[BlindMath] Thank you to Blindmath from a Graduand

[Godfrey, Jonathan]

Thank you Sarah for sending us this message,

First of all, congratulations for sticking to it and getting there. I hope you and your family/friends celebrate your achievement together. Awesome stuff.

Thank you for candidly sharing your experience over the last ten years. I assume that others who share ideas and offer assistance via this list get the same thrill as I do, when we find out that our contributions have really made a difference to someone's life.

I have to admit that I have perhaps enjoyed your message more today than perhaps I would have last week, as I have been party to several recent discussions noting the reduction in people offering others thanks. It seems that fewer students attend graduations, there are fewer organised events to celebrate with students being planned by departments, and less communication by email or the old-fashioned thank-you card than once seemed normal.

Your message has reminded me of my New Year's resolution in 2016 that said I couldn't write a complaint until I had balanced the ledger by sending a thank-you of some sort (usually elsewhere). I found it quite a habit-forming endeavour.

Cheers,
Jonathan







-----Original Message-----
From: BlindMath <blindmath-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Sarah Jevnikar via BlindMath
Sent: Tuesday, 12 June 2018 3:31 AM
To: 'Blind Math list for those interested in mathematics' <blindmath at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Sarah Jevnikar <sarah.jevnikar at gmail.com>
Subject: [BlindMath] Thank you to Blindmath from a Graduand

Hi all,
After a nearly ten-year ordeal in completing my undergraduate degree, I will finally convocate this June 20. It's been a hell of a ride.

I wanted to thank you as a community for all your help over the years. I don't exaggerate when I say that I could not have done it without you. I arrived at university in 2008 naïve about how challenging it would be as a blind student studying math, though I do appreciate it is better than it once was. Your counsel over the years taught me about LaTeX, ICCHP, Math Type and so much more. I wish I'd taken more concrete steps in following all of your advice sooner.

I gained hope and listening ears for my commiserations. Having developed serious depression and anxiety over the course of my degree, I appreciated the pragmatism everyone provided when I was too stuck in my head to think straight. Switching out of actuarial science and into economics and international relations felt like a failed opportunity, but the presence of math (and its accessibility joys and pains) remained, which was a comfort of sorts.

I know that several of you regularly responded to my queries, no matter how amateur. I appreciated everyone taking the time out of their lives for this.

I will continue to be a vocal member of BlindMath (I still have so many
questions!) and hopefully I can contribute as much as I have received.

Thank you again, and I look forward to more posts in the future!

Sarah


---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus


_______________________________________________
BlindMath mailing list
BlindMath at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindmath_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for BlindMath:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindmath_nfbnet.org/a.j.godfrey%40massey.ac.nz
BlindMath Gems can be found at <http://www.blindscience.org/blindmath-gems-home>