--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a good student with mathematical…" description: "\"I was a good student with mathematical ability and interests. As such, I took the usual college preparatory program in high school for one looking to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/dale-t-mortensen-36863_ability_i-was-a-good-student-with-mathematical-a_1186458.jpg" --- # I was a good student with mathematical ability and… ![“I was a good student with mathematical ability and interests. As such, I took the usual college preparatory program in high school for one looking to become an engineer: all the available courses in mathematics and science.” quote by Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/dale-t-mortensen-36863_ability_i-was-a-good-student-with-mathematical-a_1186458.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/dale-t-mortensen-36863_ability_i-was-a-good-student-with-mathematical-a_1186458.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/811/dale-t-mortensen-36863_ability_i-was-a-good-student-with-mathematical-a_1186458.jpg) > “I was a good student with mathematical ability and interests. As such, I took the usual college preparatory program in high school for one looking to become an engineer: all the available courses in mathematics and science.” [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes a strong academic foundation in math and science aimed at engineering. **In simple terms:** He had solid math skills and took many science courses. Key Takeaway Leverage early strengths for future goals. Themes education career STEM preparation Mood reflective analytical Type personal educational When to use this quote - college applications - STEM tutoring - career planning - skill development Key Concepts mathematical ability engineering ambition Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance technical depth with soft skills? - What gaps might exist in a purely math‑focused education? A Different Perspective May overlook non‑technical skills needed for engineering success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Available](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/available/) [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College Preparatory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-preparatory-3501765/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Engineer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineer/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-student/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical/) [Mathematical Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-ability-2197851/) [Mathematics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics/) [Mathematics and science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics-and-science/) [Mathematics Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematics-science-2113880/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student/) [Student Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-mathematical-3501764/) [Took](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took/) [Usual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usual/) ## Related quotes > [In mathematics and science definition are simple, but bare-bones. Until you get to a problem which you understand it takes hundreds and hundreds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-mandelbrot/in-mathematics-and-science-definition-are-simple-but-bare-bones-until/) [Benoit Mandelbrot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-mandelbrot/) > [In mathematics and science we solve our problems as well as create them. But in art and philosophy things are not so simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/in-mathematics-and-science-we-solve-our-problems-as-well-as-create/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [To do any important work in physics a very good mathematical ability and aptitude are required. Some work in applications can be done without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/to-do-any-important-work-in-physics-a-very-good-mathematical-ability/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is about problems, and problems must be made the focus of a student's mathematical life. Painful and creatively frustrating as it may be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-lockhart/mathematics-is-about-problems-and-problems-must-be-made-the-focus-of/) [Paul Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-lockhart/) > [Mathematics is often defined as the science of space and number . . . it was not until the recent resonance of computers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-steen/mathematics-is-often-defined-as-the-science-of-space-and-number-it/) [Lynn Steen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-steen/) > [“These estimates may well be enhanced by one from F. Klein (1849-1925), the leading German mathematician of the last quarter of the nineteenth century.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-temple-bell/these-estimates-may-well-be-enhanced-by-one-from-f-klein-1849-1925/) [Eric Temple Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-temple-bell/) > [Mathematics is the science which draws necessary conclusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-peirce/mathematics-is-the-science-which-draws-necessary-conclusions/) [Benjamin Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-peirce/) > [Mathematics as a science, commenced when first someone, probably a Greek, proved propositions about "any" things or about "some" things, without specifications of definite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/mathematics-as-a-science-commenced-when-first-someone-probably-a/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Mathematics is the science which uses easy words for hard ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kasner/mathematics-is-the-science-which-uses-easy-words-for-hard-ideas/) [Edward Kasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kasner/) > [“Mathematics is not a science from our point of view, in the sense that it is not a natural science. The test of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-not-a-science-from-our-point-of-view-in-the-sense-that/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [In fact, the answer to the question "What is mathematics?" has changed several times during the course of history... It was only in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-devlin/in-fact-the-answer-to-the-question-what-is-mathematics-has-changed/) [Keith Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-devlin/) > [Mathematics is the science of patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-steen/mathematics-is-the-science-of-patterns/) [Lynn Steen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-steen/) > [Philosophically, mathematics is not a part of science. Mathematics studies patterns, science studies nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-steen/philosophically-mathematics-is-not-a-part-of-science-mathematics/) [Lynn Steen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-steen/) > [... mathematics is the science of skillful operations with concepts and rules invented just for this purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-wigner/mathematics-is-the-science-of-skillful-operations-with-concepts-and/) [Eugene Wigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-wigner/) > [Mathematics is the science of patterns, and nature exploits just about every pattern that there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-stewart/mathematics-is-the-science-of-patterns-and-nature-exploits-just-about/) [Ian Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-stewart/) ## More by Dale T. Mortensen > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [I grew up listening to my father argue politics into the night and taking trips every Saturday to the Hood River library where my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/i-grew-up-listening-to-my-father-argue-politics-into-the-night-and/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Unemployment is 'involuntary' when the price is above its market clearing level. Workers are unemployed because jobs are not available at the prevailing wages,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/unemployment-is-involuntary-when-the-price-is-above-its-market/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Although labor income is by far the largest component of gross national product, a job is not just a commodity. For many, work is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/although-labor-income-is-by-far-the-largest-component-of-gross/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [In response to the drop in wealth suffered as a consequence of the 2008 financial crisis, homeowners and firms did attempt to increase savings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/in-response-to-the-drop-in-wealth-suffered-as-a-consequence-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Over the years, the technology of trade has changed in response to advances in the ability to communicate. From its origins on the streets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/over-the-years-the-technology-of-trade-has-changed-in-response-to/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Economics is a strange science. Our subject deals with some of the most important as well as mundane issues that impinge on the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/economics-is-a-strange-science-our-subject-deals-with-some-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Every great achievement is but a small peak in the mountain range of contributions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/every-great-achievement-is-but-a-small-peak-in-the-mountain-range-of/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [My co-winners, Peter Diamond and Christopher Pissarides, and I wish to thank the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Nobel Foundation for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/my-co-winners-peter-diamond-and-christopher-pissarides-and-i-wish-to/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [The 1970s was the decade of developments in the new area of information economics. Search theory, which emphasized the need to gather information, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/the-1970s-was-the-decade-of-developments-in-the-new-area-of/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [I became a member of the faculty at Northwestern University in 1965 but did not complete my thesis until two years later at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/i-became-a-member-of-the-faculty-at-northwestern-university-in-1965/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) [Explore all 12 Dale T. Mortensen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a good student with mathematical ability and interests. 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