#econ is decently interesting

[kaoharu]

yayyy look at how straight my graph is

[absurduty]

DAY OFF [ETN.L X READER]

(Ghostface doesn’t exist AU. Quinn and Ethan live as normal siblings.)

summary: Your best friend Quinn has gone to buy some snacks for the sleepover. Luckily, her brother is there to keep you entertained.

warnings: oral (m receiving), masturbation, subby(?)ethan, mentions of cunnilingus,

“Oh, come on y/n.” Quinn urges you, lying on her stomach. “Give Chad a chance, he’s hot.”

“I don’t know, Quinnie.” you shrug, plopping down on the bed. “He seems decent, but I'm not interested in anyone right now.”

That was a lie. By a long shot.

You were interested in someone. The only problem? He just so happened to be Quinn's brother. And Chad's roommate.

Did it stop you from touching yourself and humping your pillow pretending to ride him? No.

He was such a sweet boy. You couldn’t help but pump those fingers inside of you, moaning his name aloud once you were sure no one would hear or enter.

You shamelessly let the thought of riding his face bring you to your orgasm. You imagined his tongue lapping up your folds and pushing that button in your cunt.

And let’s not get started on that fantasy of you taking him into your mouth, guiding his inexperienced hands to grip your hair and allowing him to completely fuck your throat as your tits are out, bouncing with every thrust past your plump lips.

“Anyways,” Quinn sighed in boredom, standing up and putting her jacket on. “You've got 5? I wanna get us some snacks.”

“In my pockets.” You answered, biting your cheek as you looked up at the ceiling.

You sighed softly, pondering what to do once Quinn leaves. Until an idea pops up in your head.

Ethan is in the living room. What’s wrong with wanting to watch an innocent movie with your friend's sweet brother?

“Hey Quinnie, I’ll see you out the door.” you say softly, standing up and following behind her.

“Thanks y/n/n.” she smiled, walking out of the room into the living room where Ethan sat. As soon as Ethan heard footsteps, he turned around and looked at you with those heart eyes that never failed to make you smile. He was so whipped for you.

Ethan first discovered his crush on you when Quinn took you to her home for an econ-project. You were so pretty, so kind. It’s a shame Quinn closed the door. But as luck would have it, you began to stick around even after the project.

You became a regular in Quinns appartement, somewhere Ethan would also be in frequently. You’d often help him with his homework, and each time he almost came inside of his pants with the way you leaned down to explain something to him, your breath hitting his ear and you’re tits hanging. Or when you'd bend over the table to point at something on the other side, your ass raised in the air.

Each little detail of your movements played through his mind as he pumped his length every night, desperately whimpering into his pillow as to not let his roommate hear. His other hand occupied with scrolling through your instagram, ultimately coming across a video of your voice which pushed him to his orgasm, splashing all over his stomach.

“Call me when you get there, Quinnie.” you chirped happily, closing the door.

His heart skipped a beat when you turned to him, walking around the couch to sit next to him.

“Hi, Ethan.” you smile, your tits bouncing as you plopped down on the lap. god, how was he supposed to spend this night without feeling those soft breasts?

“Hi.” he murmured quietly, turning to tv.

“Can I watch this with you?” you ask in your softest voice, your hand on his thigh, dangerously close to his semi-hard cock. “I get lonely when Quinnie isn’t here to entertain me.”

“Y-yeah, sure.” he stuttered, resisting the urge to guide your hand to palm his dick.

“Great!” you smile, scooting closer to him, the back of your skirt rubbing against the sofa, causing it to be help up. god, he wanted you to stuff that into your mouth as you praised him.

“Can I sit on your lap?” she interrupted his thoughts, rubbing his thigh. “I like cuddling with people.”

“Mhm,” he managed to get out of his mouth, resisting the urge to let out a moan at your words. albeit, that failed when you sat on his lip, your clothed ass rubbing against his clothed cock.

and although his lips were bitten on by himself, she could hear the whimper, causing her to turn around and straddle him, her pussy rubbing against his hard length.

“Sweet boy, can I do something to ease your pain?” she asks sweetly, her hand finding the waistband of his pants. he couldn’t have nodded his head faster. anything for her. his dream girl.

she smiles, getting off his lap causing him to whine. she dropped to her knees, pulling his pants with her.

