by Rachel Gomes-Casseres ’11 ill Adams has fueled my love of math. Although his Advanced Topics in Mathematics classes covered complex college-level material, Bill was confident that even CA juniors were capable of mastering these topics — even when we weren’t so sure. When I learned that CA teaches two advanced courses
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Henry Kim ’11
CAMPUS NEWS
Bill Adams Retires: Why I’ll Miss Him
Math teacher Bill Adams: Retiring after thirty-seven years at CA
in theoretical mathematics, I took extra classes over the summer so I could take them. I entered Bill’s Dynamical Chaos, Fractals, and Dynamics course during my junior fall. The material was hard for me at first, and I wondered if I’d reached my limit in math. Bill somehow saw right through my frustration and told me the material was within my reach. Over the course of the semester, I learned he was right: I started understanding and loving the challenges. Bill sees the real potential in all of his students, when they may not see it themselves. In Number Theory, although most of the students were inexperienced with proof writing, Bill taught an entirely proof-based course. He pushed us to grow as students and as mathematicians, and he helped us understand proof writing through lots of practice and constructive comments. My friends and I often surprised ourselves when we conquered proofs that seemed impossible. Bill knew our abilities better than we did and adjusted the pace of his courses to keep up with our progress. He always seemed to know just what we were ready for. Bill sought to inspire learn-
In Bill Adams’ classes I felt like an explorer; nothing we did felt like work. It wasn't until college that I realized we had covered the material for my first year of classes, in a beautiful and intuitive way. —Jesse Gray '98, founder (with Matt Berlin '98) of IF Robotics
Bill Adams did so much to make CA a more exciting place for the mathematically inclined. The Advanced Topics course he taught on chaos and dynamical systems was one of the highlights of my time at CA. Bill also listened patiently to my research ideas and helped me write what became my first publication. Thank you, Bill, for being such an outstanding teacher, inspiring mentor, and friend! — Lionel Levine ’98, MIT math instructor ing beyond the textbook by assigning a research paper and proof on any math topic unrelated to the course. While researching, I stumbled across many topics that connect mathematical theory with the real world. Bill also was genuinely interested in our individual math pursuits. When a few students and I spent the afternoon cutting a bagel into Mobius strips, he wanted to hear all about it. Ever since I mentioned my interest in origami, we’ve been exchanging tips and pictures of our folded paper projects.
When I encountered obstacles, Bill’s wise words gave me the courage to keep pursuing math. He once told me that I am capable of taking math as far as I want to, which helped me put aside some of my doubts about studying math in college. I now see a math major or minor in my future. Bill Adams has been a unique asset to CA. His confidence in his students and his careful teaching have allowed him to push his students beyond what seems possible in high school. I will miss Bill.
Chatting over Candlepins
O C O N C O R D A C A D E M Y M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G 2 0 11
n Sunday March 27, CA hosted its second annual Student-Alumnae/i of Color event, at Sacco’s Bowl Haven in Davis Square. Students got a chance to mingle and chat with recent and older graduates about their experiences during and after CA. Students, alumnae/i, and members of the Community and Equity team enjoyed a game of candlestick bowling, then indulged in flatbread pizza. Students spent the last part of the afternoon engaging in conversations with alumnae/i over dessert. 6
Questions ranged from “What do you do for a living?” to “What was the most valuable thing CA taught you?” Students also answered some questions, remarking on their current experiences and aspirations. “I had a great time getting to know a few graduates,” Thalia Perez-Macias ’13 said. It truly proved to be a rewarding experience for students and alumnae/i alike; we hope next year’s event will spark even more interest. — Andrew Gonzalez ’11 Diversity Club head
Student-Alumnae/i of Color event, a bowling party in March