Who am I? My name is John Fahnenstiel and I'm an applied math graduate student at UMD, in my second and final year. I was born and raised in Michigan, then spent six years on the east coast, in Boston and New York, at university and working. I left my job to find another career, thinking a math degree would give options and exposure to new fields. I wrote for the school paper as a side-gig but was hooked from day one.
Lake Voice Position: Reporter
What interests me? My interests change pretty frequently but here are some current: reading (travel and memoir, fiction, history, and, lately: essays), crossword puzzles, beer and wine, card games, snow mobiling, typewriting with friends, and shooting guns.
Why Duluth: I didn't have any choice. I wanted to get a math degree but my undergraduate degree was economics and so UMD was the other school that offered a TA-ship, meaning tuition was waived and they paid me a stipend. Moving from an apartment in the East Village to London Rd, and from hundred-hour work weeks to the classroom, was a bigger transition than I could have imagined. 18 months ago I couldn't wait to leave but now I'm dreading the day I do.