Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- Problems by Subject
- Environmental Psychology
- Software Engineering; Computer Science
- Archaeology
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Civil Engineering
- Mathematics
- Electrical Engineering
- Physics; X-ray Astronomy Research
- Mathematics
- Physics; Astronaut Crew Training Instructor
- Business Data Processing
- Software Engineering; Real Estate Investment
- Quality Engineering
- Health Science
- Nursing Education
- Electrical Engineering; Space Systems
- Oil and Gas Accounting
- Business Administration Higher Education
- Aerospace Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Dietetics—Foodservice Management and Nutrition
- Electrical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering, retired
- Software Engineering
- Immunology and Microbiology
- Mechanical Engineering
- HMO Pharmacy Practice and Management
- Ophthalmology
- Electrical Engineering
- Fish Pathology
- Computer Science and Computer Graphics
- Mathematics and Computing
- Electrical Engineering
- Astronomy
- Author
- Mathematics
- Reflections on WAM
- Solutions
Software Engineering; Computer Science
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- Problems by Subject
- Environmental Psychology
- Software Engineering; Computer Science
- Archaeology
- Mathematics and Computer Science
- Civil Engineering
- Mathematics
- Electrical Engineering
- Physics; X-ray Astronomy Research
- Mathematics
- Physics; Astronaut Crew Training Instructor
- Business Data Processing
- Software Engineering; Real Estate Investment
- Quality Engineering
- Health Science
- Nursing Education
- Electrical Engineering; Space Systems
- Oil and Gas Accounting
- Business Administration Higher Education
- Aerospace Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Dietetics—Foodservice Management and Nutrition
- Electrical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering, retired
- Software Engineering
- Immunology and Microbiology
- Mechanical Engineering
- HMO Pharmacy Practice and Management
- Ophthalmology
- Electrical Engineering
- Fish Pathology
- Computer Science and Computer Graphics
- Mathematics and Computing
- Electrical Engineering
- Astronomy
- Author
- Mathematics
- Reflections on WAM
- Solutions
Summary
I grew up in a very traditional, military family. Girls became young ladies, married at an early age (before they were 20 years old), and had children. They did not learn mathematics or science, and certainly didn't go to college. Every time we got into a discussion about college, my parents would ask, “Why waste four years in college, and all that money, if you're just going to get married and have children?”
When I was about seven years old, these restrictions made me decide that being a girl was basically a bad thing but that fortunately, I was really a boy. So I dressed like a boy, played “army” and “fort” with boys, and did well in school—especially in science and math. To this day, I'm not sure how I managed to act like a boy for so long without my parents putting a stop to it. But they didn't. I finally relinquished my boyhood a few years later, but by then I was headstrong and adamant that I could do things girls weren't supposed to do.
All through high school I continued to earn straight A's, and participated in a number of sports. A teacher dropped a couple of hints that completely formed my choice of college and major. Once he said, “I think you'd be good at computer science.” Weeks later he commented, “Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo has a good computer science program.”
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- She Does Math!Real-Life Problems from Women on the Job, pp. 4 - 6Publisher: Mathematical Association of AmericaPrint publication year: 1995