“You want me to see how big you are?” she asked in a soft tone, her fingers hooking her fingers under his boxers. “Is that it, baby? You want me to praise your cock?”

“Mhm, yes!” he whimpered out as soon as she took his sensitive length into her hands. “W-want you to be proud of it.”

“I am, baby.” you soothe him, your hand reaching up to stroke his brown curls. “Relax.”

he sighed in pleasure, closing his eyes as his curls are being paid attention to by your fingers. the silence being interrupted by a moan as soon as you place a kitten lick on his tip.

“You want to fuck my throat, baby? you ask sweetly, licking the vein underneath. “Ask nicely, sweetie.”

“P-please, y/n.” he whimpered, his cock throbbing under your attention. “need you. fuck, you’re so hot.”

“How long have you wanted me?” You tease, kitty licking the tip again. “Tell me and I'll relieve your pain with my mouth.”

“Mhm,” he whimpers, hips bucking up in a desperate attempt to gain pleasure. “S-so long. I like you coming over. I-I want to feel your tits.”

“You will, baby.” you coo, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Not now tho. Now you can only look at them as I suck you off, my pretty boy.”

He nodded feverishly, head thrown back as you took him into your mouth.

You stilled her movement in her mouth to let your round tits spill out of your top, before bobbing your head up and down his length, your tits bouncing with every movement.

Ethan really tried to hold it in. He knew you wouldn’t like it if he bucked his hips and just fucked your throat raw until your saliva dripped in the same route as the vein.

you she moaned loudly, the vibrations shooting straight up his throbbing cock as he let out whimpers and moans.

“I'm close!” he moaned out, feeling that tight knot in his stomach. “Please, let me cum in your pretty mouth.”

“Praise me first.” you demanded, pulling off his cock to speak, using your hands instead.

“You’re so - fuck!” he moans, shuddering and squirming. “S-so pretty. I l-love it when you’re being kind to-to me.”

You let out a moan at his words, using your mouth again and hollowing your cheeks.

“F-fuck. When you bend over to teach me something I j-just… want to kiss and suck those tits.” he moaned, thrusting his hips. “I-I don’t like hearing Chad talk about you. I can’t stand sharing you.”

You keep sucking, gagging on his cock. You use your hands on the part that doesn’t fit, squeezing your thighs together with your slick wetness im between them.

“F-fuck. You’re so kind. I just want to suck on your cunt u-until you come all over my face.”

That did it. At his words, you let out a loud pornographic moan, shooting straight up his dick, causing his cum to stream down your throat.

You pulled your mouth off his cock with a pop, your eyes teary and panting.

“God,” you whimpered, straddling him but careful not to grind against his sensitive cock. “You really are my sweet boy.”

He smiled at her words, leaning into her touch. “Promise me you only do this to me?”

“I promise, my pretty boy. All mine.” you whisper, cupping his cheek.

“Now,” you grin, licking a stripe up his throat. “I think I deserve to sit on your face, don’t I?”

[memento-morri-writes]

Hey!!! Since you said you have a lot figured out for your WIPs I'm interested in your answers!!

what natural resources does each nation have that the others don't? do they export/trade it at all? (For any WIP you wanna answer for!)

@bloodlessheirbyjacques 👀❤️‍🔥

JACQUES, I LOVE YOU!!!!!! I'll try to keep this at least somewhat brief, but be warned, you have NO idea what floodgates you have just opened. (I actually intended to make a post like this literally over a year ago, so thank you for helping me make it!!)

Get ready for:

Econ 101 - A Crash-Course in Continental Trade Policy

Before we get started, here's some things you might find helpful:

a map of the continent (see below)

an explanation of why Anvia and Oryn don't get along

under the cut because hoo boy, this is a LOT.

Anvia, the kingdom where ATQH takes place (and which Fallon rules) is primarily an agricultural society. The country's position in the middle of the continent, plus the river running through the kingdom providing fertile land, gives makes it the best-suited area for agriculture on the continent. (Side Note: It gets colder as you got west-northwest on this continent. Oryn is cold, with long winters and short summers, while Oraine is extremely hot and the land dries up quickly.)

They grow crops and raise animals not only for their own survival, but for export to the neighboring nations. Anvia also has a decent number of craftspeople living in its larger cities, who use crop byproducts (or non-food crops) and animal products to make other products, such as textiles, leather products, etc.

