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by hpcjoe 1450 days ago
This should go on twitter as "Dudes posting their massive W's" :D

Mine is 22, about to start grad school for a Ph.D. in applied math (I'm Ph.D. in theoretical physics, but am a secret math nerd ... wife is also a math nerd and an M.S. Physics).

Early on we discovered how much she loved reading. So, we read to her, every night. For a while, I could quote whole sections of "The Sleep Book" (Dr. Seuss) from memory. As she grew older, she read. Voraciously. Throughout high school, she insisted she wanted to be an artist, which we completely supported. Said she hated math.

She liked some physical activity, though I could never convince her to work out with me or my wife at the gym.

Went through an IB program in high school. Told us at the end, after getting into a competitive art school, that she was happy she never had to take math, ever again. Fast forward a year, and she was aching to change majors.

She graduated with a double major (one being math), and a minor. Got into a bunch of grad schools for Ph.D.

Now, the girl who hated math at the end of high school, is about to move on to be a woman in a math Ph.D. program.

There's a point to this.

Your kid will find some things interesting, and others less so. Don't worry about that, and enjoy discovering what she likes with her. If you do the dad thing right, you will wind up with a kid who can adapt to new situations, and find joy in what they do.

My daughter still does (absolutely amazing) art on her own. Not just a dad saying this, she really is tremendously talented. And we encourage her to continue to pursue what she likes/loves.

4 comments

"I'm Ph.D. in theoretical physics, but am a secret math nerd"

Uh...you know that secret got out some time before your doctorate, right? =^>.

Physics grad here. We used to say theoretical physicists were people just not good enough for actual math. "Regular" phycisists like myself simply admitted they are too lazy.
Good for you, and good for her. What you guys have done is the most inspiring thing I've read today!
As a 27 year old physics grad turned maths PhD with a physics MSc wife... I'm taking notes :)
as a young father. your piece elegantly summarizes what im hoping to be to my child. i wish you two many years of curiosity!