Math and Data Science Student Spotlight
The Math and Data Science Student Spotlight is your opportunity to learn a bit more about one of your fellow Math and Data Science majors at UNL. This week, Lily Rippeteau from Lincoln, Nebraska, is in the spotlight.
Name: Lily Rippeteau
Majors: Mathematics and Marketing
Year in School: Junior
Where are you from?
Lincoln, Nebraska
What gets you excited about Math?
Math is the language of the universe! Sometimes, learning a new concept in math shifts my whole way of thinking. I also like the aesthetic of math—it’s a creative pursuit into the fabric of the world! I love when I see math in nature.
Favorite math class or instructor so far? Why?
Right now, I’m taking History of Math with Dr. Homp and I love understanding how math has transformed throughout history. Think about trying to do math before the base-ten counting system or the number zero! It reminds me that our understanding of the world is still limited and there are always new and creative ways to think.
What are you excited about doing after graduation?
Right now, I’m interested in pursuing graduate school for mathematics. I’d love to contribute my unique way of thinking and my identity to the math community. I’m also excited to be a young adult in the world and hopefully eat good food, visit new museums, and meet interesting people.
What is a goal you have accomplished as a Husker?
I recently attended a one-time lecture by a political science professor put on by the College of Arts and Sciences. That’s an experience that is pretty unique to the university setting and I checked it off my bucket list! I also took advantage of the Outdoor Adventure Center to start outdoor rock climbing and I’ve traveled to five new states because of it.
What do you wish you would have known when you started as a Math Major that you know now?
I wish I had known that all types of mindsets and identities can be successful in math. People liked to call me a “numbers girl” because I was “good at math”. While that’s partially true, if I’m honest, I love math because it is aesthetic, creative, and connects to nature. But, when I started as a math major, I believed others would find my perspective on math too “unrigorous” to be valid. If that’s true, then it’s all the more reason for me to pursue math and change the perception of the discipline.
What do you hope to cross off your “bucket list” in the next few years?
I’ve lived in Nebraska my whole life so I want to live in a different state or country for a time!
If you would like to see yourself in the spotlight, please contact Doug for more information.