Important Lessons in Life

The mean-value theorem doesn't apply to complex-valued functions.
You can't just discard summation signs, even when doing asymptotics.
If your blunt estimate didn't work, use more information!
You really didn't need to re-write that solution 8 times.
People take breaks for a reason, damnit.
Also, you should figure out what you're doing about Monday. Probably.

Wake up

Go to class
Take midterm
Go to class
Eat
Struggle with pset
Go to sleep
Repeat cycle
Pffft. Did someone say the words, "empty shell"?

You're special ... so what?

Somehow 特殊 or 特别 just doesn't carry the same set of positive connotations that "special" can in English. (Particularly American English and its descendants, I suppose.) The Chinese doesn't carry any particularly negative connotations, it's just ... not so special. Something is an exceptional case. Okay. No big deal.

Considering how all of those are [seem to be] born from similar etymologies, I guess it's probably a product of cultural and social attitudes more than a linguistic thing.