The Birthday Paradox by Tyler
Tyler's entry into Varsity Tutor's July 2021 scholarship contest
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The Birthday Paradox by Tyler - July 2021 Scholarship Essay
School has mostly been a blur for me. Between cramming down novels of notes and running between all my classes, it’s hard to remember everything I’ve learned in school. Most of the things I do remember from my classes came from when discussions went off course. One of those discussions led to me getting a reminder of the birthday paradox nearly every day.
My 7th-grade computer class was taught by Mr. Roggenbuck and our class had 23 kids. Mr. Roggenbuck was an eccentric type of man who loved to share cool facts and tidbits with his classes. While we were supposed to be working on our typing skills during the spring, a classmate in the first row asked when Mr. Roggenbuck’s birthday was. After a small back and forth about why the student was asking about his birthday, he relented and told us his birthday. After hearing the date, one of my classmates said that was the day before his birthday all excitedly!
Once Mr. Roggenbuck saw the excitement on everyone's faces, he decided to share one of his favorite paradoxes, the birthday paradox. In a room of 23 people, there is a 50% chance that at least two of them will share the same birthday. To test the paradox, he had us state our birthdays to the class; being in the second row, I was one of the first to go. When it was my turn I calmly said my birthday, March 4th. As soon as I said those fateful words, I heard one of the loudest screeches in my life screaming, “OH MY GOD WE HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY”! That voice belonged to my now best friend Aposto. Once she discovered we had the same birthday, she roped me into a “Birthday Buddy Pact”, and I’ve been stuck with her ever since.
Learning in school often is learning facts and information. New and unexpected information should often is intriguing, challenges your opinions, or provides a unique viewpoint for one to consider. Sometimes, learning unexpected things results in a new best friend who reminds you of a paradox every time you meet up.
