Ollie Casey is originally from Australia. He has made Appalachian State University his home away from home by committing himself to the Department of Mathematical Sciences and men’s tennis team.
What interested you in pursuing a degree in mathematics and statistics?
I have always had a passion for solving problems of the mathematical kind. I enjoy the process of determining a single solution to any problem. I find this to be satisfying. I also particularly enjoy learning new theorems and their application to the real world, and mastering this process through repetition.
What have been your most beneficial experiences in the Mathematics (BS) - Statistics program?
The expansion of my mathematical knowledge has been most beneficial to me. I have found this can be achieved by anyone who is willing to put in many hours of study and hard work towards understanding and mastering the concepts that are taught in each class. Given I enjoyed the concepts and theorems taught, I found learning these to be actually quite insightful and even fun.
Describe your relationship with faculty in the program.
The faculty in the mathematics department here at Appalachian have been a critical factor towards my enjoyment of this degree. Every professor I have been assigned was always willing to meet after class or even outside office hours in order to help me learn and understand the topics that were being taught. What’s more, I believe I’ve made a lot of friends within this faculty. I plan to keep in contact with these professors after graduating.
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
I plan to move back overseas to my hometown of Melbourne, Australia, and enroll in a postgraduate course in econometrics and data analytics. I hope to eventually work as a market analyst or in the data consulting field.
Why should a prospective student interested in this degree choose to attend Appalachian?
App State has an incredible mathematics faculty and is full of professors (and students) who are passionate about this field. Being around people who share a passion for mathematics is a fantastic learning tool. It also creates great social networks inside and outside of class. Receiving feedback from my classmates and also giving them some of my own advice was essential to helping me understand much of the material taught across this degree.
Have you gotten involved in any leadership opportunities while on campus, and how are they enhancing your education?
I am currently a senior on the men’s tennis team here at App State which I believe requires me to be a good role model for all my teammates, especially the younger ones.
Are there other things you’d like to mention about your Appalachian experience?
I love this university and it has without a doubt become my home away from home. I will miss it very, very much. After graduating I will be back to visit within the year!