Thus, Anvia's main products/exports are food crops (apples, wheat, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, lettuce, cabbages, carrots, peas, hops, among other things), created food products (wine, ale, baked goods, jams, jellies, preserves) as well as animal products (largely wool, but things like eggs, cheese, and milk may also be exported), and craftsproduts (textiles and leather products, for example).

Due to the fact that most of Anvia is farmland, be it crop fields or livestock pastures, there is very little opportunity for logging. Even the areas that haven't been developed for farming are largely prairie-like areas. Also, Anvia lacks substantial access to mountains or mineral deposits for mining. So they are lacking in construction materials such as timber, stone, and metals.

Oryn, on the other hand, is ripe with construction goods. They have massive mines scattered throughout the kingdom, especially along the mountain range that borders with Anvia. (Ironkeep, the fortress to the Northeast of Westcliff, is a major stronghold built to protect Oryn's most profitable mines.) Additionally, a massive portion of the kingdom is covered in forests, so logging is another major industry.

(Side Note: Kristopher's father and the current king of Oryn, Pierre, has increased both of these industries massively. The working conditions in both tend to be hazardous, with many people being injured or killed. (Fun Fact: If you want to know how Pierre runs his kingdom, listen to Eat Your Young by Hozier.) Kristopher believes that his father is ruining Oryn, not only by ruining much of its natural land, but also by working the people so hard.)

Notably, Oryn is also home to significant number of craftspeople, specializing in blacksmithing, metalworking, and jeweling. Orynian weapons and armor are said to be stronger and more durable than any others, and jewelry made by Orynian jewelers with Orynian stones is highly prized across the continent and beyond.

Oryn's main exports are lumber, stone, metal (raw, processed, and crafted into items), and jewels (raw, processed, and made into jewelry).

However, what Oryn severely lacks is fertile farmland. Not only is most of the land covered in trees, but the soil is quite rocky -- far from ideal for large-scale farming. (The hilly, mountainous terrain doesn't help.)

So, you can probably see why Oryn and Anvia need each other. They are forced to trade with one another to ensure the survival of both kingdoms. However, as I've explained in the past, the two kingdoms have a long history of tension between them -- which actually was the result of conflict over resources to begin with. However, despite this obvious codependency, neither one has been willing to suck up their pride and open direct negotiations between the two nations. (Fallon has tried several times during her rule, but has never once received a response from Pierre.)

So, this is where Oraine steps in. Oraine has a very hot environment, and aside from a few choice crops, not much of trade value grows there. (Their main exports, aside from a few "exotic delicacies", are fancy goods, such as fine clothes, art, and fancy furniture.) However, what Oraine does have is massive amounts of accessible coastline. Because of this, they have a long history of ship-building and maritime trade. Fortuitously for Oraine, Anvia and Oryn's border is mostly treacherous mountains, which makes overland travel difficult.

So, at some point in the past few centuries, some clever Orainian had an idea, and Orain graciously stepped in, offering to conduct trade between the two kingdoms -- for a fee, of course. Eager to continue their mutual cold-shoulder treatment, Anvia and Oryn were quick to accept the proposal. It was agreed upon that both Anvia and Oryn would be able to use Orainian ships to send their goods to each other, to Oraine, and beyond.

There are multiple companies (each owned by wealthy merchant families) that offer these services, both within the continent and beyond, and each is free to set their own price and negotiate their own service contracts with individuals, companies, or the nations themselves. However, they are charge a hefty tax that goes directly to the pockets of the ruler (currently Empress Adrienne) of Oraine.

Not only that, but Orainian merchants are well aware of how necessary their services are to both Anvia and Oryn. As such, their fees are often ridiculously overpriced. And Anvia and Oryn pay them, because they don't have any other choice. (Well, they could choose to talk to each other and begin their own trading initiatives instead of settling for Oraine's horrid prices, but why would they ever do that?)

To tie all this back to the messy international politics of the continent, the Empress of Oraine has her own fleet of trading ships that carry out trades on her behalf. It is these ships that the rulers of Anvia and Oryn are required to use when they wish to send something more between them for political purposes. Orainian leaders have long claimed this is to "supervise" and "prevent increased hostility", but in reality it's just another way to line the ruler's pockets.

