- #1
Tater72
- 2
- 0
Sirs and Ma'ams,
This, my first post, is really more of an introduction or perhaps an excuse to finally become a member of this forum instead of just a "guest" lurker. I am including a query, though, since I don't see an "intro" sub-forum like a lot of other forums have and typically require of new members. This is the closest sub-forum I can find so please forgive my presumption.
First, I want to express my gratitude to the admin and contributors of this site. I imagine all those students benefitting from such a resource as this and am sure certain problems would be easier to comprehend considering a teacher may or may not be doing a good job of... well, "teaching." It's nice to have varying perspectives.
I'll try to edit and simplify my post(s) since I'm cursed with the tendency to ramble on, forgetting that most, if not all, readers could care less about what drives me to pursue Physics, for example, much less my background and how I got to this point.
Yet, I would like to mention just a pinch only because it pertains to my query:
I'm 38 years old. Until only a few months ago, Physics was a subject that I would pursue only if I won the lotto and had nothing to do with all that free time. Ironically, I don't buy lotto tickets.
Yet, I've always felt some unyielding urge in the back of my mind to pursue the science of "what is", even before I ever heard the word Physics. I'll just summarize the rest by saying; I was simply misguided growing up. My mother (no dad) was indifferent to my upbringing so any achievements I made were out of personal interest. Worse, and more importantly, I was, for lack of a better word, brainwashed into believing College was a waste of time and I would be better off starting in some job at the bottom and working my way up. This is the same person whose financial advice for me was, "when you die, your debts die with you."
Consequently, I made very little effort in my education and ended up where I am today; in a vocation that requires little background other than some prior experience pertaining to the field. I do OK for myself and want for nothing for the most part.
But that unyielding urge is still there as it always has been.
This is where I start to sound pompous and egotistical which is the opposite of my true character so I beg you to keep that in mind. My entire life, I've observed that anything I apply myself at produces first rate results. Whether in school or work I always end up the best, comparatively. More so, I have never had to give more than minimal effort for those results. What I take from that is not so much that I'm some "next Einstein," but at the very least I'm capable of much, much more. This unyielding urge has finally become so predominant that it can no longer be ignored.
So here's my question: [And thank you for 1) reading my blabbery and 2) taking the time to even consider commenting. I hope this doesn't sound weird or anything, but your professional opinion is the most important thing in my life right now. No pressure :) But seriously, if I am too late I still must acquire the knowledge of the Universe as our civilization currently understands it because that urge I mentioned seems to insist that I very well just might be able to help discover some of the unanswered questions of science. My motivation is purely selfless, I assure you. Otherwise, I would just keep doing what I have been.]
Am I starting too late? More importantly, am I too far behind in my academics? I have been accepted back to the University I dropped out of 2 decades ago and the Physics advisor gave me the OK, but I have only the most basic background in Math (2 years High school Algebra) and only High School "Physical Science" which as far as I can tell is more or less Algebra-based Physics (I did, interestingly, get a 102 average for the entire year and was given the science award for it).
I've read Zapper's sticky (twice, actually) and "searched" here and read through countless posts by other members that were similar. I always knew I had a knack, even a secret curiosity in the science of Mathematics and have been self-teaching/refreshing myself from the numerous resources online and intend to be able to at least CLEP out of college algebra, hopefully more, but time is short because I'm hoping to start next semester if I can get my finances worked out in time.
Again, this is important enough for me to bother you guys with this because I'm going to have to quit my full time job (24/7 on-call type deal) because it simply won't allow me to make time to go to school and, as you all know, one can not get a Physics degree solely online. I have already made certain it will be doable financially before I trudge headlong into such a life-changing commitment, but I suppose I'm just looking for some sense of academic possibility because I have a wife that requires a sense of stability. Otherwise I'd just sell the house and move into a cheapo apartment near campus and take the bus everywhere, etc.
