Goodbye, So Long, Fare Thee Well

Arcanaville · 09-22-2009 09:34 PM

I can't believe I missed this post. I need to search on my name more:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angry_Citizen

I thank Arcanaville for two reasons: ( [3x - 3x^2 +1]^744 ) x ( [- 3x + 3x^2 +1]^745 ) *cough* Yeah, you guessed it. One is mathematics. Without her incredible ability to bury the opposition under a load of accurate calculation, my knowledge of mathematics would be significantly more feeble than it is today. As you'll see if you keep reading, mathematics is going to hold a very special place in my heart for the rest of my life, and especially the next four years. The second reason is that Arcanaville has one of the more unique writing styles I've ever seen. It is simultaneously highly professional, technical and concise without losing even an ounce of personality. You can sense the biting satire and dripping sarcasm oozing from the very pixels that constitute her words. However, one thing has always bugged me.. it's. friggin'. intrinsically. not intrinsicly.

Just thought you ought to know! Anyway, I feel you've certainly contributed towards my expertise with the written word, although it is still far inferior. Thanks once more.

Intrinsically. Well I'll be darned: spell check agrees with you there.

Quote:

Which brings me to the final portion of my long, rambling farewell. If I love my game, reach new heights of personal advancement, and greatly enjoy the company of my friends, why am I leaving? Well, as strange as it may be to say..

AC is going to college on August 24th, a mere week from today. I will be going to a small community college in central Texas in order to acquire some credits cheaply (along with a host of other reasons, but that's the main one), and after a year, I'll transfer to one of three universities (UT Austin, UT Arlington or Texas A&M) to complete a degree program focused on Aerospace Engineering. Yup.. AC's going to be a freakin' rocket scientist, if he's smart enough and can hack it.

The game, however, must go. I cannot sit idly by and be sucked into a game when education demands my concentration. I realise I will not be that busy during college, especially the first year, but I am not going to run the risk. I have heard too many horror stories of people trying and failing at college because some other pursuit demanded too much of their time. The game will be gone at least a year. I will not return until a) I'm kicked out, b) I fail miserably at schoolwork and kick myself out, or c) (ideally) I'm adjusted to life in a large University and have loads of idle time.

It's not about just completing the coursework, either. Engineering, especially the subdiscipline I'm entering, is easily one of the most technical occupations known to man (or so I'm told). It will demand all my concentration and intelligence - and that's assuming I have enough to begin with.

You may have been wondering when I'd be soliciting advice... well, this is it. I'm a first generation college student. None of my friends are college graduates (except for the two I've mentioned by name above), none of my family are college graduates, and in general, I am completely and totally alone in my desire to pursue higher education. I know nothing about it - nothing. If anyone, anyone has any tips they wish they'd known, or habits they wish they'd gotten into, or just anything you can think of... please, let me know now.

If you're still out there, I have one recommendation; the same one I give to everyone entering a technical field (my undergraduate degree is EE for reference). Get your money's worth. College is not just about textbooks and classes, especially not in engineering. Its about working in labs for suck pay and terrible hours, its about figuring out what that really expensive piece of equipment will do when you push that button when no one is looking. Most importantly, its about learning to become a problem solver. The best thing you can do in college, besides not flunking out of classes, is to learn to be a good problem solver. And there will be *lots* of opportunities out there to learn to be one. Prof needs student hire for his lab? Special project going on somewhere on campus? Something will present itself and give you opportunities to increase your knowledge and experience.

Ultimately, your grades and that diploma can get you a job, but it will be the skillset you graduate with that will keep it for you. Make sure that when your college is handing out skills, you stand in line.

Good luck AC. And if you send me homework assignments, fair warning: I forgot Bernoulli's equation 18 years ago. Otherwise, my door is always open to questions from budding engineers. Plus, I might one day be flying a Boeing with your work in it, and I would rather the wings not fall off.

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Heart Attack · 09-23-2009 06:19 AM

Good luck with Collage, I hope it turns out to be what you hope it turns out to be!

Nice to see a goodbye that is due to someone improving themselves rather than moaning. I think you're doing the right think taking a break.

It's too many years since I went to collage for me to give and real advice and that was in a different country (different Continent actually) to your one so I'm not sure I could say anything helpful.

Well maybe one thing

Never ever drink anything that is green and has things in it you can't identify, no matter how drunk you are.