Freshman Year
During my freshman year at Ohio University, I took a handful of introductory classes which helped me to get a feel for collegiate mathematics. My course load included Differential Equations, Calculus III, and Discrete Mathematics. My favorite of the three was Discrete Mathematics as it was a simple introduction to proof-based work.
Sophomore Year
During my sophomore year, I started to turn up the heat, deciding to load up with as many classes as possible. In the fall, I took Linear Algebra, Introduction to Number Theory, and Modern Algebra I. In the spring, I took College Geometry, Complex Variables, and Modern Algebra II. Taking a year-long course in Algebra was a push, as I probably annoyed my professor to death with questions, but the effort was worth it to scope out such an interesting field.
Junior Year
Planning out my junior year, the graduate course in Set Theory caught my eye. I initially tried to join through the Ohio University graduate program but was denied due to not fitting the tightly gatekept requirements. Not ready to give up, I ended up enrolling in an independent study under Dr. Todd Eisworth, which allowed me to show up to class anyway. That Set Theory course was my favorite course I have taken by a long shot. The class content was engaging, and the tests were a blast. Wanting to continue down this path, I asked Dr. Todd Eisworth to allow me to take another independent study with him in the spring. We settled on a course in Mathematical Logic, in which I learned about first-order logic and the theorems of Gödel. The course ended with a poster that won 1st place in the mathematics category at the Ohio Student EXPO. For this poster, I outlined Gödel’s Completeness Theorem (the little brother of the incompleteness theorem). The poster outlined the theorem in five levels of difficulty in an effort to allow any audience member to understand the theorem at a level they found most comfortable.
Plans for Senior Year
I am continuing my work under Dr. Eisworth and working towards a thesis. The topic is most likely to be on Forcing and demonstrating the independence of statements like the continuum hypothesis.
Graduate School and Beyond
I plan to attend graduate school with a strong set theory program. I would love to work with talented mathematicians in the field and further my knowledge of mathematics as a whole. I also hope to obtain a teaching assistant position so I can continue working with students in the classroom.