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I consider my education in mathematics to have started with works of one person John M. H. Olmsted , professor emeritus of Southern
Illinois when I was between the age of thirteen and fourteen years of age.

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Hall Of Shame

Between the age of thirteen and fourteen years of age, when I was in the 8th grade I discovered the book Solid Analytics
Geometry written by John M. H. Olmsted, professor emeritus of Southern Illinois. The book was discovered among the
college text books of my youngest aunt.

A core cord within me has always asked the question, what is reality made of? That question was probably with me from
the day I was born, however, my first memory of the question was between four and eight years of age as I watched a
glider launched by a rubber band was sent flying into a bush by my paternal grandfather.

The question remains to this day; what exactly is space? What exactly is time? In those early years of my life that book
fascinated me. It was my perception at the time, that the particular book was a rigorous exposition in mathematics that
offered a glimpse into answering my questions. As a result of my fascination with the book I diligently studied it through
the 8th grade completing a few chapters contained within it by time it was for me to enter the ninth grade.

My aunt wanted her book returned since I had taken it without her permission.

Throughout the summer break before the 9th grade I found several college level texts on the subject Algebra and
Trigonometry in the public library. Reading and working through the problems in those books disturbed me. I found them to
be too verbose. In an effort to find something more rigorous and succinct I found (stumbled onto) Thomas (Finney may also
been coauthor) two volume set on the subject of Calculus and Analytic Geometry. I remember being excited that the first
two short chapters of the Thomas books gave all the information I needed to know about the same subject covered in
several hundred pages by those Algebra and Trigonometry books.

During the latter part of my sophomore year in high school, while working my way through the Thomas Calculus and
Analytic Geometry book there were several references to the book Advance Calculus by John Olmsted. Already being
appreciative of Olmsted writing style and not satisfied with the theoretical presentation found in the Thomas book Calculus
and Analytic Geometry I managed to get my father to buy me a copy of Advance Calculus by Olmsted.

From about age fifteen to this day I am a student of John Olmsted even if he died never knowing who I was.

At about age seventeen, still in high school, a curious thing happen when I was in Prentice Hall show room in Englewood
Cliffs; I found the book Advance Calculus for Applications second edition by Francis B. Hildebrand. The book met my needs
in how I care to have mathematical ideas presented to me; succinctly as possible. What this all meant by the time I got to
Michigan Technological University (MTU) I was able to audit a graduate level course on Partial Differential Equations.

At the time MTU mathematic department was very encouraging to undergraduates who wanted progress at a pace
different from the average undergraduate student provided that student could find a professor to sponsor the endeavor. I
did manage a get a sponsor but he required that I get another student to participate which I did. Our studies were base
only on the theoretical aspect of Olmsted Advance Calculus and references to R. C. Buck’s Advance Calculus. I had gotten
what I wanted for the first and only time in my “FORMAL EDUCATION” and in one semester we covered the first seven
chapters of both book. The final exam was a grueling but enjoyable eight hour exam. The exam was all proofs of problems
taken for each chapter of the books. I will always remember Doctor Byers (if that is how you spell his name) for allowing me
the freedom in getting credit for something I felt deeply about.

My studies of mathematics would be place on hold for time since while at MTU became enamored and had a great deal of
access to a computer; the UNIVAC 1110; a big deal in the 1976, 1977, 1978 years.

I had to leave MTU primarily for monetary reasons. Reflecting back I think it was for the best since I was never interested
in being well rounded student. If it was not mathematics, or core Electrical Engineering courses or something having me
programming or playing with the computer I was not interested. Worst yet MTU had a fantastic university library in which I
was finding books more interesting than what my instructors were using to teach the EE courses.

In retrospect I think a highly self motivated student like me will always be problematic to any educational institution. With
that one exception at MTU I don’t believe they have the resources or the motivation to handle people like me much less
keep us in the confines of there limited approach to education. Luckily for me I always find a way to learn what I desire to
learn in an effective and efficient manner.

After leaving MTU I found books on various area of mathematics such as Linear Algebra, Group Theory, Tensors, Forms, and
Vector Analysis, Probability and Statistical Theory, Number Theory, Combinatorics etc. all of which holds interest to me for
learning for the stated reason.

Although my presentation, tutorials and instructions to be found on my Mathematics web pages are primarily for the
people who have a similar education character to mine, others may find my presentations useful.

Some advice; never be afraid to fail, Never be afraid of roadblocks. Studying your failures will always allow you to learn
much more had you been right the first time. Studying your roadblocks will allow you to obtain new insights in how to
tackle a problem; thinking outside the box should always be a goal.