The rulers of both kingdoms have signed contracts with the Empire, including a rate of charge for the service. The Empress continually pushes to raise said rate, with the monarchs attempt to negotiate a lower price -- or at least keep the same one they had before. But it's a precarious slope, because if they push too hard, the Empress could retract her offer altogether, which would be disastrous (at least in the short term) for the two kingdoms, until they were able to communicate in a civil manner and establish their own trade barriers. (Of course, the Empress has no intention of actually rescinding her offer -- it's far too profitable -- but the monarchs don't know that...)

And that's all, folks!! To anyone who read all 1,092 words of this, I am hugging you (if you accept), and buying you your favorite meal. Hopefully this isn't too boring of a read...

[transmogrified-in-the-void]

Writing prompt: a day that is impossible to forget

"It was Thursday, March 22nd. It was raining outside, nothing hard, just enough to be heard. The wind was louder, if I'm honest. I had been sitting at my desk. There was a half drunken mug of coffee next to me, and a laundry list of assignments to finish, and that's when I got it. The email."

They twist their hands around the ceramic mug. Their rings scrape against the glaze, making a rough sound.

"Looking back on it, this should be a completely normal day, but I think because of what it eventually caused, over and over again, I remember it so clearly.

"Anyways, that's not important. Or maybe it is. But it was titled 'Band Manager Needed', from some college group. It was all about how they were an up and coming band, and to expect that they probably wouldn't be famous or anything. Just a side gig for semi-decent pay."

They smile into their mug, and tap their finger on it.

"I responded that I was interested, because I was. Journalism and Econ major decaying in the hallway. I dunno, that day was just. It was so mundane, but I remember it so clearly."

The person across from them chuckles slightly. "Well, it did lead us here, to today, so I understand why. Can't say I remember my first interaction with them that well, though." His hand runs through his neon green hair, and they sigh.

"That's understandable."

The silence that settles between them is stretched and thin, wrapping around their throats in thin ribbons. They both remember their memories with melancholy and grief weathered and faded by time.

He clears his throat, snapping the ribbons. "Well, after tomorrow, maybe there'll be a more memorable day."

"Yeah." They whisper. "After tomorrow."

-

Virtue watches the hero's face as they realize Electrode is distracted, and go into a dead sprint. Within moments, they're matching the hero's pace in a mad dash to the most colorful piece to this bloodbath.

"Cato!" They yell as they shove their entire weight into Electrode's gut, successfully putting them on the ground as the hero's arm snags their waist and drags them away.

They stop in an alley behind some cars some ways away, and Virtue can taste the hero's rage.

"You bitch." She snarls, and her hand starts to reach towards Virtue's face, but they're faster.

They drop to the ground, pulling out a knife and stabbing it right into their forearm and moving. Their other hand has pulled up their hood and is pulling up their mask. Blood falls into black fabric, staining it dark and sticky.

There's a flicker of recognition in the hero's eyes before a knife digs straight through them, and the area behind. The other eye goes from sickly green to dead.

There's a scream.

There's a howling, desperate, familiar scream and Virtue's heart stops and starts and they're moving moving moving.

They can't be dead.

What about tomorrow?

Their boots hit asphalt and rivers of blood and trails of fire, but they don't care. Villains call out to them, heroes try and attack them, but they're better than that. They can't think about them, they need to get to Electrode. They need to get there.

Virtue skids to a stop when they see a familiar light blue suit and fluttering cape.

Zephyr is here, wind billowing around her. She's crying, and her hands are out.

On the ground in front of her, on their knees, is. It's.

Virtue stumbles and tries to run towards Electrode Cato, and they shove Zephyr aside. Their hands are bloody. Red against blue against black against green.

"Cato!" Virtue screams as they get closer. They can see wind moving away from Electrode Cato. Rain starts to come down, not hard, just down.

Electrode's quickly dulling eyes meet Virtue's, and their smile is more radiant than the sun that refused to shine on them in this moment.

They slump over in the rain, it takes ten seconds to finally get to them. As Virtue starts to desperately breathe air into their lungs, a pristine memory of a Thursday with rain and wind and a cup of coffee is replaced with the memory of a Friday with rain and wind and the unmoving chest of the only person they had left.

