End of the Term

It's been a long trip, from the first class to now. Unfortunately I don't know if I remember everything - in fact I most likely don't. But for the most part it seemed that CSC236 was one of those classes where you either get it or you don't, and luckily I "got it". I've been relying on my CSC236 mark to bring up my overall GPA, since it's probably my best class. Although that isn't saying that its easy - not by a long shot - I just happen to eventually figure out whatever I'm work on, be it a problem set or assignment or test, and do rather well. I think the reason why I'm doing well in this course is simply because it's one of those courses where you either get or you don't. Unlike most science based courses this course would be infinitely harder if I didn't understand it, there's no formulas where I can just plug some numbers into and hope to get lucky. Doing proofs requires understanding what I'm proving, so getting even a passing grade requires me to actually understand what's going on - and that's the difference, understanding; knowing the reason why puts meaning into what I'm learning. I'm no longer just memorizing when to use what formula and getting completely stumped when I'm thrown a question that actually requires some thought. Even though I'd occasionally hate this work - staring at assignment questions for hours hoping to figure it out - in the end CSC236 is probably the only course that I really "get", the only course that my knowledge of isn't limited to what theorems I can remember but I have no idea of how to prove, or what formulas I can apply without knowing (or caring) where they came from.

Even though I've been doing well in CSC236 my mark is only destined to drop. I have 5 exams in 4 days and CSC236 is the last one. No matter what I do to study and prepare I'll be burnt out by the time Friday morning comes. Its sort of aggravating, having put so much effort into getting decent grades and have it all potentially ruined simply because I'm unlucky. If I die of sleep deprivation I'm blaming U of T.

On a lighter note, I'm done working for the night. I think this will be my last post, since SLoGs are due this Friday, but I had fun with this. Keep up the good work Professor Heap, its refreshing to be in a class where I'm not just a number. And my thanks to the T.A.s for being generous markers and never angrily giving me zero for indecipherable tests or ridiculously long assignments.

~B.M.