First Day of Classes

For me, as with many graduate students, it seems that the official start of classes doesn't have too much meaning. I'm only taking one class and a seminar this fall, so I'll take this bit of free time to talk a little bit about why I've decided to write down my thoughts.


I floundered about in my undergrad somewhat, not even picking a major until my third year. I was always interested in science, though, and indeed that's where I've ended up. After taking a couple of years of science core classes (those classes that all science majors take, in Biology, Chemistry, etc.), I examined the upper-level course requirements for various majors, eventually deciding that the ones in Ecology looked the most fun. I popped over for a visit to the department, and fell in love with the undergraduate advisors there. I also ended up having classes and social interactions with a lot of different faculty, and their passion was a great influence on me. I don't recall a specific day or moment when it happened, but eventually I realized that I wanted to do what they do. I wanted to contribute to the body of scientific knowledge, sure, but more than that. I wanted to help students, perhaps those who are floundering as I did, to discover and pursue their passions.

This week, I'll meet my first batch of University students, and I know that some of them will be passionate about the subject matter, and others won't want to be there at all, but hopefully they'll all come away with something positive.

To wrap up this post, a little side note about the name of this blog: Piling it Higher and Deeper. The name is derived from the joke I parenthetically alluded to in the first posting (B.S. = bullshit, M.S. = more shit, and Ph.D. = Piled higher and deeper). Also derived from this joke is the popular webcomic Piled Higher and Deeper, usually referred to as Ph.D. Comics. I am not associated with this comic, but I do recommend it for some outstanding academic humor.