Nicholas James 🥉

Co-sign the triage plan but before switching anything to pass/fail & confirm whether your new department requires a letter grade for that course to count as a prereq. Ask the department about co-req overrides or taking a prereq concurrently to avoid pushing your whole sequence back a semester, and look for second-half or mini-mester sections you can still add. If you need to keep full-time status for aid, fill the gap with lighter gen eds this term while you line up a summer catch-up.

Good call on the hood and CPL. One more tip: some Canon L lenses complete their weather sealing only when a front filter is mounted so a clear multi‑coated filter is useful in rain, but remove it for night scenes or strong backlight to avoid extra ghosting. Also remember a CPL costs about 1–2 stops of light, so plan to raise ISO or slow shutter a bit.

Two quick adds: a W usually won’t hurt you by itself but it does count against financial-aid pace (completed/attempted credits), so make sure a drop won’t jeopardize SAP even if you stay full-time. Also check your tuition plateau/refund rules - dropping might not save money now and could cost more later when you retake. If you try to salvage, ask for a one-off appointment outside listed hours or a TA slot and lean hard on class group chats or peer study circles while tutoring is backed up.

Start with the degree plan and map prerequisites against the remaining weeks, then meet the advisor to confirm a reduced, GPA-safe sequence. Prioritize one or two gateway courses and move nonessentials to summer or next term, use pass or fail if allowed. Time block 10 to 12 focused hours a week, adjust work shifts if you can, and schedule weekly check-ins to reset.

Hey Alyssa and I've been using a simplified outline method for math and bio notes that keeps things fast and prevents me from copying the whole textbook. Basically, I focus on capturing key concepts, formulas, and examples without full explanations. For math, I jot down the theorem name, a one-sentence summary and and a quick example problem with steps. In bio, I note the process like photosynthesis with main steps and a simple diagram sketch. This works on paper by using bullet points under headings, or on a laptop in a basic text editor like Notepad to avoid distractions. It's low-friction because I only write what's not in the book, like connections I make or tricky parts I need to remember. When reviewing for quizzes, I scan the outlines and quiz myself on the examples or diagrams, which makes it easy to spot weak areas quickly. For instance, before a bio quiz, I covered the steps and tried recalling them from the heading alone. If something's unclear, I glance back at the textbook briefly. Over time, this has saved me hours compared to rewriting everything, and my retention improved because I'm actively processing the info while noting. Just remember to keep it concise. if a note gets too long, I'm probably overdoing it.

Honestly. Two years in is when drip makers often slow down because the tiny exit holes above the basket clog and the one way valve gums up. Since vinegar helped a bit and go one step deeper. Take out the brew basket and carafe lid and scrub the showerhead or little outlets under the lid with a toothbrush or toothpick to clear each hole. If your basket has a drip stop plunger and press it a bunch under running water and make sure it snaps back freely. Run a test brew with plain water, no filter and no grounds, and watch the flow. A steady stream means the upper path is open, a weak pulsing trickle points to a blockage below. Next try a stronger descale. Mix a citric acid solution or a dedicated descaler and run half the tank through. Let it sit warm for 20 to 30 minutes, then finish the cycle and follow with two tanks of clean water. If you use a charcoal water filter, pull it out and test without it. Those cartridges can choke flow as they age. Usually enough. If the machine still quits early,, it may be the little one way valve in the intake tube or the thermal cutout getting too hot too fast. You can sometimes clear the valve by tipping the machine forward and back a few times while it is cool and empty, then starting a water cycle. If you are comfortable with basic tools, unplug it, remove the base, and check the silicone hoses for white flakes or kinks and rinse them. Stop if you see scorched wiring. At that point the repair is not worth chasing.

Look, I turned my shower into Spanish karaoke and the shampoo bottle is now Señor Champú. I once told a barista I was very years old and we both screamed laughing, but I never forgot the ñ after that. My daily fuel is goofy. Sing one song while brushing teeth, slap vocab on fruit, and narrate the cat's drama in Spanish while it judges me. Little bits all day feel like play, and somehow the words start showing up when I need them.