[iannageorge]

Trying not to “OP” (overpower) the protag

Sharing more of the writing process for my Malcolm-centric PJO longfic, “Strategist”.

The easiest way for me to explore an idea, especially a work-related thing, and to relate it to the PJO/New Athens world is to have Malcolm talk or think about it. But in my drafts, I catch myself relying on him to correct other characters. Too much of it is cringy and annoying and even boring.

Obviously, Malcolm has to know some things. Lots of things, actually, given that he’s a son of Athena, that he’s the leader of the whole shebang, and that people do look to him for answers. He is supposed to think through things that others can’t.

But there has to be a balance.

In finding that balance, I find that the characters end up more in character and that the world I’m trying to write feels more real.

Sometimes, I end up flipping the script: Malcolm’s the one who learns. (E.g., when speaking with Clarisse in chapter 3, when reading Pravir’s memo in chapter 5, when watching Apollo’s daughters and Drew in chapter 8.)

So perhaps Malcolm has a decent-sounding idea that fits his worldview, but another character has arguments against his that are more valid. Immediately, the scene becomes more interesting—and even more fun to put together.

Other times, it’s another person who’s presenting the solution, even if Malcolm already knows it. (E.g., with Bae in chapter 4, with Chiara in chapter 5, with Adila in chapter 8.)

It better fits his character, too, because he’s the type of “boss” who would also try to empower employees. (More “servant leader” than authoritative, micromanaging kind.) If someone worked on a particular project, they should be appropriately recognized for it and should have their proper moment. (So not what happens often irl lol. If you’ve ever done research for a prof… HA. If you’ve ever done research for a prof in economics? HAHAHAHA.)

Of course, the other reason Malcolm can’t be shown to be “OP” is that he wouldn’t surround himself with people who constantly need to be edumacated. New Athens is supposed to be run by competent people, so Malcolm is supposed to be able to rely on his colleagues and employees.

And as demonstrated in chapter 8, he does want people to challenge him. To tell him when he’s wrong. It’s the same as how he’s so often questioning his own self, since he’s a person who pursues truth and optimal decision-making—which I think is very UChicago and very econ of him, respectively, which brings us back to richer and more accurate characterization.

[tuesday7econlive]

The Struggles With Choosing a Major in College

As students in college one appliance of econ in the real world that many students have dealt with including myself is the opportunity cost/trade off of choosing a major. Choosing a major has many factors that come into play like salary expectations, the demand for that certain career path, financial aspects, and personal interest. There are usually two main paths that many people have advised me to take while asking them for advice when I was picking mines. 

The first option is to disregard what you like doing and choose a major in a career path that has a higher demand in the job market. By doing this, you have a higher chance of making a decent amount of money right out of college even if you do not like it. Many people argue that your job does not have to be something that you enjoy doing, your main goal is just to make money so that you are able to live. Some pros of this is that you will have a better chance of having job security, being financially stable once you graduate which can also lead to a better work life balance. However, on the other hand, some cons of doing this is that you will have a lack of fulfillment which can decrease your passion and motivation and can lead to regret. Some argue that there is no point in pursuing this career path if you can be miserable everyday. 

The second option is to choose a major that you do enjoy even if that certain career field might be in low demand and that there is no guarantee that you will be able to get a job with it after getting a four year degree. Some pros of this is that you will have passion and interest for your job if you do find a job. Because you actually enjoy what you do, you are willing to deepen your understanding of harder concepts which can overall help you grow as a person. On the flip side, because it will be harder to find an actual job, you might not have financial stability and will have fewer job opportunities. This could also lead to you needing an even higher education or even changing your career path, which will take more time, effort and money. 

As you can see choosing a major has many trade offs, it just depends on what you value and deem to be more important.

Alyssa Tran

Student ID: 58544534

[tonkiyu]

Wheel creaks when turning

#Wheel creaks when turning driver

#Wheel creaks when turning full

However, the principles in this Instructable could be applied to any hatchback, SUV, or van. The Honda Fit combines great gas mileage (39 mpg) and unexpected roominess making it a great car for my wife and I on our road trip. The idea was simple, build a platform to sleep on with enough room for all of the things we need underneath. It doesn't like to be driven with too much gusto, however. Honda quotes a 0-62mph of a little over 9 seconds, which is quick enough for a supermini, and its rolling acceleration is decent too.

