Re: Are there any non-gifted scientists?!?!?

From: kent (misc_at_archie-perkins.com)
Date: 05/03/04 

Date: Mon, 03 May 2004 12:54:11 -0500

Der Fugue wrote:
> I'm a high school student, about to go to college to study math and/or
> computer science. I'm basically a nerd, been interested in
> programming for a while but looking back I had a pretty distorted view
> of what programming actually was when I was hacking away at code in
> elementary school and middle school (I'm sure plenty of you had
> similar experiences). More recently I've picked up math as a hobby
> and become more of a science nerd than a computer nerd.
>
> Here's my dilemma: I ain't that smart. Failed my school's gifted test
[ Much deleted]
I got A's abd B's in high school. took all the math and science I could.
Played around on the school computer, which was lot's of fun.
I was never in any gifted programs and don't know what my IQ score is.
I'm not sure how meaningful they are anyway.
Planned to be a physicist.
Got to college, took more math and lots of physics and some comp sci.
I had what you might call a crises of faith after a couple
of years of college.
I had completed all the calculus courses and was in a physics course
on mechanics. I realized two things.
I couldn't do second order partial differential equations
in my head.
Not that I really had to, but I didn't have enough of a math intuition
to look at the equations we were using and know
roughly what was going on.
I could solve them, but with extreme effort.
I knew I needed that intuition if I was going to be really good.
I also knew that I could still continue in physics and do
useful work, as many others here have pointed out.
But my view of myself had me in Stockholm accepting the award
for the Archie effect.
Yeah, I know but I was about 20 at the time.
The second thing was that I was working on my compsci homework
in my physics classes.
I put these together and realized my calling wasn't math or physics
but software engineering.
And I was right.
I ended up with a degree in math, a MS and Ph.D in compsci.
Worked in telecom for about 17 years until the recent unpleasantness,
developed many cool, fun and useful systems, published
a couple of obscure papers, got a patent and now teach
1/2 time at a tech college.

You don't have to be a genius to do good work and accomplish a great
deal. By definition, most people aren' geniuses. What I got out of my
math degree is the ability to solve problems.
I'm an not a mathematician by any stretch.
Almost all of what I learned, except how to solve problems
is gone. Getting decent grades in math is all you need for software
engineering (for most parts of it, anyway).

The most important thing is to find your calling.
Work and life are too long and hard to spend it doing
things you don't like. Forget about the test scores and
follow you dreams. You will do much better at subjects you love
than at those you think you have to do.
Also, it's way, way to early to decide what you will be when you grow
up. I'm still working on that and my high school days are over 30 years
gone.
I hope this helps.
**kent

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