Starting Spring 2024 semester. The little man is back!

I just noticed this draft has been siting here for days: It's been a few weeks since we returned to campus, and I'm still in the process of learning my students' names. However, the joy of being back, interacting with both students and colleagues, has brought a sense of home that energizes me, making me temporarily forget life's challenges. As an introvert-extrovert, diving into teaching allows me to explore my more outgoing side. This semester, I find myself solely focused on teaching precalculus, thanks to a teaching release that provides me with additional time. With this newfound time, I'm aiming to finalize some pending manuscripts. In these initial weeks, I've managed to learn several students' names and have already encouraged them to break the ice with each other. We've formed little teams to discuss precalculus problems collaboratively. Our topics have ranged from real numbers, understanding functions, and exploring graphs, to delving into domains, ranges, and transformations of basic functions. Our most recent discussion involved the composition of functions. During our exploration of functions, I revisited the analogy of the little man walking on the x and y-axes. The students chuckled, and I acknowledged that many find this visualization helpful when grasping domain and range from a graph. So, the little man has made a comeback to aid in understanding the intricacies of functions. I introduced the online graphing calculator, Desmos, and we dived into various graphs, exploring the tool's capabilities. Students were able to locate coordinates for x and y-intercepts, extract tables with values, and identify local extrema. As we progressed, we began experimenting with applying horizontal and vertical transformations to graphs from what I playfully referred to as the "alphabet of graphs." In contemplating future lessons, I'm considering the creation of a fun animation featuring the little man to visually explain the determination of the domain and range of graphs. Should I?

Overdue reflection on Fall Semester 2023. Never give up!

This post is long overdue, and today I want to share a different side of myself with my students. More than just the mathematician who delves into axioms, proofs, calculus, and other intriguing mathematical concepts, I recently visited Brigham Young University to give a talk. This presentation, unlike my usual technical talks, was part of Math Circles within Dr. Michael Dorff's course. In the academic world, mathematicians are often perceived as intellectual beings effortlessly navigating life's challenges. However, mathematics is a human endeavor, and I decided to reveal a vulnerable side of myself, discussing the personal struggles in life, family dynamics, and the hurdles of job hunting, particularly after completing PhD and postdocs. This career, like many STEM paths, goes beyond mere intelligence; it requires patience, persistence, hard work, grit, and an unwavering commitment. I shared a poignant moment from my time as a visiting postdoc at ICERM (Brown), when I was still searching for a job to support my family. Many students approached me afterwards, expressing gratitude for sharing this personal story. The journey includes facing rejection, especially during on-campus interviews, and I emphasized the importance of growing from rejection, using it as fuel for personal growth. Dealing with rejection is a crucial aspect of this journey. I encouraged my students and colleagues to remember their worth, to never give up, and to understand that all professors and colleagues have encountered challenging times. This resonated with my students, fostering a disciplined approach throughout the semester. I aimed to influence them positively, emphasizing the importance of directing their efforts towards things they can control, rather than succumbing to distractions like excessive social media or constant cellphone use, which I referred to as mere noise. I urged them to cultivate independent thinking and form their own opinions, even if they differ from the majority. In essence, my message is clear: never give up and practice compassion. While possessing strong skills is advantageous, being a compassionate and supportive team player sets one apart. In the face of challenges, remember – you are amazing, and you will emerge stronger. Never forget that both success and resilience are part of every academic journey.