Undergraduate / "Mathematics in Poetry" - My Response To This Math Quote [4]

Prompt: Describe your response to the quote: "The true spirit of delight...is to be found in mathematics as surely as in poetry." - Bertrand Russell.

* It says it will be used to get a clearer insight of my interest in mathematics.

"The true spirit of delight... is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry." (Bertrand Russell). What would my response be? I would say the quote means that there is a happiness to be found in mathematics. Not only that but I would agree with Bertrand Russell's quote. Above all, I feel like this quote relates to me, describing exactly how I feel with math.

The quote means that a person can find happiness in math like one would a poem. A poet, for example, can read a line of the poem and understands what it represents. In the same way, a mathematician can read an equation and figure out what it means. In simple terms, it expresses that a person can love math just like a person can love poetry. The quote tries to explain the sense of challenge when the equation is presented to me, a sense of excitement while solving, a sense of achievement I feel when I found the answer. The quote explains the is a true state of euphoria in math.

Secondly, I agree with Bertrand Russell's quote. People can enjoy learning about certain subjects because it is interesting to them, it is an idea or concept that makes sense to them, or because they are just born with the talent of succeeding in the subject. Another reason I agree with his quote is because there is a teacher at South Granville High School who demonstrates this every day. The effort he gives and how he makes students apply it to different concepts shows that he really enjoys math. I am one of few, who would actually prefer him as my math teacher and accept the challenge.

Finally, I feel that this quote strongly applies to me because I enjoy understanding why a formula works, knowing there is a definite answer that can be proven, and the feeling it gives me when I find it. For example, I came after school and asked about the Pythagorean Theorm. And the feeling it gives to know what to do in such a pattern and knowing that it works makes me feel accomplished. So like the quotes implies, it is not something taught or learned, but it is a natural enjoyment of learning mathematics.

"The true spirit of delight... is to be found in mathematics as surely as poetry." (Bertrand Russell). This quote for the most part means that some people find happiness in mathematics. I completely agree wit Bertrand Russell. With all of this in mind, I feel that this quote can definitely be applied to me. Last but not least, I am supposed to make one last impacting sentence. This took me about nine hours to get what feelings and expressions I had onto this one paper, so it's clear to see I have some serious interest in mathematics.

Undergraduate / appreciative attitude, leadership - What can I contribute to a Summer Program [4]

For some reason I can't write essays as well as I used to, so some help to review my passage would be helpful :) It is very rusty.

Well it isn't really an essay, it is more of like a "short answer" thing.

I am entering a community; my actions will impact everyone surrounding me. This is why I think it is important to make sure that the admissions office knows that I am the perfect person to contribute to the SVSM program because I am opportunistic and appreciative, I spark intelligent discussions, and I will be a friend for others. First off, I am an opportunistic and appreciative person. For example, I visited my brother in Wilmington. Even though he had to work most of the time while I was there, I took that opportunity to explore Wilmington on my own. I visited the beach, I tried new foods, and visited the local shops downtown. I understand the summer program is a privilege that is meant to be taken advantage of. I always try to get others involved in such opportunities. I will also be appreciative of the fact that I will learn with hands-on experience since I don't get that privilege at my high school. Next, I will naturally contribute to the community by being a leader and sparking interesting discussions. If there is a group project, I am usually the one who contributes the ideas and takes the responsibility of being the leader. My group members always automatically look up to me to see what needs to be done. I always spark interesting discussions about what we've learned. I ask why something is the way it is and spark new topics of the subject that have not been thought about. Finally, I think the most important thing for me to contribute is the friendship of others. I would love to make new friendships and it make the experience even more enjoyable for the both of us. As much enjoyable memories there are, there will always be the hard times. I want to be a shoulder for them to lean on. I understand that being away from home are hard on some teenagers, even adults. I will help students get through those tough times. I know what it is like to be away from home, I travel a lot by myself whether it be by plane or car. Like I said, once I enter a community it will impact people around me. I understand the importance of contributing to the summer program, that is why I will contribute my opportunistic and appreciative attitude, my leadership and knowledgeable discussions, and most importantly, my friendship.