See what I mean about rambling on? Again, I appreciate your patience and understanding!
This, my first post, is really more of an introduction or perhaps an excuse to finally become a member of this forum instead of just a "guest" lurker. I am including a query, though, since I don't see an "intro" sub-forum like a lot of other forums have and typically require of new members. This is the closest sub-forum I can find so please forgive my presumption.
First, I want to express my gratitude to the admin and contributors of this site. I imagine all those students benefitting from such a resource as this and am sure certain problems would be easier to comprehend considering a teacher may or may not be doing a good job of... well, "teaching." It's nice to have varying perspectives.
I'll try to edit and simplify my post(s) since I'm cursed with the tendency to ramble on, forgetting that most, if not all, readers could care less about what drives me to pursue Physics, for example, much less my background and how I got to this point.
Yet, I would like to mention just a pinch only because it pertains to my query:
I'm 38 years old. Until only a few months ago, Physics was a subject that I would pursue only if I won the lotto and had nothing to do with all that free time. Ironically, I don't buy lotto tickets.
Yet, I've always felt some unyielding urge in the back of my mind to pursue the science of "what is", even before I ever heard the word Physics. I'll just summarize the rest by saying; I was simply misguided growing up. My mother (no dad) was indifferent to my upbringing so any achievements I made were out of personal interest. Worse, and more importantly, I was, for lack of a better word, brainwashed into believing College was a waste of time and I would be better off starting in some job at the bottom and working my way up. This is the same person whose financial advice for me was, "when you die, your debts die with you."
Consequently, I made very little effort in my education and ended up where I am today; in a vocation that requires little background other than some prior experience pertaining to the field. I do OK for myself and want for nothing for the most part.
But that unyielding urge is still there as it always has been.
This is where I start to sound pompous and egotistical which is the opposite of my true character so I beg you to keep that in mind. My entire life, I've observed that anything I apply myself at produces first rate results. Whether in school or work I always end up the best, comparatively. More so, I have never had to give more than minimal effort for those results. What I take from that is not so much that I'm some "next Einstein," but at the very least I'm capable of much, much more. This unyielding urge has finally become so predominant that it can no longer be ignored.
So here's my question: [And thank you for 1) reading my blabbery and 2) taking the time to even consider commenting. I hope this doesn't sound weird or anything, but your professional opinion is the most important thing in my life right now. No pressure :) But seriously, if I am too late I still must acquire the knowledge of the Universe as our civilization currently understands it because that urge I mentioned seems to insist that I very well just might be able to help discover some of the unanswered questions of science. My motivation is purely selfless, I assure you. Otherwise, I would just keep doing what I have been.]
Am I starting too late? More importantly, am I too far behind in my academics? I have been accepted back to the University I dropped out of 2 decades ago and the Physics advisor gave me the OK, but I have only the most basic background in Math (2 years High school Algebra) and only High School "Physical Science" which as far as I can tell is more or less Algebra-based Physics (I did, interestingly, get a 102 average for the entire year and was given the science award for it).
I've read Zapper's sticky (twice, actually) and "searched" here and read through countless posts by other members that were similar. I always knew I had a knack, even a secret curiosity in the science of Mathematics and have been self-teaching/refreshing myself from the numerous resources online and intend to be able to at least CLEP out of college algebra, hopefully more, but time is short because I'm hoping to start next semester if I can get my finances worked out in time.
Again, this is important enough for me to bother you guys with this because I'm going to have to quit my full time job (24/7 on-call type deal) because it simply won't allow me to make time to go to school and, as you all know, one can not get a Physics degree solely online. I have already made certain it will be doable financially before I trudge headlong into such a life-changing commitment, but I suppose I'm just looking for some sense of academic possibility because I have a wife that requires a sense of stability. Otherwise I'd just sell the house and move into a cheapo apartment near campus and take the bus everywhere, etc.
See what I mean about rambling on? Again, I appreciate your patience and understanding!