Not a congratulations thread

[rolifer]

I am not looking for congratulations. The purpose of this thread is to thank the many of you that have helped to keep me going the past few years.

In 1982, I was fresh out of the US Navy and was excited to begin college. I went part time for a few years and had to give it up. Three years ago I decided it was time to try again, so I went back to school full time and hoped for the best.

I graduated yesterday with a BS in Mathematics and am now looking for a teaching job. I know that it doesn't mean much, but I did this with a GPA of 3.9.

The reason I am sharing this is because some here know that I have been in school, but many do not know that this site has been about my only social outlet. Between work, school and studying, I had no time for an outside life, so the only socializing I did was here and I want to thank you all for helping me to stay sane.

So to all, a big heartfelt Thank you!

Ron

[rbowser-]

"... thank you all for helping me to stay sane..."

OH no! THIS is your version of sanity?!?!-Then we're all failures here! ARrrrrrrgh!

:p

Ron - Congrats. Big ones.

Randy

[etLux]

Whether you want 'em or not -- congratulations, Ron.

I've been aware of your circumstances, of course; and
to me, having the grit to get in there and do the work
(and pull out a 3.9, no less) -- now, that's impressive.
No stranger to mathematics, I might mention that
that does takes just a bit of mental horsepower, too.

A bow in your direction, Ron, and most definitely a...

Bravo!

All my best,



David
-----
David Sosnowski
www.DavidSosnowski.com

[LFO]

Well, I certainly hope this turns into a congratulations thread. :)

I had no idea about your circumstances, but you worked hard and have accomplished a great deal. You should be proud! All my best as you look for a teaching job!

And for Pete's sake, go find a better social outlet than this place. Sheesh! ;)

-Kevin

[Garritan]

Ron,

What an acheivement and congratulations!)(~)(~

Not only did you make it through a vigorous and challenging program, but you excelled at it. Having a degree in math myself, I know how difficult it is.

This place kept you sane?? That's good the hear as it can drive some crazy :D

You are an inspiration to many here.

Wishing you more great successes.


All the best,


Gary

[Larry G. Alexander]

Way to go, Mr. Ron! I am proud of you, my cyberfriend.

I hope that you soon find an ideal, well-paying teaching position. (Is that sentence an oxymoron...a contradiction in terms?) :(

My Best,

[efiebke]

Congrats on graduating, Ron. Also, graduating with a GPA of 3.9 is quite impressive!

Best of luck to you! :)

Ted

[RichR]

Yeah!!! and good for you. I can only imagine the hard work involved in wearing those many hats and maintaining a great GPA. There is no place like this fine community and I am glad to hear it was place for you to be and feel amongst friends.

Best to you!

[AlanPerkins]

Congratulations Ron!

I am not sure what a GPA of 3.9 means - could someone enlighten me?

I think it is great that you decided to go back to school and get an education. Best of luck with the next steps.

[rpearl]

Ron,

I'm so glad this place became a haven of sorts, and that you felt friendship here. Having said that, CONGRATULATIONS! You deserve it. And - what is most amazing - is that you had a 3.9 GPA, and still had time to compose some wonderful music. Wow - brains and talent!

Good luck with the job hunt.

All the best,

[trentpmcd]

Congratulations! A fellow mathematician (and I guess Gary is another).

I have never met a mathematician that is actually doing mathematics. When I was an air traffic controller there were 3 others that I worked with. Now as an IT person the highest math I uses is telling you how much memory you have if you add another 2 GB chip….. The little Boolean Algebra in my post last week was the most math I’ve used in years…. On the other hand, I never looked at education.

[swinkler]

Congratulations Ron,

I hope you find the ideal teaching job and still have time to continue your amazing development as a composer AND find a face-to-face social outlet.

Many congratulations,

Steve Winkler

[Frank D]

Hi Ron,

Well TOO BAD! Congratulations on this accomplishment!

Although we're on vacation in the middle of Iowa today, It's fitting I peeked in on the forum and saw this thread. You see, Ron, for our 3,000+ mile road trip, I'm armed with a CD I made before we left NY of four of your works along with Raymond62's symphony ... I'm finally getting a chance to catch-up on some great music.

Gotta go ... I hear a croc slithering out of the corn field ...

