I was born in April, 1989 in the smallest borough of New York City, Staten
Island, and lived there all of my life until I came to Stony Brook.�I have
one brother, four years my senior, who just graduated from college.� Both
my parents were born in Italy and moved here separately when they were
children.� Thus, my brother and I are first generation Italian-Americans.�
In addition, we are the first generation in my family to ever attend
college, let alone graduate.

When I first enrolled in Stony Brook, I was a biology major.� Then
chemistry came, and went! I learned very quickly that, although I love
biology, at least three more semesters of chemistry would not be fun.�
That's when I look a big leap of faith and became a mathematics major.�
Though I struggled first semester in calculus II, I was always up for the
challenge.� I loved the feeling when I finally got a solution to a hard
problem that I was working on.� That feeling was ultimately the driving
force behind the switch.�

When many people hear the word physics, they associate negative
connotations. �However, physics, to me, is nothing more than applied
mathematics.� Anything that deals with math, count me in!� So, I was
thrilled to learn that I was placed in the Laser Teaching Center.�

When I'm not using a myriad of paper to solve one math problem, you can
find me rocking out to music.� Ask my friends, or better yet my roommate,
that I am ALWAYS singing. I love everything from country to hip-hop.� It's
a source of stress release, but moreover, it lets me share with the
unfortunate people around me the wonderful talent I do not have! �

Maria Giachetta / 12 Feb 2008

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Possible Topics to Investigate -

1. optical illusions

2.�how images are distored

3. how a line moves by placing a glass on it

4. faster: cable or fiber optics?