Villagersonline : blogs : russ : Grad School Statement of Purpose
villagersonline
A Community Tunneling Protocol
The Village meets at 5pm Sundays
1926 N. Cloverland Ave. map

Links
(edit) The Village Cancer Relief Fund;


From: russ
Date: Wed Sep 14 10:50:26 MST 2005 Subject: Grad School Statement of Purpose

Responses
Patricia: yes (9/14/05)
Karen: Version 2?? (9/22/05)
russ: Version 2 is here (9/22/05)
MaryKay: Bravo (9/24/05)
KeithB: Fermat's Last Theorem (9/24/05)
KeithB: on second thought... (9/24/05)
russ: not solved yet, to my liking (7/6/07)
Responses (sorted by date)
russ: not solved yet, to my liking (7/6/07)
KeithB: on second thought... (9/24/05)
KeithB: Fermat's Last Theorem (9/24/05)
MaryKay: Bravo (9/24/05)
russ: Version 2 is here (9/22/05)
Karen: Version 2?? (9/22/05)
Patricia: yes (9/14/05)
I am now applying to get official status as a Graduate student in Computer Science. Part of the application is to write a "Statement of Purpose." Emily says that I ought to post this (my first draft):


I am an inventor. While I have both skill and facility at programming, what is I really love to do is to ask “what if.” Although I tasted of this growing up, I have become more fully aware of it of late. IBM (where I have worked for the past 7 years) has a program to award employees for producing patentable ideas; this induced me to turn my ponderings into practicable (if not yet implemented) ideas. IBM doesn't give me time to prototype these inventions, typically; instead, I submit a disclosure about what might be possible (and how it would be done), and they review it. Some of these disclosures turn into patent applications; some are published into public domain; some are closed as not worthy of protection.

While I appreciate the opportunity for recognition (not to mention the bonuses), I chafe against IBM's demands of confidentiality and their desire to own the intellectual property. I admire the ideals and spirit of the open source community, and would like nothing better than to be able to spend my days thinking up strange ideas, putting them into practice, and then sharing them with others.

To that end, I had in the past considered the potential of getting a Ph.D and becoming a research professor. There, I would have full freedom to explore the fascinating inventions that are computers make possible. Yet I chose not to follow that course, because it seemed selfish to me to make my family pay the high cost (of my absense over the course of years) in order to simply achieve my own aggrandizement.

I am also a minister. My wife and I have been actively involved in a small local church for several years; I was even a lay minister for a short time, before she fell ill and I had to step down. I have long assumed that my computer career was only temporary: “maybe six months from now, maybe 10 years from now,” I would quit my job at IBM and become a full-time minister.

But what would I do, then, with my tremendous love for, and capability with, computers? Surely, I assumed, that the day I quit IBM would be the end of significant programming for me. My wife, reading this, asks, “how would that feel?” and I respond, “God could take a leg, if he wanted, and I would give it, but it would hurt. I'd rather he take a leg than that he take computers.”

I think that perhaps I am also a teacher. I am far less clear on this part of my identity; my whole experience with teaching consists of a few tutoring jobs I've done over the years, and my attempts to explain my inventions to my wife. Emily is a painter, and has a strong aversion to all things computer; I count it a great testament to my teaching ability (and patience) that she now has a good understanding of the UNIX process/virtual memory model, and can understand how my latest invention (which I call “subcontexts”) fit into that world.

Until very recently, I have been at a loss how to integrate these parts of my identity. But sometime early this summer, I realized that they could all come together in a role as a teaching professor of computer science. I could be a computer scientist; doing some little research projects on the side; I could be a mentor to the kids, building into their lives; and, hopefully, I could be an effective teacher.

I am excited; my wife is excited; the people who know me best are excited. There is a broad consensus that this is a good path for me. So I immediately signed up for classes at the UofA; my long term goal is to pursue a Master's Degree, immediately followed by a Doctorate, after which I hope to teach computer science, most likely at Pima or technical schools at first, but, I hope, eventually at the UofA.

I have a problem, however. You can see this problem easily in my application, and you probably recognize my type. I am highly intelligent and capable at computer science, but I chose to be the poorest of students during my undergraduate work. I don't have any way to hide that, but I now choose to live differently. I am resolved to be the best of students this time around. I am resolved to do all in my power to excel. I am resolved to pursue this degree.

