Jessica Appel Assignment 5

Every time I tell someone new that I am majoring in mathematics, the typical and immediate response is “Oh, so do you want to be a teacher?”. This response used to, and occasionally still does, frustrate me quite a bit. This is not because there is anything wrong with being a math teacher but because there are so incredibly many things that can be done with a degree in mathematics in addition to teaching. When having these conversations about what I want to do with my degree, I make it a point to give examples of careers I’m interested that are very different from each other so as to show whoever I’m conversing with the diversity of mathematical professions (and to show how I can’t make up my mind). For example, currently I am interested in either working for the National Security Agency, researching climate change, or teaching math to women in developing nations. These three options are each quite different, yet are all deeply mathematic fields. Often when I tell people this, they are unaware that national security involves math at all, when it reality it is the largest employer of mathematicians in the country. This tends to lead to a conversation about other things and fields they never thought about the mathematical presence behind.

When talking to strangers, friends, and family, I believe it is important to have conversations like these that are eye opening to the prevalence of math. Most of society has been conditioned to believe that math is inherently awful, difficult, and therefore unimportant. This is why we need to show those we meet how essential math actually is in so many facets of life, especially in today’s world. I believe these conversations affect the national investment in math. By discussing, we can help eliminate this general attitude of disdain for math. We can also inform those around us how far math reaches by continuing to do our own research and presenting it in a way that those who aren’t mathematicians can understand. In doing so, both voters and national political leaders will be more inclined to invest in mathematics. I believe that if society is more educated in how mathematics is in use both in their every lives and in larger ways, they will be more inclined to make sure our discipline gets the funding it needs.