Interesting day for E

It was quite an interesting Monday for E. She found this note in the bathroom at Engineering Hall. Work a smile into your morning routine, it says.

Then she told me to look at the live Alma cam feed from campus and she walked in front of the statue. (She's in the blue coat to the right). I wanted her to stand and wave but there were lots of people around trying to take pictures of themselves in front of the statue. Here's the camera view cropped:

And she's in the Daily Illini, featured in a story about difficult classes. She knows all about those. Her quotes from the article:

E has learned what it is like to take on a challenging course load. As a senior in Engineering, she said she had to take a class that, at certain points, required almost 100 hours per week of work outside the classroom. Average exam scores could range between 30-40 percent, with the students receiving an estimated 12-20 percent curve at the end of the semester.

The University often designs courses to challenge its students and help them reach their full potential. The level of difficulty, however, can become a hindrance rather than a help to advance your career.

“Everyone walks into the class either dreading it, or accepting that maybe it will be OK,” (she) said. “It is one of the classes that peers and professors tell you that if you are taking this class, do not take certain other classes alongside it, because it is a time sink.”

According to E, there are certain notorious classes at the University that students go into knowing it’s going to be a semester-long struggle. And yet, (she) said she is still grateful for her experience in these classes because of how much she has learned.

“Looking back on it, I enjoyed my time in the class despite how hard it was,” E said. “I honestly think this class gave me my internship that I am going to have this summer.” She will be interning at Microsoft in Seattle.