#Wheel creaks when turning full

【 Honda Jazz Jazz I】 full technical specifications, models and characteristics. However, over the last week, I've noticed a slight creaking noise when I manoeuvre ( turning t read more. I bought a 3 year old Honda Jazz ( 27k miles) about two weeks ago form a non- Honda dealer. ECON mode helps the vehicle consume less fuel by adjusting the throttle response. Honda's ECON button adjusts the throttle response, limits the shifting behavior, reduces A/C system capacity, and reduces the fuel injection to increase the fuel efficiency in your car engine. Its not a condition that can be caused by the customer/owner, it is a design problem that only affect the 4cyl engine, and are not limited. In cases where this goes minutes without working, lubrication is not the answer when your car key won't turn in the ignition. If this does not work, add more lubricant and repeat. Wipe away the overspray or anything leaking from the keyhole. Because this heat adversely affects the system, the control unit monitors the electric current of the motor. The increase of electric current causes the motor to heat up. Repeated extreme steering force, such as turning the steering wheel continuously back-and-forth with the vehicle stopped, causes an increase of power consumption in the EPS motor. many technicians/ Mechanics confuse this alternator noise with. This is a very common issue on Honda Oddysey, Ridgeline, Pilot and with the 3.5 Liter engine. Doesn't matter if any other door is open, or where the key fob is, or if the vehicle is running or not.Ĭpr test questions american heart association

#Wheel creaks when turning driver

When the driver door is open, there is a non-stop beeping/chime that sounds. Haven't been able to find an answer to this anywhere online, and my dealer is worse than useless.

Grow demand and interest in your products or services.

Differentiate you from other similar businesses.

It should simply direct your car in the direction you want to go. Under ordinary circumstances, turning your steering wheel shouldn't cause any unusual noise. Prices may vary depending on your location. On average, the cost for a Honda Accord Creaking noise when turning the steering wheel Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Easy fixes include replacing worn components, changing the differential fluid, or having a mechanic fix the problem. If your Honda CR-V is making a grinding noise when turning, it could be due to a faulty CV joint, low differential fluid, worn brake pads, or damaged wheel bearings.

One such issue is a grinding noise when turning your Honda CR-V.

[caestusarchivum]

hikari dropped out of high school during the 9th grade summer and opted for getting her GED instead ( because of the whole labrie attack traumatizing her that she was afraid to go to school again ). I think I mentioned before that she threw herself into extracurriculars like band and FFA to avoid actual schoolwork due to it not being stimulating or holding her interest.

she has dyscalculia. Urging her to be 'better' at complicated math w/o a calculator only sought to stress her out. So she cheated in math class using those photomath apps. She never got caught because she is inCREDIBLY sneaky when hiding things and she always drew nonsense equations all over her pages to 'show her work' and that was apparently enough for her teachers.

Even if she didn't 'pay attention' she always got decently high scores on her tests? Cs and Bs, sometimes an A. She did best in english and especially science ( environmental science and biology being her best subjects ) and did more poorly in subjects like history. because it was all date memorization ( again, terrible with numbers ), and some econ stuff which was all numbers and charts and it just made her. very mad.

[novaalexander]

Swinging - Chapter One

MCU!Peter Parker x Reader

Synopsis - A rocky friendship between Peter and Y/N didn’t end smoothly. So when Peter comes back into y/n’s life in full swing, Senior year becomes a lot more than just college applications.

WORD COUNT : 915

—————————————————————————

“Thanks y/n”

“You’re welcome, Peter.”

I let out a breath as I held open the second door of the greeter’s entrance. The two separate doors in the box-like room were meant for late arrivals and parents dropping off their kids’ forgotten homework. I moved my hand from the second door when I felt the weight of Peter pushing it open for himself, and rushed to the economics room as I fought back a second glance.

When I sat in my seat, I let my mind drift. It was weird … how consistently I’ve seen Peter since school started just two weeks ago. We had every study hall together, so our rotating schedules lined up perfectly. On days I had late arrival, he did too. And I knew (or maybe hoped) that he was having the same thought. But a silent buzz brought me back from my own head.

Y/N

A text from Ned this early when he had double late arrival meant one thing. Peter brought me up. Over a year later, and he was still predictable.