I would find it quite understandable if you chose to reject my application at this time. Right now, all you have to go on is my GRE scores and a few weeks of classtime. I hope that that is enough, but I understand if it is not. But let me say this: I intend to stick with this. Sonia tells me that I can take 12 credits of Graduate studies before I officially enter the program; therefore, if necessary, I will apply the next 4 semesters, hoping that I get in eventually. Failing that, I will start taking Undergraduate courses, attempting to overwrite my poor record. Eventually, you guys are going to let me in. My hope is that you save us all the trouble and do it this semester.

Most sincerley and respectfully,
Russ Lewis, Inventor

Edit this blog
Write a response Email the author



From: Patricia
Date: Wed Sep 14 16:03:56 MST 2005 Subject: yes

Russ, I think this is a great way to introduce yourself. Everything you said in there supports what I know about you and know you to be. And mind you, your teaching ability extends to angelic patience even with little kids. My son is the prime example. You have instilled in him love and understanding for all things technical, just by being yourself around him. Besides, you illustrate that it is cool to be a reader.

My (however biased) opinion is that UofA would prove quite foolish not accepting you. :)

Can't wait to see the (post-Karen?) updated version. This is exciting stuff!!!

Edit this response
Write a response Email the author



From: Karen
Date: Thu Sep 22 09:38:51 MST 2005 Subject: Version 2??

Keith and Russ were closeted in a high-stakes revision meeting the other night (while NewRyan in the other room showed his 999 photos of Alaskan clouds, shorelines, taxidermy and sleddogs)... waiting to see version 2, Russ!

Edit this response
Write a response Email the author



From: russ
Date: Thu Sep 22 14:54:26 MST 2005 Subject: Version 2 is here


I am an inventor. I am a mentor. I am a teacher. I have struggled over the years to understand how these identities will work together. The answer to this came to me as an epiphany this summer: I want to be a professor.

While I have both skill and facility in programming, my passion is asking and answering the question “what if...?” I have been able to make a living doing just that the past seven years as a programmer with IBM by taking advantage of their program that awards employees for producing ideas for patents. Typically, however, IBM doesn't give me time to prototype these inventions; instead, I submit a disclosure of my ideas and how they might be implemented. IBM turns some of these disclosures into patent applications; others are published into public domain; some are closed with no action. While I appreciate how IBM has recognized my work, I chafe at their requirement for confidentiality and their demand to own all my intellectual property. I admire the ideals and spirit of the academic community, and would like to be able to spend my days innovating, putting new ideas into practice and sharing them with others.

I spend most of my time in the “guts” of computers – compilers, operating systems, virtual memory, asynchronous and distributed architectures and virtualization. I love to implement the low-level architectures that enable everything else. Over the last few years, my invention disclosures to IBM have covered topics such as an alternate way to organize virtual memory, thread scheduling, asynchronous kernel interfaces, deadlock prevention algorithms, weak ordering in a distributed memory, CPU architecture, new ways to organize directories in a file system, new methods of organizing stack, program optimization and automatic bug-finding, garbage collection and methods of implementing low-cost cache. While my primary interest is in computers, I love mathematics of all kinds and have a long-running obsession with the four-color problem and Fermat’s Last Theorem.

I have learned that I am a mentor through the work I’ve done at my church over the past several years. I meet with people as a mentor on a regular basis and enjoy the opportunity to impact them. It is exciting to see these people grow into their potential and to know that I have had a positive influence on their lives.

I am also a teacher. I enjoy tutoring and have been successful at it, consistently helping my students raise their mathematics grades. I love the thrill of distilling a complex subject to the point that the student is able to grasp not only the mechanics of a process, but also the underlying concepts behind it. Perhaps my greatest accomplishment is that my wife, a painter who hates computers, has a fairly deep and accurate understanding of my latest invention.

I realize now that these three identities fit together beautifully. As a professor of computer science, I would be an inventor, a mentor and a teacher. I have begun working toward this vision. This semester, I enrolled as a Non-Degree Seeking student and have been taking CS552 with Dr. Hartman. I intend to pursue a Master's Degree, immediately followed by a Doctorate – both here at the University of Arizona. My objective is to eventually teach computer science at the U of A.

I remember my undergraduate studies at U of A fondly. I grew up in Tucson; I love this town and its university. My roots are here. It is exciting to think of someday becoming a professor in this program. I view graduate school as not only an opportunity to study and earn a degree, but also an opportunity to build relationships in the U of A’s computer science community.

