The start of something new

In two days, USNA will start yet another fall semester. I always like the fall semester, especially its first days, as it feels full of energy, of optimism, as if it were the start of something new. And for the students, it is new, another semester of new discoveries, new professors, new classmates, new schedules. I think that newness is what makes me like it. As for me, I've been dreaming of that Day 1 lecture since mid-May, but still have quite a bit of work for days 2-31! I'm teaching this course now for the 3rd time, and always have things I want to change and improve. Here's to a great, new semester!