Peter was a kid I used to sit behind in fifth grade, using the edges of our daily handout papers to poke at the back of his neck and watch him get riled up. I never knew his name then, but he knew mine. It wasn’t until our shared tenth grade science that we had the first conversation I would actually remember, where he introduced himself.

The friendship started with a slight rivalry. Peter countering every theory or science based belief I had, and throwing a bold smile every time I reacted. Then, he would throw himself into my conversations with MJ, who he became friends with a few years after I did. And I was cordial, never fighting his presence, and sooner or later, inviting it more often than not. Mixing MJ and I’s duo with Ned and Peter’s.

hey ned. in econ. whats up

It wasn’t until our lunch period that he responded in person, in the courtyard spot I shared with MJ and a few other people. Not Ned’s usual seat, but he made a few guest appearances.

“A little birdy told me you saw Peter today,” he said sitting on the bench and turning to face me, “he held the door for you?”

What a gentlemen, right? “No Ned, I held the door open for him,” I was suddenly aware of the feeling of my hands fighting against each other in my lap. “I was just being decent, nothing for him to run telling you not even five minutes after it happened.” Ned then argued that maybe it was because Peter and I hadn’t spoke in a year, and the terms we ended on normally would’ve had me slamming the door before his body could reach it. I could tell he was hoping I would grasp onto the excuses he made for his friend instead of realizing that maybe Peter was just a little dramatic. Ned missed our old group and he made it a point to remind us every few weeks.

I had to keep myself from arguing with him, instead just huffing and turning to MJ when she spoke up. “That isn’t the first time he’s seen y/n. They were both at my house party over the summer, they ran into each other at the lake, and he almost backed into her in the parking lot of the bagel shop,” my fingers became even more interesting as our group became quiet. Making the push of the courtyard door louder.

“Ned,” a huff from behind me, “Ned. I was looking for you.” Another huff, like he was losing his breath the more he fought to regain it.

By now, Peter was no longer behind our bench, he was standing in front of Ned and I. His hands were on his knees, a blotchy red face and his backpack almost completely open, leaving a blob of red and blue on display. I got up quietly, ignoring the puzzled look from MJ to quickly zip up Peter’s bag.

I wanted to calm him down, the feelings from our past friendship bubbling but I also wanted to be —deserved to be— selfish. I was no longer the only person who knew, which meant it wasn’t my job to comfort him anymore. I rubbed his shoulder sympathetically, sending a pathetic attempt at a comforting smiling before making me way into the school.

•

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz

“Oh fuck off,” I huffed against my pillow. “If you need me you’ll find me,” mumbling to myself, I pushed the side of my head further into my sheets as the consistent buzzing stopped. Ignoring calls was a trait I acquired at a time where missed calls from Peter resulted in knocks on my window minutes later. I started thinking that if somebody needed me that bad, they could show up at my door — or window. Plus, I wasn’t answering the phone at one in the morning.

A crash on metal from outside my window broke the trance of attempted sleep. You have got to be kidding me. I didn’t bother opening the window when I trudged up to it, a pair of shorts and a loose tshirt would not combat the September air well. “What do you want, Parker?” I still hadn’t looked up. I turned to the table next to my bed and turned on the lamp before deciding to make eye contact.

Oh. Fuck off.

————————————————————————

A/N this is the first fic ive written since 9th grade but im excited to start this so 🧍🧍

[studying-with-k]

Studyblr Intro post

Why do I want my own studyblr:

Mainly for the motivation, to grow academically and get out of my personal hell which is the degree I'm studying rather than the subject.

Plus to make some friends all over the world who are like minded but have their own goals.

To track my growth within academia and possibly motivate me when I look back at the progress I've made, sort of like a diary but for everyone to read.

About me:

K

INTJ-T

22

Aro-Ace flux

Pronouns; They/he

Msc in Political Economy

Wannabe sort of academic-researcher

My interests:

Philosophy

Writing

Literature

learning more stuff in general

Museums

Coffee (both learning how to make good coffee and drinking it)

Dark academia/cottagecore

Poetry (poetryblr is in the additional info tab)

Math especially calculus which is ironic cause I bombed it in my boards lol

My goals

Get a decent GPA for my degree and move abroad for a master's program, hopefully to Europe

Write more often and finish up my poetry collection before going for my masters

Make some really good memories with the community

learn more in econ and other subjects

Blogs that I like and are my inspiration:

@studyblr, @emmastudies, @philosophyblr, @studyquill@study-van, @acadernia, @galina and the whole studyblr community in general

[creylune]

keep feeling like i’m not cut out for this college thing

[redbeansoups]

random college! bakusquad headcanons

Kaminari Denki

Realistically, probably a CS major or something of the sort, but is extremely lax about his schoolwork.

