hahaha, I fail at life. (what's new, pussycat?)
I woke up this morning pretty confident about my quantum mechanics final. I'd studied the night before, had a good understanding of how various formulations of QM worked and didn't work, all that good stuff.
My morning was nice and leisurely. Woke up at 6:30, showered, got Austin ready for school, studied a bit, read some e-mails, had some breakfast. I took off at 9:20 with plenty of time to spare for the 10:00 AM final.
I got there early, and decided to sit and chill in the room and debate philosophy of mathematics with the grad students and the professor, Jeffrey Barrett. On my way in the room I saw Jeffrey deep in conversation with one of the students. Cool, they were here early too. We exchanged greetings as I strolled past into the room.
I walked in the room, and saw people immersed in writing. Shit. The final had been going on since 8, and instead of being 15 minutes early, I now had 15 minutes to complete the exam. Shit! I've never done this before!
I dropped my bag and threw open the door in a panic. "I could have sworn it was at 10AM, I'm so sorry, uh, I can totally do what I know in 15 minutes--"
Jeffrey just grinned. "Nah, it's okay. Have you talked to anyone who's taken the exam?"
I shook my head fervently. "No, I just got here. I swear I'm not a cheater, just a moron."
He laughed. "Nah, it happens. Go ahead and start, and you'll have the full two hours. It's open note, by the way.... open-book if you accept a few penalty points. The exam paper is on the front desk."
I gaped. This was okay? This sort of inexcusable tardiness was okay? Phew. Then I grinned. "Extra points if you don't use notes?"
"No extra points, but if you don't use your notes, write that at the top of the paper and I will be duly impressed."
Cool.
The exam went okay - nothing surprising. It actually tested precisely what the course had set out to do: to explain the various formulations of quantum mechanics, how they work, how they explain quantum phenomena, compatibility with Special Relativity, and, most importantly, how they account for our determinate experience. While it has no relation to my major whatsoever, it was a great course, especially when I participated in the grad discussion!
Also, anyone who starts babbling about quantum mechanics and Eastern philosophy - a combination found in many popular books nowadays - is going to get schooled. Nicely, of course.... but still schooled.
My morning was nice and leisurely. Woke up at 6:30, showered, got Austin ready for school, studied a bit, read some e-mails, had some breakfast. I took off at 9:20 with plenty of time to spare for the 10:00 AM final.
I got there early, and decided to sit and chill in the room and debate philosophy of mathematics with the grad students and the professor, Jeffrey Barrett. On my way in the room I saw Jeffrey deep in conversation with one of the students. Cool, they were here early too. We exchanged greetings as I strolled past into the room.
I walked in the room, and saw people immersed in writing. Shit. The final had been going on since 8, and instead of being 15 minutes early, I now had 15 minutes to complete the exam. Shit! I've never done this before!
I dropped my bag and threw open the door in a panic. "I could have sworn it was at 10AM, I'm so sorry, uh, I can totally do what I know in 15 minutes--"
Jeffrey just grinned. "Nah, it's okay. Have you talked to anyone who's taken the exam?"
I shook my head fervently. "No, I just got here. I swear I'm not a cheater, just a moron."
He laughed. "Nah, it happens. Go ahead and start, and you'll have the full two hours. It's open note, by the way.... open-book if you accept a few penalty points. The exam paper is on the front desk."
I gaped. This was okay? This sort of inexcusable tardiness was okay? Phew. Then I grinned. "Extra points if you don't use notes?"
"No extra points, but if you don't use your notes, write that at the top of the paper and I will be duly impressed."
Cool.
The exam went okay - nothing surprising. It actually tested precisely what the course had set out to do: to explain the various formulations of quantum mechanics, how they work, how they explain quantum phenomena, compatibility with Special Relativity, and, most importantly, how they account for our determinate experience. While it has no relation to my major whatsoever, it was a great course, especially when I participated in the grad discussion!
Also, anyone who starts babbling about quantum mechanics and Eastern philosophy - a combination found in many popular books nowadays - is going to get schooled. Nicely, of course.... but still schooled.