Why am I a mathematician?
The full answer requires a very clever argument about predestination and free will, which, alas, does not quite fit in the margins of this document. Why was I born in Euclid, Ohio? For a detailed discussion of this aspect of the question, see the movie Magnolia.
These fine points aside, the real reason I am a mathematician is because of the National Science Foundation.
My story:
In 1990, I decided to wander from my chosen field of mechanical engineering and go to graduate school in applied mathematics. Not knowing what the &^%# I was doing, I applied to three places that looked interesting.
1. Brown's Division of Applied Mathematics.
2. Cornell's Center for Applied Mathematics.
3. Northwestern's Applied Mathematics Program.In the spring of 1991, I called Brown's D.A.M. and asked about my status. The secretary was pleased to inform me that I was accepted with a fellowship and that a letter would be arriving in a week with details. After two weeks with no letter, I called Brown again. I was put in touch with the Chair of the D.A.M., who, when asked about my status, said "I don't know what the #$%^ you are talking about!!! You don't have a fellowship!?! Why are you calling me??!!"
I didn't want to go to Brown.
Northwestern, on the other hand, accepted me with a TAship. The Chair of their Applied Math program was eager to talk with me, until I mentioned the fact that I had taken an undergraduate real analysis course, and was eager to learn more. His reaction: "Why the #^%@ did you waste your time doing that?!? We don't do that here!"
I didn't want to go to Northwestern.
Cornell sent me a letter to the effect of, "You're a very strong student, but...." followed by an explanation of lack of funds and some mention of a waiting list.
At this point, I did not think I should go into mathematics at all.
Then some guardian angel at the National Science Foundation decided to grant a graduate research fellowship to someone with little math background and mediocre standardized test scores. Cornell opened its doors, and I became a mathematician. Though there were many helpful teachers who shaped me [my parents, G. Daniels, H. Wente, M. Kummer, P. Holmes, and K. Vogtmann], the unnamed individuals who made a chance decision at the NSF really made it possible.
That's why I am a mathematician.
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