Such Things: Best Day

   This does not so much describe today as it did yesterday. And yesterday, the stress of the morning was so thick I couldn't even write about it.

   At 9am I sleepily trudged into that graduate statistics course and I wasn't excited about it- go figure. But it only lasts an hour so I told myself to get a grip and rally through. The professor began explaining the difference between parametric (normal) statistics and nonparametric statistics. And if you know anything about statistics, nonparametric deals with populations that are not normally distributed. The end. Can I have an A now?
Didn't think so.

   His explanation seemed simple enough, and we began to go over a normally distributed population- just for review. No big deal, I've had 3 semesters of stats, this is all second nature. Then he wrote THIS on the board. (Yes, I found a copy just for you.)

   I don't know about you stats pros out there, but this is not what we used in my previous courses. I was immediately bombarded with that inside voice screaming at me "What the heck?!?" But I was sure I'd eventually figure it out.... until he started drawing integrals on the board. Light Bulb. This is a cal-based stats class. I didn't know there was such a thing. I began to realize I was on Level 3 of a brand new game, and to win I would have to learn levels 1 and 2 by myself- and quickly.

   It was only a few minutes later that I felt that swelling behind my eyes. I blinked hard to stifle my emotion. I hate that feeling of being so far behind. I knew I could do this, but I did not want to spend my semester stressing out about keeping pace and catching up. So I began working on Plan B. Right there in the middle of his lecture, I began strategizing my way out.

   I made a list of every university and community college campus in an hour's drive, plus all those that offered online classes. The moment class was over I sprinted to work and immediately started researching. Ole Miss had no online math courses for the spring. EMCC had none that I had not taken. As a last-stitch effort, I messaged my advisor. She sympathized with my feelings and said she would look for something I could replace that class with here at MSU.

   Several minutes later, she responded with
"Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Birthday! One of your finance courses, Investments, will count as a math credit"
   My heart was racing. Not only could I drop that stats course, but I didn't even have to replace it! I went from defeated to elated in a matter of moments. This also means I can work from 8-12 every day, which is my ideal schedule. (definitely made up for my embarrassing fall on Monday).

   Maybe it was by chance that I found a solution to my predicament, but I believe it was God's way of answering my prayer for help. I prayed that he would help me through this class, and instead He helped me get out of it. Never underestimate the power prayer can bring- even for the little things. God loves us, and he shows us through those little things that he is listening and that he cares.