Emily Fowler

Hello everyone! My name is Emily Fowler and I am a rising senior applied mathematics major and data analytics minor from Kingsport, Tennessee. Unsurprisingly, my favorite subject has always been math and I was so lucky to find a school with such a great math department. With each new math class I take at Furman, my love and inspiration for the field grows. I wanted to see how this knowledge can be applied beyond the walls of Riley Hall. The Math and the Mouse program was exactly what I was looking for, by showcasing math within a real-world business model. To many, Disney World is a place of carefree fun and perfectly cultivated activities all in one place. However, to me this experience at Disney will allow me to see where my mathematical knowledge is valued within the workplace and understand the application of math in business models. 

Of course, these three weeks will be academically strenuous, but we should not forget that we are AT Disney! I certainly am looking forward to riding roller coasters, eating delicious disney treats, and seeing different parks. I have only ever been to Magic Kingdom, so I am most looking forward to experiencing Epcot and Animal Kingdom. At Magic Kingdom, I find that standing in line for rides can be just as fun as actually riding the rides because of the intricate sets. I feel like I could stand in the waiting areas for Tower of Terror and Haunted Mansion a million times and still see something new. So, I am very excited to ride new rides and see the magic of Disney sets.

Another part of this trip that I am looking forward to is getting to know all of the people going. I know from a previous May-X that the group becomes very close over the course of the trip. So, I am very excited to get to know the other students and professors better on this trip and make memories outside of Furman. Overall, I am looking forward to a trip of fun adventures and exciting math. Specifically, I am excited to see how operations research and is applied to real business models within Disney. I hope this experience provides me a clearer idea of what I want to do beyond Furman at graduate school.