Sharing from Math Fun students Fall 2003 Response by Heather Stoffel (Spring 2003) As a student at Ithaca College, I am sure that you are looking at this site for something to validate your ability in Math. You may be searching for a meaningful poem or even a story from another student that could sound a bit like your own. Let me tell you something that I learned as a former Math Fun student of Dani Novak's in the Fall of 1999- inspiration comes in many shapes, sizes and forms, and sometimes they aren't as predictable as you may think. I was a confused freshman that fall semester, not really knowing what to expect from college, or from this particular math class for that matter. To begin, I hated math. I never did well in any previous math course and I was not expecting to this time either. But something changed the moment I stepped into Dani's classroom. I became more confident in my mathematical abilities, and I think that was due, in part, to the constant positive reinforcement that I would recieve from Dani during each class period, as well as night sessions in the computer lab where Dani would help students one-on-one.With this newfound confidence, I began to think ahead to my future and what else was out there. I was a physical therapy major and after a month or so of being sick with mono, I was feeling like I needed a change. I thought about changing my major, and Dani was right there beside me, encouraging me to find my own destiny- to travel the road as far as I wanted to until I found the place where I wanted to begin my life. I did transfer to Oswego, and now I am ready to graduate in May with a degree in Secondary Education-English 7-12. But I will never forget the man and the class who helped me to find myself in such a confusing and unforgiving world. I learned more in that first semester of college than I realized at the time. I was able to learn more about myself- what I stood for, what my morals were, who I was and who I still am. I hope that you too will be able to find yourself- both in the life that you are hoping for and the one that is only waiting to be discovered.