What is a Guava Moment?

The Guava Moment was defined way back in the fall of 1998. We were all wily first year engineers way back then. Having just had a sample of the thing which they called calculus - we were all hungry for more at least that's what we thought.. Thence came the the non-stop homework which would last unforetold lengths of time and cost many-a-life of fateful engineering students-All this under the glooming shadow of the Engineering Faculty's office. We were punks then, cocky, bright, and awake, but now we know better. However, in the midst of all the pain and suffering wrought upon us there were moments of sheer brilliance and genius that shone as beacons in the darkness. These moments are reverently called as a 'Guava Moment'. They do not happen often, it can often be mistaken as 'understanding a concept' for that in itself is but a glimmer compared to the full fledge nirvanic experience of the Guava Moment.

A Guava Moment, by definition, can only happen in the late hours of the night, or early hours of the day (doesn't matter since you're working on assignments and time has no meaning). It is at the point where you have laboured for hours on this single question to which there seems no end, despair sets in and your vision begins to blur- Numbers swirl back and forth, maniacal Free-Body Diagrams seemingly leap off the engineering paper and begin to hack away at the remaining damaged brain cells in your head. Your conscious, wrought with fear of failing and of evil Civ E 270 vainly tries to push the rest of your mind forward into the abyss. Darkness begins to enclose its arms around you as your vision tunnels on a few measly digits.

Then! Suddenly out of the blur! A tiny seedling of thought appears "why don't I try to take the conjugate" joyous elation erupts and the darkness melts away. Your mind and body, now filled and pumping adrenaline puts its last ounce of strength into making your arm move. Move Arm move! Write on dear hand-write for your life! Your eyes flick back and forth across the page "yes, yes this is all making sense! I understand I have the answer and more importantly... I HAVE THE SOLUTION!"It is then at this joyous and ecstatic moment that you indeed have reached a Guava Moment! Record the day and time! Treasure that feeling for it will soon pass but nevermind that: YOU ARE DONE... the question. As with all moments, unfortunately, the adrenaline leaves you and your body slumps forward towards the welcoming bed, forget the fact that you still have 3 more assignments due tomorrow, forget the fact that you may have forgotten to write your name in capitals in the claustrophobic square, you have solved the question... Well done, well done.

That is a Guava Moment, as best that can be remembered and described by words.

Some historical information: The term 'Guava Moment' was set to being by two First Year Engineers Dan Tse and Alex Hagisavas who were both labouring on some math assignment which seemed so important so long ago (1998). The two were toiling away each in their own homes on the same Math 100/EngG 130 assignment (mainly Math 100) but communicating through the ever useful 'Talk' program on the GPU server. For reasons unknown, the chat log was not transcribed but the the description of the guava moment has been passed on year to year till this date shared by all so that the uninitiated may know and realize that there is a name for what they have experienced.

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