June 9, 2016

First year Mathematics

Here is something many people fear: Mathematics.


I have talked to so many people who said "omg you are going to study maths, I can't learn maths". I believe there is no such a thing, however seems this mathphobic or phobia of mathematics can be caught from your parents, friends or siblings. Because they were not good in mathematics, does not mean you have to be bad too.

Yes, it can be hard and complicated, but if you have solid background there is no reason to fear.

Per example, this year was the first time I studied derivatives and integrals in my life. I was terrified. And there were so many rules, but with time, dedication and the amazing support from my lecturer, I got it in the end. 

Although my grades are not stellar and I get very nervous before tests and exams (something I am working on), I did input about 10 hours of self study per week. I had online assignments due weekly as part of my overall grade plus a lot of exercises to do weekly after my lectures, although these were not graded, they were absolutely important to practice what I had learnt in class. 

Why mathematics is important:
Mathematics is important not just for engineering but in other areas like physics, chemistry, biology, medicine/nursing, management, finances and etc.

But it is particular important in engineering. Per example, you need to use derivatives to understand a maximum volume of something, absolute error and relative error, maximum velocity and so on. 

You need to know quadratic equation to launch a rocket or even to throw a rock and reach your target. 

What did I study:

  • Limits
  • Graphs
  • Linear Functions
  • Partial Functios
  • Quadratic Functios
  • Derivatives
  • Integrals
  • Vectors
  • Matrices


My grades may not reflect the amount I have learnt, it was complicated at some points, but in the end it was important and interesting. Now lets see what MTH10007 have in store for me next semester.

June 8, 2016

My journey into engineering

My journey into civil engineering has been a long one. Although I have studied in the past, I was more focused in business management and environmental politics. After realizing that I no longer wanted to convince people to find solutions for problems facing our world - environmental and sustainability, bad public transport and infrastructure and so on, I decided that actually wanted to be part of the team working on these solutions, therefore becoming an real engineering was a right path to choose.

As I am new to the university system in Australia and I haven't study mathematics in some many years, I was feeling very scared at first.

Also, there were 150 students on my first year class and surprisingly only 14 women (one already gave up, so there is only 13 female students left) in my class, which sounded very daunting.

I still have a few years of university ahead of me. And as I am a mature student balancing other life commitments can be very challenging, but so far I have been able to keep up with my studies,

The road may be long, full of challenges, but it will make it to be a very interesting one as well, and I will be telling here all my adventures on my journey to become a civil engineer in Australia.