Discussion: Introductions & Mathography

Your first OpenLab Discussion assignment is to introduce yourself to your classmates.  This assignment is due Wednesday, February 1st, at the start of class. Late submissions will receive partial credit.

Assignment. Add a comment in reply to this post introducing yourself to the class.  Your comment should be at least 2 paragraphs in length.  In the first paragraph, introduce yourself in whatever way you wish. You could include your academic interests, why you chose your major, what you enjoy reading, listening to, watching, and doing in your spare time, or anything else you want to share (include your pronouns, if you wish).  In the second paragraph, choose ONE of the following two topics and write a response. Don’t forget to tell us which topic you chose.

Topics (choose ONE).

  1. Was math ever your favorite subject? If so, when was it? What about math made it your favorite? If math has never been your favorite subject, what about it do you not like?
  2. Sometimes people can recognize a time when their opinion of math dramatically changed either for the better or the worse. Tell us about it.

Extra Credit. Get to know your classmates! For extra credit, write a response to one of your classmates’ comments. Do you feel the same? Did you learn anything? Do you have any advice? Be kind.

14 Comments

  1. Brandon Munoz

    My name is Brandon Munoz and I am currently studying Architecture here at City Tech! My love of architecture came early, growing up in a historic architectural area, and being that my mom is involved with many architects, it just grew on me over time. I enjoy long walks and hiking. I also have a few hobbies such as model train collecting, rail fanning, and singing. My favorite thing to watch on my free time are horror movies! Anything horror really, and sometimes in enjoy a bit of Family Guy. Excited about the future and what life may bring me!

    Math and I have complicated relationship, don’t love it but I don’t hate it either. When it comes to learning math, it takes me a couple tries to fully understand the material. One thing that really confuses me are the different formulas involved in algebra and certain things in trigonometry. I have a hard time with exams, however with time I seem to get better at them. This is my second try at this class, I’m actually confident that I will be more focused and understand the material this time around.

    Thank you.

    • Victor Lee

      Hello Brandon,

      Well, I can’t watch horror movies. I get startled quite easily.

      So you’re a second timer, eh? It happens. I understand your apprehension against formulas. I won’t lie – I have memorized all the formulas; but memorizing formulas can be a trap if you don’t understand the mathematics that justify them. I will inform you that my preferred teaching style is to derive formulas, showing the reasons why we do things. Don’t hesitate to ask me why we’re doing what we’re doing.

  2. chriscruz

    Hi, my name is christopher Cruz. I am studying computer science and the reason why I am studying computer science is that I like how computer function I always wanted to learn how to create a computer.

    math was never my favorite subject because I would overthink my answers and get them wrong. i was never good with numbers because it was my weakest thing to learn. I’m hoping to get better at math.

    • Victor Lee

      Hello Chris,

      Many math students overthink their work and try to do too much. It has happened quite often when students just feel that in math, the most complicated response is the correct response. It’s not. As mathematicians, we attempt to create elegant solutions to problems.

      The best way for me to explain algebra is that it is a generalization of arithmetic – the same rules apply to all numbers (unless otherwise specified).

  3. RobinChea

    Hello Math Class

    My name is Robin Johnson and I’m happy to be here in this class. This year so far has been a life changing experience for me. I’ve had a lot of setbacks and despite them all at city tech is where my journey begins, not only for myself but for my two children as well. In my spare time I like to watch medieval movies/shows on Netflix or HBO whichever I can find and binge watch. Its just something about the tone and mannerisms that I’m more so drawn to My major I chose to study is Radiology Technology. Why? I cant put a finger on it but its something about wanting to explore the insides of a human seem fascinating. “Getting to know the ins and out”.

    Math has always been my favorite subject from young. I think I’ve learned numbers before I’d learned letters. I was always drawn to all things Math. Until High School 11th grade and got distracted by other things not need to mention but managed to cut school and still take a math test and pass. When it comes to this trigonometry I feel like I could push myself a little more because it has been a while since I’ve done any kind of learning and I feel like I do need to play catch up. When driving I tend to do math on those last four numbers on every license plate go figure how bored I must be while driving all over the city to do such a thing. Sitting in class for the first time in a while it was a pleasure and I wont lie to say I wasn’t nervous. I’m hoping that the rest of the semester will be pleasant. l’m looking forward to this.

    • Victor Lee

      Robin, I’m glad to interpret your statement as having a decent self-efficacy when it comes to mathematics. I hope you don’t cut class, though… college isn’t like other schools. We don’t get extra time to sit down and repeat lessons in different ways to help students understand. I hope the semester is also pleasant for you.

