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Feb 22, 2009

Spring term

The spring semester here started a few weeks ago. I have Big Plans for the spring term. I have a lot to do and I’m very excited about all of it.

My research is finally in a place where I can take it and run. I have things to measure, things to design, and things to fabricate. For the first time in my graduate career, I’m not dependent on anyone else to get things done. I could easily spend 12 hours a day in the lab working on this stuff. It’s awesome.

Also, I’ve been offered and accepted a teaching position for the summer. I’ll be the electrical engineering instructor for the Women’s Technology Program. I’ve been wanting to teach in this program since I got to MIT, but only now really have the time and flexibility to do so. I’m psyched. It doesn’t start officially until the summer, but there’s tons to do to get ready. Right now, I’m preparing the curriculum and reading applications. It’s awesome.

I’m also taking a writing class this term. Each student picks something to work on for the entire semester. Since the EE class in WTP doesn’t have a very good textbook, I’ve decided to try to write one. (If any future WTPers are reading this, I apologize if the text is crap. I promise you that it’s better than what was used in the past.) I’ve never tried to write something like this before. It’s awesome.

However, my Big Plans have gotten derailed. After years of coming up with good excuses, I ran out this year and agreed to go skiing a month ago. I was having a great time and wondering why I had refused to try it for so long. On the last day, I got a little ambitious and tried to go down an intermediate trail. I took a weird, slow fall and felt something pop in my knee. Some doctor’s visits and an MRI later, I was told that I tore my ACL and will need surgery. Not awesome.

I’m not in much pain anymore; I’m just walking around slowly. Stairs are difficult and I have to wait for the elevator. I just can’t move quite as quickly as I would like and it’s really frustrating me. I’ll have the surgery in a couple of weeks and after that, I’ll have an even harder time getting around for awhile. I’m hoping to get a lot of work done on whatever I can with my feet elevated. I’m also hoping the painkillers don’t make me too loopy.

Future WTPers, if your text reads something like, “lectrical ingineering is totally awesome!!1!11!! Whooooo!” just know it was the drugs talking.

The author has filed this entry under the "Uncategorized" category.

A Response To This Entry:

    It was you who took the EE instructor spot! I applied as well, but hey, there are always other summers. Have fun motivating the high schoolers, and don’t worry, some meaningless text is almost a requirement for any textbook.

    Posted by: jwu on March 10th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

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