Evaluation
Why did I do the things I did?
in life.
As a teenager, how did I decide to study japanese abacus, then special saturday Mathematics classes at the university? Why?
Travel. My dad. My dad's pushes on mathematics were the catapults that bolstered my changes in the world every few years.
That is how I grew to be the best kid in school, happy to help, but often rejected and disliked by other kids who were not as proficient in the topic. Proud but unable to show it, I molded a strong mask of benignity.
But I decided nothing at those times. I just went to school, did homework, avoided bullies, got good grades, tied my self-esteem to those same grades. And then Las Américas happened, and Prof. Danilo singled Manfredo and I for the Math olympiads. Which triggered the principal taking us to abacus classes, us meeting Kira, and us attending a weekly class to refine our mental agility and calculation. I was excited with it at first, especially as I made quick progress, but later I still kept going. Even when my schoolmates made fun of me. Even when I wasn't as excited anymore, after level 6, I seem to recall. The exercises had simply become longer and longer, the fun sail-through of the problems became actual challenges, and I didn't want to go anymore. Why did I keep going?
My mom, I think. She always seemed to push/coerce us into attending. With my scant social circle, it might have taken the role of my after-school play environment. But I decided to accept her decision, and so I went to abacus classes til late into my high school years.
But Math classes. I won a first place at the National Math Olympiad... then suddenly I got this letter to receive math classes at a University. What????? My ego was bloated, I was curious, and I remember my mom still pushed me to go. I was uneasy about it - I knew about the strong correlation between my nerdy, impopular social image and Mathematics, and I remember I would not have gone myself. But my parents half-coerced me also, and I was curious anyway.
But why did I keep going? I passed a test, I did well on later classes... but it was taking my Saturdays away! And not just mornings... my afternoons were also spent there. But... they had mentioned a treat, to me outworldly and amazing - the selected Guatemalan team would travel to Romania to participate in the International Mathematics Olympiad in July. And that was it. I wanted that.
THAT is why I kept going, and did not eventually simply refuse to go any further. The travel. Not the math. The math was good - other fun exercises, more games to entertain the mind with, puzzles. But it was most certainly not my aim. In those days, I aimed for girls, social acceptance, and wild dreams like traveling far. The first two I'd called tough luck on already, but suddenly a wild dream was possible! And... well why not??? So I gave it my all.
And so forth for the following years. Korea, Washington DC, Uruguay, El Salvador? Amazing. They all happened. And that was it, really. Math itself was the optional factor. Great, fun, and door-opening, but not my primary appeal.
Then I studied Computer Science... almost on a whim. Being pragmatic, I'd guess. And then I simply finished that major.
Then the green card. That was chance.
And then several failed scholarship applications. And then.... Austin. Why did I go to Austin instead of teaching English at Singapore? Timing..... the desire of dipping my toes in comfort, and just trying it out. Acknowledging life's precise timing, I guess.
Then I left.. Carnegie Mellon. Why? A push from Luis von Ahn. And a big "well, why not?" thought in my head. Basically, a free distinguished graduate degree, plus knowledge, in exchange of my time. Years, but just time. Why not? So I went for it.
Then I went out. Why? Found no passion. Then accident. That was chance. Then back to school. Why? No attractiver plans, especially in my still-healing conditions.
Then I left at the Masters. Why? Because it was enough for me... I found no passion and I wanted to live.
Then one year traveling. Why? Just because I wanted to. Why not?
Then....... ahhhhh Google. Another resigned acknowledgement to Life's precise timing, and letting go of my passionate yet tenuous grasp on a zinging life. And to its representation of my inner desires. I succumbed again.
And again I lack passion. And perhaps now.. just finally... I realize that stretching out farther and farther for material success, job, position, stability........ is only auxiliary to the passion of a person. And if this passion is missing............. then decisive change might be coming.
Why did I do the things I did?
in life.
As a teenager, how did I decide to study japanese abacus, then special saturday Mathematics classes at the university? Why?
Travel. My dad. My dad's pushes on mathematics were the catapults that bolstered my changes in the world every few years.
That is how I grew to be the best kid in school, happy to help, but often rejected and disliked by other kids who were not as proficient in the topic. Proud but unable to show it, I molded a strong mask of benignity.
But I decided nothing at those times. I just went to school, did homework, avoided bullies, got good grades, tied my self-esteem to those same grades. And then Las Américas happened, and Prof. Danilo singled Manfredo and I for the Math olympiads. Which triggered the principal taking us to abacus classes, us meeting Kira, and us attending a weekly class to refine our mental agility and calculation. I was excited with it at first, especially as I made quick progress, but later I still kept going. Even when my schoolmates made fun of me. Even when I wasn't as excited anymore, after level 6, I seem to recall. The exercises had simply become longer and longer, the fun sail-through of the problems became actual challenges, and I didn't want to go anymore. Why did I keep going?
My mom, I think. She always seemed to push/coerce us into attending. With my scant social circle, it might have taken the role of my after-school play environment. But I decided to accept her decision, and so I went to abacus classes til late into my high school years.
But Math classes. I won a first place at the National Math Olympiad... then suddenly I got this letter to receive math classes at a University. What????? My ego was bloated, I was curious, and I remember my mom still pushed me to go. I was uneasy about it - I knew about the strong correlation between my nerdy, impopular social image and Mathematics, and I remember I would not have gone myself. But my parents half-coerced me also, and I was curious anyway.
But why did I keep going? I passed a test, I did well on later classes... but it was taking my Saturdays away! And not just mornings... my afternoons were also spent there. But... they had mentioned a treat, to me outworldly and amazing - the selected Guatemalan team would travel to Romania to participate in the International Mathematics Olympiad in July. And that was it. I wanted that.
THAT is why I kept going, and did not eventually simply refuse to go any further. The travel. Not the math. The math was good - other fun exercises, more games to entertain the mind with, puzzles. But it was most certainly not my aim. In those days, I aimed for girls, social acceptance, and wild dreams like traveling far. The first two I'd called tough luck on already, but suddenly a wild dream was possible! And... well why not??? So I gave it my all.
And so forth for the following years. Korea, Washington DC, Uruguay, El Salvador? Amazing. They all happened. And that was it, really. Math itself was the optional factor. Great, fun, and door-opening, but not my primary appeal.
Then I studied Computer Science... almost on a whim. Being pragmatic, I'd guess. And then I simply finished that major.
Then the green card. That was chance.
And then several failed scholarship applications. And then.... Austin. Why did I go to Austin instead of teaching English at Singapore? Timing..... the desire of dipping my toes in comfort, and just trying it out. Acknowledging life's precise timing, I guess.
Then I left.. Carnegie Mellon. Why? A push from Luis von Ahn. And a big "well, why not?" thought in my head. Basically, a free distinguished graduate degree, plus knowledge, in exchange of my time. Years, but just time. Why not? So I went for it.
Then I went out. Why? Found no passion. Then accident. That was chance. Then back to school. Why? No attractiver plans, especially in my still-healing conditions.
Then I left at the Masters. Why? Because it was enough for me... I found no passion and I wanted to live.
Then one year traveling. Why? Just because I wanted to. Why not?
Then....... ahhhhh Google. Another resigned acknowledgement to Life's precise timing, and letting go of my passionate yet tenuous grasp on a zinging life. And to its representation of my inner desires. I succumbed again.
And again I lack passion. And perhaps now.. just finally... I realize that stretching out farther and farther for material success, job, position, stability........ is only auxiliary to the passion of a person. And if this passion is missing............. then decisive change might be coming.