I have always enjoyed mysteries. Figuring out “whodunit,” tracking the culprit down, and then proving it fascinates me. I approach mathematics problems in the same way. How can I take the information and get the answer I am looking for? This way of looking at mathematics makes even story problems interesting! And mathematics is so much more precise than the psychology of people and their temptations, I can get an exact answer, usually without reading 250 pages.

Despite my liking for mystery novels, I am very practical in nature. The application of calculus to practical matters interests me. One problem I specifically remember puzzling over is, “What is the most economical measurement for a conical paper cup?” What is the best way to maximize the volume the paper cup can hold while minimizing the surface area?

Another interesting problem was a question about whether a person could stay at the tip of the shadow of a Greek philosopher's walking stick as the sun started to set. In the early afternoon, the person could only inch forward. But the shadow would grow astronomically in length just before the sun set, making it impossible to run as fast as the tip of the shadow was going.

While the precision of problem-solving in physics and chemistry appeals to me, my more practical side chose medicine. Nothing in medical school was as interesting as ophthalmology (the study of the eye), a course I took as an easy summer class! The eye is such a small part of the body, but it is so complex.