Sophie’s New Year: Math, Music, Ethics… Oh My!
As of writing this, it’s February 24th, 2017… and it’s my first post this year. Oh, my goodness, y’all. It’s been a whirlwind. (That last sentence is probably the biggest understatement of the year).
I’m taking a break from the science-y premed classes to focus on math. Behold, a new year.
Academically, I’m taking
- Mathematical Probability and Statistics and Number Theory
- These math courses are challenging and mind-blowing, and so far, I’m doing well! In Statistics, I’ve learned the proofs behind probability. In Number Theory, we’ve discovered what division really is. Just as last semester and the semesters before that, my math classes continue to open my eyes to further explore logic and reasoning, the foundation of math.
- Sociology 1010
- Never has common sense been so interesting. It’s my first humanities class outside of the College Scholars program, and it’s really amazing how a teacher manages to make a discussion happen out of 60 kids. Did you know that wealth is a better predictor of social class than income? Even though things can be hard to hear, learning more about the truth of our society has definitely made an impact upon my thinking.
- A Music Teaching Practicum (Blair School of Music)
- For 5 minutes last week, I became an orchestra director when the director (figuratively) handed me the baton and I taught spiccato to 30 violins and violas! Each week, we travel to a different school and write about our observations. Dr. Cassel, the professor for this class, is a rigorous grader, but he’s definitely making me into a more observant person and a better violin teacher.
- Bioethics (College Scholars Program)
- This class, with Professor Larry Churchill (the chair of the ethics committee at Vanderbilt University Hospital) always leaves me feeling enthusiastic, uncomfortable, and awe-struck, all at the same time. On Tuesday there will be 10 livers, with 20 children with chronic liver disease. Ten of the children have an 80% chance with a liver, ten of the children have a 50% match. You must justify your choice with feminist ethics. On Thursday a Jehovah’s witness with a one-year-old son will be refusing a blood transfusion when she’ll die without it. Most of the time, I leave the class feeling exhausted with the power that was just in my hands. In this small, discussion-based class in the College Scholars program, I feel that I deal with life and death in ninety minutes.
- Ethics of Care (College Scholars Program)
- This year, we’re taking the observational skills that we learned last semester into a variety of ICU’s. On Thursdays from 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM I shadow at the Cardiovascular ICU at Vanderbilt, an incredible experience. It is especially meaningful because three years ago, my grandfather was in the CVICU in Dallas after suffering a major heart attack. Although the jargon is complex and most of what I observe unintelligible, there is beauty to the human heart which I am able to approach, even from a distance.
And there you have it, dear readers! If you have any questions about my classes, the College Scholars Program, or really anything about Vanderbilt, email me!
Most Sincerely,
Sophie Druffner