Hello. My name is Ryan Norby, and I am a currently a student at the Massachusetts Academy of Mathematics & Science. My passion is in computer science; I enjoy programming, building, and overclocking computers. To me, programming is much more than just a means of controlling computers. I believe that learning a programming language is much like learning a spoken language; it's a way of communicating with the computer. I first came to this conclusion in the fifth grade, when my best friend introduced me to an online game called RuneScape. When I first made an account and logged in, I was overwhelmed by the complexity of the game. However, as I became accustomed to the mechanics, I soon fell in love with being able to band together with friends across the Internet and overcome difficult tasks. It was since this revelation that I knew I wanted to develop computer games as a career. Not only do I want to create videogames, but I want to lead a team in creating them. It is for this reason that I also hope to study business. I currently play World of Warcraft, where I am the leader of the guild <Ace ôf Spades>. Our guild does weekly raids, in which 10 players join together and battle against unrelenting foes. Aside from online games, I enjoy playing Minecraft. This game involves a randomly-generated world which is made of blocks (they can be dirt, stone, wood, iron, etc.) that can be harvested and placed by the player. This allows players to build houses, caves, fortresses, and anything else they desire. I love Minecraft for exactly that reason - it fosters creativity. While many people believe videogames to be a detriment to society, I believe that they in fact allow people to express themselves in ways that they can't in real life. My current computer setup, with the full component listing below. Intel Core i7-920 CPU @ 4.3 GHz Radeon HD 5870 Graphics Card EVGA X58 SLI LE Motherboard 3x 2 GB G.Skill DDR3 1600 MHz Triple-channel RAM 2x 1 TB Spinpoint F1 HDDs in RAID0 Antec CP-850 850W Modular PSU Antec Twelve-Hundred ATX Full Tower Case Swiftech Apogee GTZ Core i7 Waterblock XSPC Radeon HD 5870 Full Cover Waterblock Swiftech MCP-355 12V DC Pump w/ DDC Laing Acrylic Top Bitspower Z-Multi 150 Reservoir Swiftech MCR320-QP-K Triple 120mm Radiator XSPC RS240 Double 120mm Radiator I also have a passion for music. My favorite genre is progressive metal, which is defined by bands such as Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, Dragonforce, and Powerglove. I also enjoy listening to classic metal, which includes bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Megadeth. I learned how to play percussion instruments in fifth grade, both from within the school curriculum and from private instruction. However, I later realized that I'd rather play a rhythmic instrument, and so I took up guitar. I took lessons for two years, and enjoying playing it in my free time. A picture of my guitar, the Ibanex RG3EX1. Aside from computers and music, I enjoy participating in school clubs. Throughout my high school career, I have been a member of the robotics team, mathematics team, speech and debate club, mock trial team, and programming club. I was also on the varsity swimming & diving team while at Hopkinton High School. All of this experience has given me practical knowledge, which I look forward to using later in life. The pages that follow are reflections on the classes offered at Mass Academy during junior year.