Being the only humanities graduate in the PGPEX Class of 2012 feels like having come dressed in Bermudas and sandals to a formal, black-suit gathering. And that’s just the beginning.
Each time a professor walks into the class for the first time, he/she politely enquires if there are any ‘non-engineers’ in the class. When my solitary hand goes up, they give a small, kind smile and ask me not to worry -- which, of course, terrifies me. My experience of life so far tells me that if someone needs to tell you not to worry, you need to be very, very worried indeed.
Then the fun starts. The good professor mentions Matrix, and the first thing that comes to my mind is Keanu Reeves. What’s worse is that at the end of the class, I can still relate matrices only to Keanu Reeves! The endless torrent of Pascal’s triangles, derivatives, integrals and the like serve only to remind me of several unrelated things like the hieroglyphics (which only specialists can decipher) and the Harappan script (which remains stubbornly un-deciphered to date).
Nevertheless, by the end of the class, I begin to see the faint light of a mathematical day. This is usually the combined effect of a frantic mental scramble to dig deep into my schooldays, a lot of helpful prompting by my concerned friend sitting adjacent and the sheer quality of instruction. I end the day with a reassuring feeling that I’ve been given a footing on the ladder; now I just have to pull myself up and scale it.
Each time a professor walks into the class for the first time, he/she politely enquires if there are any ‘non-engineers’ in the class. When my solitary hand goes up, they give a small, kind smile and ask me not to worry -- which, of course, terrifies me. My experience of life so far tells me that if someone needs to tell you not to worry, you need to be very, very worried indeed.
Then the fun starts. The good professor mentions Matrix, and the first thing that comes to my mind is Keanu Reeves. What’s worse is that at the end of the class, I can still relate matrices only to Keanu Reeves! The endless torrent of Pascal’s triangles, derivatives, integrals and the like serve only to remind me of several unrelated things like the hieroglyphics (which only specialists can decipher) and the Harappan script (which remains stubbornly un-deciphered to date).
Nevertheless, by the end of the class, I begin to see the faint light of a mathematical day. This is usually the combined effect of a frantic mental scramble to dig deep into my schooldays, a lot of helpful prompting by my concerned friend sitting adjacent and the sheer quality of instruction. I end the day with a reassuring feeling that I’ve been given a footing on the ladder; now I just have to pull myself up and scale it.
Good one sir jee!! Truly reflects the feeling of being alone in a crowd!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Ashish
Very good ruchin!!! In this case as you already expressed in class, there is only " Token Diversity". Appreciate your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteWe all live the PGPEX matrix, you realized it others don't...you are Neo.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely put sir, at some level we are all lost at times here..but as you rightly put we have been given footing on the ladder....and the climb is steep and fun
ReplyDelete"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is " - MORPHEUS in Matrix :P
ReplyDelete