  4. Roniesha Benjamin

    Hi, My name is Roniesha and right now I’m taking my preclinical class to get into ct scan radiology. Im very independent, I’m very determined to finish what I started, warmhearted, give freely, energetic and sympathetic, and understanding. Im kind of a movie freak, I love watching a lot of movies/tv shows in my free time. I love horror movies with lots of thrillers and suspense, I also love comedy and romance. I love writing shorties also. I love music. It keeps me calm and relaxed or sometimes I want to get up and dance. I love to dance, which is one of my hobbies. I love to color in my color book, I find it very relaxing and therapeutic. It also easy my stress. I struggle with math a lot and it’s the second time im taking math1275co. I want to the math1270 co to get a brief rundown on how to solve the problems and a lot new skills on how to love it. So, im going to use those skills to help with some math problems. I will go to the math tutoring and office hours to get help with math to get better at it. Take study more seriously this year. Im confident in myself that I will pass math this semester.

    • Victor Lee

      Roniesha, it’s a good thing I’m one of the tutors for the math department and ASAP. I will expect to see you over the course of the semester. However, do not hesitate to ask questions in class. It helps your classmates, whom are likely to have the same questions.

      Also, I grade class participation…

  5. Daniela Montoya

    Hi everyone, my name is Daniela and this is my first semester in City Tech also my Major is Architecture since I moved to the city I started to be interested in everything related to the construction and design of the spaces that are found around the City. Besides my family there are some architects that were part of the influenced my childhood to start by focusing on Architecture, On the other hand in my free time I like to spend time with my family and friends, listen to music and discover new places and do some research about them.

    1. Was math ever your favorite subject? If so, when was it? What about math made it your favorite? If math has never been your favorite subject, what about it do you not like?

    Before entering 5th grade I really liked mathematics but for personal reasons, I had to move to the city the truth is that it was very complicated to understand mathematics, so I decided not to pay attention to it and I started to get bored until I managed to change some habits and create again the enjoyment of learning even though at the beginning it was a little overwhelming. 

    • Victor Lee

      Daniela,

      You mention a lesson that a lot of students need to learn. If you don’t enjoy the class, find a way to get yourself involved or even enjoy learning. Investment into the class is always key to passing it. And since this class is at least a general education requirement for you and your classmates, it is imperative to get yourself involved somehow. This is even more important if one dislikes the subject.

  6. Xavier

    Hi my name Is Xavier Darden, I started my journey with CityTech in the fall of 2022 and my major at the start was Computer Science. I really wasn’t feeling the curriculum and didn’t really connect with any of my professors and was having a hard time completing assignments so the day before deadline to drop classes i dropped all my classes and changed my major to Nursing. I am very determined in this field because I love helping people and want to really make a difference in the world. I’m a server and bartender and something that really feels good for me is when people are able to be helped by me whether its a drink or food being given I like that feeling of being of service. I have a lot of patience and can read the room 100% of the time and know what type of vibe is going on.

    I think a time that really changed my views on math was during any math test when I was younger because I really didn’t like taking test on top of not being a really strong math student it was always jus an annoying thing and growing up I never really enjoyed math but I know I can’t graduate without it so i guess i’m trying to be more open with this subject and hopefully my goal for this class this semester is to like math a little bit more.

  7. Victor Lee

    From Cesar.

    Hello, my name is Cesar Ixcot. I am from Guatemala. I migrated to this country around 8 years ago for better life and future. This is my 2dn semester at City tech. When I was a kid, I liked to draw and paints my drawings were about houses I liked how they were design but, I never think that drawing and designing houses it was a career. So, when is time to decide what major, I want to take it wasn’t that difficult choice because I follow my dream. Other than study I like to play soccer and also, I like to play the BASS.

    Math never has been my favorite subject because for me is too difficult to understand.

  8. Aileen Mosquera

    Hello Everyone!

    My name is Aileen Mosquera. I was born in the states, but my family is from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Fun fact: I have traveled to 8 countries thus far. This is my second semester at CityTech. I am majoring in Data Analytics/Economics. However, I do freelance graphic design on the side.

    This is my second time taking this class, I hope I do well, and Math has never been my subject of excellence.

  9. Emanuel Gonzalez

    Hello, my name is Emanuel Gonzalez. I am a first year currently majoring in computer science, this is because since I was little I was always fascinated by the thought of computers and how they work, I took a class in programing my first semester and I really like it so I think I’m going to stick to it. I like listening to sad songs usually in spanish, I’m not sad I just like them a lot. I like watching anime and soccer matches as I play soccer on an amateur pro level with a club named NY Legacy. I also stream games on twitch during my free time as a hobby.

    Math has always been my favorite subject ever since the start of high school, mainly my senior year in AP calculus. Something about solving a really long problem always gave me satisfaction, watching every piece of the problem fall into place made the hard parts of it worth it. I didn’t do well on the AP test but I know that when I eventually take calculus here in city tech I will be more than ready.

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