In my graduate studies, I am determined to be the best of students. I am very intelligent, as demonstrated by my GRE scores. My work history at IBM makes evident that I am exceptionally capable at computer science. I am resolved to pursue this degree. I am resolved to excel.

Sincerely,
Russ Lewis

Edit this response
Write a response Email the author



From: MaryKay
Date: Sat Sep 24 07:01:14 MST 2005 Subject: Bravo

Wow Russ!An amazing revision that truly reveals yourself and your desires. There's no doubt in my mind that you would be the best professor ever at the U of A.

Edit this response
Write a response Email the author



From: KeithB
Date: Sat Sep 24 10:58:52 MST 2005 Subject: Fermat's Last Theorem

Russ, your statement of purpose left me quite curious about things mathematic... so I spent the last two hours surfing and ended up getting to know a little more about your passions. Fermat's Last Theorem is exquisite in its simplicity, complexity and durability. I remember my days in grade school and even high school, fancying myself a good mathemetician (college cured me of that!) and so this little exercise this morning sort of brought me back to a lost passion of my own. It was particularly interesting to read up on the guy that actually solved this Theorem, Andrew Wiles, and get to know him some. There is a great NOVA interview done with him I found at:
http://www.simonsingh.com/Andrew_Wiles_Interview.html

Maybe I'll look at the four color thing next... Thanks for sharing your passions, Russ.

Kb

Edit this response
Write a response



From: KeithB
Date: Sat Sep 24 14:16:08 MST 2005 Subject: on second thought...

uh... forget four color theorem. I'll stick to toilet rolls...
Kb

Edit this response
Write a response



From: russ
Date: Fri Jul 6 00:45:36 EDT 2007 Subject: not solved yet, to my liking

(Minor edit Jul 2007)

I've read about Wiles' solution to FLT. I am one of the people who believes that there is still more to do: the math that Wiles used to solve it was certainly not around in Fermat's day. That means that either Fermat was mistaken, or that there is a more elegant proof. Given Fermat's track record, the latter seems likely. At least, that's what I tell myself in order to justify my ongoing obsession :)

As far as the four-color problem goes, don't be intimidated...it's not too bad. Hard to prove, though.

Russ

Edit this response
Write a response Email the author


Write a blog
Latest Updates

blogs (upload)
eric: Parenting thoughts (8/11/14)
sunnygirl7d: Reuben fishing blog (1 resp) (8/8/14)
samantha: My new blog (8/11/14)
eric: New Website (8/7/14)
dbonilla: Annie Moses Band (3/14/14)
Suki: Ash Wednesday (3/5/14)
andrea: Good news update! (1 resp) (2/3/14)
Carena: More moving help (2/1/14)
Carena: A Friend in Need (3 resp) (1/25/14)
em: Tell me how I can pray (1/24/14)
andrea: Need for Volunteers-Foster Car... (1/19/14)
andrea: suffering (1/7/14)
rodhugen: Two quotes (2 resp) (1/3/14)
cwill: Please pray (2 resp) (1/26/24)
Carena: Polaroid Camera (12/23/13)

pictures (upload)
Suki: Vespers Dec 2012 (1/26/24)
eric: Ordination (3/16/14)
Suki: Soup Supper 2012 (3/17/14)
eric: Belonging 2012 (1/7/14)
eric: sabbath (3/16/14)

bios (upload)
Mike_Wise (1/16/13)
james (11/14/12)
clrclady (1/28/12)
SPark (11/27/11)
benjipark (12/2/10)

music (upload)
Frosted Flakes :
Everywhere j2014 (1/16/14)
Frosted Flakes :
New Found Hope J2014 (1/16/14)
Frosted Fla es :
Trinity Jan2014 (1/16/14)
Skeptic Chickens :
No Condemnation (7/29/13)
Karen and Friends :
Breastplate May 5 (5/10/13)

sermons (upload)
Eric,Ron Layman: The Disciplines RL (3/6/14)
Eric: Habakkuk Part One (1/16/14)
Eric: Noah's Ark (9/27/13)
Eric: The Fall (9/13/13)
Rod: Creation (9/13/13)

Villagersonline.com 2010
Contact Us
(edit) Site Meter
Free Search Engine Submission
Free Search Engine Submission

"Best Viewed at 1024x768 under the light of the full moon in July while Mercury is in Leo
and six pigmy marmosets do the lambada behind you singing Kumbaya" -- User Friendly