve never had before… ever), which I’ve been putting to good use. Playing tennis, hitting the gym, taking out the old N64, watching livestreams and speedruns and gaming tournaments online....
And visiting wedding venues
Last summer, I got engaged to my fiancée, and she just graduated vet school at UPenn. Some of my male friends aren’t/ weren’t interested in planning their own weddings (“I just let her plan everything, whatever… she wants to do it”), but I’m really enjoying the process. Perhaps it’s because we’ve been dating for 9 years- since high school- and have been in a long-distance relationship for pretty much the entire time, but I’m more excited than ever to plan my future with Andrea! Pro-tip: Weddings cost money. Especially in New Jersey. + Show Spoiler +
Want to see pictures of us over our nine years together, and the ring? Here: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/464628-i-got-engaged
I think the only other big event that’s gone on in my personal life recently was the fact that we (my mother, my two brothers, and I) rescued a new puppy from a shelter
Now we have two wonderful dogs, an 8 year old shiba inu named Sadie and a 9 month old lab/ hound/ beagle mix named Misty <3 + Show Spoiler +
What? Were you expecting absolutely adorable pictures of puppies or something? + Show Spoiler +
Okay fine
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I’m really, really happy with the big decisions I’ve been making, and where I am right now in life
+ Show Spoiler +![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/VDhSa6o.jpg)
At the risk of getting slightly political, I’m extremely proud of my country for finally recognizing and legalizing gay marriage. + Show Spoiler +
And I’m proud of TL for supporting gay human rights as well <3 ![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/8v11NRB.png)
Oh yeah, and I met this random guy:
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Fumo04Z.jpg)
I have such a large hadron for this man
I get to now cross “Talk to Neil deGrasse Tyson” off my bucket list
He’s one of three bucket list idols/ celebrities that I’ve had the opportunity to meet (I’ve also met Boxer and Christopher Titus). Anyways, on to the traditional shout-outs!
Thank you to:
neoghaleon55 and BLinD-RawR for always remembering my birthday!
Barrin and Djzapz for the 5/5 they’ll give me in this blog #wontletyoudown
Plansix for being one half of Team Plasma 6 + Show Spoiler +
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Jealous and SlowBullets for being awesome N64 partners!
micronesia and any other educators (especially in the STEM fields) for sharing your wisdom.
Shellshock, dAPhREAk, 3FFA, Yorkie, BisuDagger, Darkhorse, brian, docvoc, TheEmulator, MountainDewJunkie, The_Templar, Lorning, PhoenixVoid, lichter, and everyone else who I think is really cool/ makes TL an incredibly interesting community/ contributes to LRs/ leaves awesome blog comments/ PMs
(Sorry if I forgot to mention you!) xDaunt and the rest of the Heroes contributors for answering all my stupid questions!
The moderators for never banning me, while simultaneously conditioning me to fear the worst every time I get a PM.
Anyone posting in the US Politics Megathread, because I don’t know shit about my own country’s politics and it’s always useful to get educated via rational discourse + Show Spoiler +
or the silly arguments that occasionally go on in there
On a related note to the educational value of some threads like the US Politics one, I actually host debate dinners in New Jersey (usually around Rutgers in New Brunswick/ Piscataway) once every 2 months or so, where all my friends meet up at someone’s house or an Applebee’s or wherever, and we eat and drink and just have informal-yet-respectful debates and discussions about anything and everything, including politics, ethics, religion, philosophy, science, mathematics, literature, education, guns, sex, drugs, rock 'n' roll, wars, healthcare, widgets, etc. It’s a nice little meeting of the minds, where everyone is respectful of one another and it’s a cool opportunity to even sit back and listen to others, if you’re more of the strong, silent type ^^ If anyone is ever interested in attending these (they’re always going to be in NJ), shoot me a PM!
The more, the merrier
The next one is Saturday, July 11th! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and thank you for taking the time to read through my blog(s)! Feel free to leave a comment, ask a question, etc.
~DPB + Show Spoiler +
