Journey-Nought

Those of you who frequent the Young Mathematicians Network website may recognize the format of my post titles and my username.

Yes, I use the same username for a lot of things. It helps with consistency.

I figured that I'd start this blog in order to:

1) Chat with other bloggers who have common interests
2) I wouldn't clog up the YMN diaries section with my "blogs"
and
3) I could type out my daily frustrations and try to tell stories with my blogs.

So here it goes...

Today, I'm not really doing much of anything. I guess I should introduce myself a little. I'm a 21 yr. old fem. in TX. Try to find me in a state that big... lol. I am currently studying mathematics and intend to get a Ph.D. in mathematics eventually. I am looking to apply to some math programs in the fall.

I have conducted a bit of research. My research topics have been varied, few and far between. My first project was concerning Tschirnhaus transformations and Quintics. The second one revolved around mathematics education, particularly centered around 6th/7th grade geometry, I tried for all of middle school but time limited me to only complete data collection for 6th grade. I've been working on a long-distance collaboration, not so successful but I'm learning more about collaborative research, on the 3x+1 Collatz Conjecture. This fall I will be working with Modulos and hopefully more group theory (I ventured a little into group theory with Galois groups in terms of the quintic, but not enough - I don't think).

But I want more. More research, more math knowledge.

I tutor math. I think that's what got me into this whole mess actually. When I began my freshmen year, I began working at my school's "tutoring center" which I will call "the center" from now on.

As a tutor at the center, I began to realize how much I really liked math. I was an English/Communication Arts major. I was having problems with my Intro to Mass Media course and was also taking Cal 2 at the time. Cal 2 was fun and energizing, Intro 2 Mass Media wasn't. It was an easy decision. The best decision I think I've made in my entire life.

So I'm happy with my major, happy with my fiance. I'm getting married next July, right before graduate school. We're not sure where we are going, but it's going to be far far away from here.

He wants a Ph.D. in Philosophy, preferably researching the philosophy of time or science. He loves math, but doesn't have too strong a background in it to do "philosophy of math" or Number Theory. I'm the math/finance person in the relationship, I do the taxes and try to keep track of finances. If I had a better job, mostly one that paid better - I'd do a better job of keeping track of my own finances, but that's a story for another day.

I think that's all I'm going to post for now. I might post more later today, if I feel like it. But it's all a mystery... eerie music...

- V.