self-created destiny

Arcanthrosaurus head, originally uploaded by gurdonark.

With hindsight, I wonder how much differently my life would have turned out if, in my junior year of high school, I had done the work to solve the equations to make a plotted drawing on graph paper of a cow and a barn.

The poor marks I received on that project in 11th grade no doubt put me in a math trajectory that led me away from a career of scientific wonder or medical miracle.

Suffice it to say that my 11th grade math instructor proved less than pleased with my effort, and my parents less than pleased with my
grade that 9 weeks.

I cannot remember why I thought the assignment was more or less optional. I just know it all did not add up for me.