Re-rolling my character (or "JT goes back to GT in 2010")

[john turner]

well, it's not that unusual for someone to start rethinking their lives once they get to be around 40. for a lot of guys that means buying a camaro or a big amp stack, or some other holdover/"dream toy" from youth, while other guys approach the "midlife barrier" with an eye toward complete reinvention.

that's sorta how i'm approaching it. .

i originally went to georgia tech back in the day, and got an electrical engineering degree. with only a few exceptions, however, my entire professional life has been computer programming, usually business apps, first client server stuff in the 90s and then web-based development in some contract positions over the last 10 years.

frankly, i'm burned out on business apps, not to mention not at the peak of professional applicability in my skill set. considering this, i decided it was time to get a tune-up, and i contacted the registrar at georgia tech to see what i could do.

apparently once you're accepted to tech, as long as you don't fail out it's not that big a deal to get back in, even in another major. so i'll be re-entering Ga Tech as a freshman in fall 2010 in the school of computer science, with the desired end result of at least grad school.

the really cool thing is that, as a freshman, i have to pick "threads" in my major to pursue. this is different than when i was there the first time, but apparently this is the norm in most of the majors there now, and it was started in the computer science department, from what i understand.

when i got the list, i had to laugh - it is just like setting up the base skills for a character in some kind of video game - you have a list of 8 threads to pick from, of which you need to choose 2. these 2 threads will be the focus of your major school classwork. here's a link describing them:

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/undergraduates/threads

so i really am re-rolling my character - picking new skills and everything . going for , focusing more on microcontrollers and computational modelling (math ftw!).

any other rising freshmen going to ga tech this fall?

[Mark Latimour]

I can see a Rodeny Dangerfield esque movie starting.

[john turner]

ooo, i better practice my triple lindy

[Thunderscreech]

You should carry one of your basses with you around campus, just because you can.

[ehque]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

You should carry one of your basses with you around campus, just because you can.

The double 7+7 would be especially imposing.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Thunderscreech

You should carry one of your basses with you around campus, just because you can.

oh, i have every intention of inundating my fellow yellow jackets with the glory of the 7 string . another element i'm super-psyched about - most of the guys i have exposure to now to play with are super lazy/unmotivated/"busy" and aren't interesting in pursuing things with any modicum of seriousness.

dudes in college tend to be a bit more motivated.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by john turner

dudes in college tend to be a bit more motivated.

They must be a total different group than the college dudes who hang out around here.

-Mike

[Thunderscreech]

Originally Posted by john turner

oh, i have every intention of inundating my fellow yellow jackets with the glory of the 7 string . another element i'm super-psyched about - most of the guys i have exposure to now to play with are super lazy/unmotivated/"busy" and aren't interesting in pursuing things with any modicum of seriousness.

dudes in college tend to be a bit more motivated.

So we might be hearing some seven-string bass shreddage from georgia?

[IvanMike]

well i'm kinda re-rolling, but i'll be doing the 4d6 two sets pick the best stats and order them as you want.

I'm seriously thinking of going to get a teaching degree so i can teach HS or CC level sciences. This will take a lot of school as i missed a lot having gotten a high paying job two months out of HS in 1986. I could do the "school of rock" fake my credentials and probably teach most classes right now, but i really don't want to get arrested..........

[XtreO]

Hahaha it looks like the major and minor skills you choose that the start of The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion! You are indeed rerolling.

[MakiSupaStar]

After getting my masters, I'm so DONE with school. I can see reinventing myself, as far as career pursuits go though.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

They must be a total different group than the college dudes who hang out around here.

-Mike

some of the best musicians i've ever played with were engineers at ga tech. and yeah, they were motivated, at least when i was there the first time.

still, the focus is going to be on getting into grad school.

[PSPookie]

Ouch, JT. Did you forget what being an undergrad at Tech was like?

Do you plan on going Greek?

But seriously, good for you. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to go back and do it again now that I'm a bit more mature.

[john turner]

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Ouch, JT. Did you forget what being an undergrad at Tech was like?

i loved my time at tech. it was brutally hard, but i think i can do a better job this time.

Do you plan on going Greek?

lol yeah, i could see me in a frat. heh.

But seriously, good for you. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to go back and do it again now that I'm a bit more mature.

yeah, at first i was really intimidated, but then i'm thinking "i did it when i was -18-, i can smoke it now". heh. we'll see how that plays out.

[EricF]

First party of the year, and JT walks in...

JT: Hi.
(The room goes silent. A few young freshmen bolt out the back door. A large quantity of contolled substances are flushed down the toilet.)
Random guy: Uhh...are you looking for your kid?



Have fun with it, John!

[blendermassacre]

God Speed JT. I just finished my first semester back after graduating high school 6 years ago. Good stuff.

[Muusers]

http://www.gtms.gatech.edu/

Join it! Come to the competition in Germany and we'll rock out next summer!

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

After getting my masters, I'm so DONE with school. I can see reinventing myself, as far as career pursuits go though.

Haha, I'm so going to be that guy doing the post-doc.

... ... ...

[MJ5150]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a Ric-Roll link or reference yet in here.

-Mike

[jrthebassguy]

Congrats on your new found path and good luck, John.