It’s so great to be back. Summer has its merits; it’s tough to beat sunshine, friends, and free time. But coming back to school is a rush, and for me a lot of that comes from new classes. Figuring out the new material in a class and how it fits with other classes you’ve taken is satisfying.
What did I do this summer? Study abroad in Rome! (More on that later.)
My hardest class this semester is EE200 – Foundations of Electrical Engineering Systems. It’s essentially a class about signals and systems (inputs and functions), but it’s entirely unlike any other math class I’ve taken. We use integrals, graphs, qualitative analysis, and a so many other math techniques. It’s also the first time I’ve ever studied discrete math. I’m struggling and we haven’t even had the pleasure of working with fourier analysis yet! Looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time in VARC (Viterbi Academic Resource Center) this semester!
My favorite class this semester is my ARLT GE – Modern American Poetry. I wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but it has been amazing. Professor Gioia starts each lecture with a dramatic reading of some of his favorite poetry. His lectures are generally about the lives of the poets, and the significance of their messages. The way he analyzes the poems manages to save the heart of the content while still delving into the mechanical elements. It’s a far cry from what I usually study, but I’m loving it!