Congrats again!!!

Frank

[RobertTewes]

Congratulations Ron!
Your perseverance is a tribute to you and an encouragement to all of us.
Set a goal...
Nibble at it day after day...
Finally see the finish line...
and cross over it!
Keep up the success and let us know when you land that teaching job!
Bravo!

[snorlax]

I add my voice of praise to the choir...math is a REAL (haha) major and to achieve a 3.9 is excellent!

I know you will be a fine teacher who will inspire a LOVE of math in students and teach your students the value of mathematics in their personal and professional lives...

Then please send your best and most eager high school students to study Statistics, Finance, Investments, Risk & Insurance, and Managerial Economics with Prof. Snorlax!!

Props to you,
Jim W.

[tradivoro]

Yeah Ron, you're just going to have to suck it up and accept congratulations on your great achievements... There, I said it and I'm glad... :)

[nikolas]

YAY! RON!

Now I guess you'll be off to find a fast car and females, right? :wow:

Don't care about what this thread is NOT about: HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! You did great and deserve all of it! Plus I have you in my Internet book! And BTW 3.9?!?!?!?!? Yikes!

[DPDAN]

Ron, I want to congratulate you too.
What an admirable thing teaching is.
Dan

[SeanHannifin]

The math courses I had to take in college were not easy or fun for me; a 3.9 GPA is fantastic! Though this may not be intended to be a congratulations thread, congratulations. :)

And all the best for the future! :)

[rolifer]

To all

Last fall I did my student teaching where I taught everyday in the classroom while under the watchful eye of my mentor teacher. Last week my mentor teacher had to have surgery and is now unable to teach the rest of this year. She asked me to take over her classes so I rearranged my schedule to accommodate her. I started teaching her classes on the 15th of May and have had little time for anything other than teaching and doing my other work (with no composing time at all unfortunately). I have looked in here from time to time during my 5 minute lunch breaks, and sometimes at night after I have everything caught up to the point that I can go to bed. I did want everyone to know that I had finally finished my studies and maybe I was looking for some validation as well.

I do wish to thank everyone for the congratulations and if I had more time, I would thank each of you seperately, but I still have tons of work to get done yet tonight.

I am teaching an 8th grade Pre-Algebra course to a bunch of kids that just hate learning and it is my toughest class by far. But I am also teaching two 8th grade Honors Geometry classes, which is a lot of fun. Those kids are smart and will go far in life, while a number of the Pre-Algebra kids will ultimately be 35 years old and still be working at McDonalds.

School gets out on the 12th of June and then I will have some time to spend here in the forums once again.

So once again I thank you all for your support.

Ron

[SeanHannifin]

I am teaching an 8th grade Pre-Algebra course to a bunch of kids that just hate learning and it is my toughest class by far. But I am also teaching two 8th grade Honors Geometry classes, which is a lot of fun. Those kids are smart and will go far in life, while a number of the Pre-Algebra kids will ultimately be 35 years old and still be working at McDonalds.

Just beware: for the tough classes, students can tell whether or not you hate being there as well. And be sure to know the reasons they need pre-algebra, and whether or not they do, and perhaps try to find out what they'd rather be doing instead of sitting in pre-al class. One of the top reasons I hated a lot of my classes wasn't because I hated learning, but because I had different interests and hated not being in control.

But of course some students are just interested in goofing off with friends with not very tasteful humor, and it's probably even tougher these days with cell phones and iPods and such all over the place. But try to not let them know you think they're headed towards McDonald's; I doubt that would have a good effect.

Congrats again, and best of luck! :)

[trentpmcd]

It's great that your mentor asked you to take over for her - it shows her trust in you as well as giving you an opportunity to be totally independent.

From what my mom has said (a retired teacher), although everyone loves the bright kids, sometimes the ones who aren't as bright are the most rewarding. They are also the ones that take the most skill...

Forgot to mention in my "congratulations" post how impressed I am with your 3.9. I've taken some classes as an adult and have found "A"s much easier to achieve than when I was a kid, but a 3.9 is still impressive.

[rpearl]

If you haven't already seen it, the movie Stand and Deliver - about teaching calculus in a tough school in LA (true story) - is about as inspiring a film as there is. Check it out when the semester ends.

Hang in there, and again congratulations.