Almost never makes it to lectures. Definitely doesn’t make it to any of his classes before 12 pm. Also: 100% procrastinates until the last minute, rushes everything half-heartedly and then acts confused when his grades are terrible

Everyone wonders how he got into college. But hey, C’s get degrees

The type to forget to eat because he gets absorbed in whatever he’s doing, whether it’s schoolwork or just a video game or something

I don’t really see him as the party type, but probably loves a good round of drinks with the Bakusquad. A loud, fun-loving drunk

Eats like ass, goes to the gym less than he should but still has unexplainable god-tier metabolism

Streams on the side!!! Probably streams a couple of hours a few nights out of the week, sometimes has the rest joining in for fun

Literally nocturnal

Bakugo Katsuki

Hear me out–Humanities major Bakugo Katsuki

A history/polisci major who gets way too pumped about academic and political discourse. Extremely opinionated, but usually has well-formed stances

Never brings it up around his friends, but once dragged into a debate he never backs down

Always on the grind. Has to be physically dragged away from his work, and even then is always grumbling about how he has better things to do with his time

Cooks for everyone :) Whips up entire feasts when someone in the group is feeling down or an important exam is coming up

Not afraid to fight professors he believes are wrong in their thinking, has definitely sidetracked entire lectures with his points before

Kirishima Eijirou

Recruited athlete, absolutely the quarterback of the football team or something–I mean, look at him, he’s absolutely built

Majors in econ or applied maths honestly. He really isn’t the sellout kind but I can’t imagine he’d enjoy the structure of academia–he just wants something relatively practical that he can grind out and be done with

Emotional support pillar. Everyone hangs out in his room because it’s where he is–and god knows he gives the best hugs :)

His room probably isn’t the neatest, but it has the most charm. It’s filled with cushions and blankets because he wants everyone to feel comfortable when they swing by

Everyone knows and loves Kirishima, even beyond the Bakusquad. He’s the gentle giant on campus

Sero Hanta

A whole-ass philosophy student, but the chill kind

The only one to actually engage Bakugo in debate, but doesn’t actually care whether he wins or not; usually just brings up points he thinks are interesting and probes thoughts out of those around him

You can’t convince me that this boy isn’t a stoner.. Writes the absolute best papers while high, but generally has no motivation to work otherwise

Despises long readings

Caffeine addiction. No question about it

Definitely works in the library, probably shelves books at odd hours. He loves the place; he’d probably live there if he could

Mina Ashido

PHYSICS MAJOR MINA ASHIDO. She’s ambitious and will not hesitate to work for what she wants

Grasps problems very naturally, but absolutely hates the way schooling is structured. Not the world’s best test-taker and falls asleep in large lectures

Surprisingly a decent work-life balance, spends a good portion of her time at night studying but is pretty chill during the day

Cuts completely loose over the weekend, the most social of the bunch. Always making new friends, and is fantastic at keeping up with them

She’s the one who scouts the parties they go to; it almost feels like she knows everyone around. Always getting invited places

Probably dresses incredibly well. I don’t know why. I just feel it

On the competitive dance team; they’re actually pretty well-ranked regionally.

Also probably figure-skates or something of the sort. She seems like she’d do a really graceful niche sport

[wetheoriginals]

bestie i’m having a midlife crisis, i’m currently a political science and economics double major in college (sophomore) and I literally don’t know what job I can get with those majors, I have breakdowns just thinking about being unemployed

poly sci is one of the most practical majors for law school if that interests you. if it does have you looked into corporate law? i feel like your academic interests would suit that environment.

now if you're not trying to go back to school my friend majored in econ and he makes his living by buying and trading stock. if you start now you could have a little pool of money to cushion yourself on if you really need a job right after graduating. you could also potentially go into things like marketing and accounting. there's plenty of entry level positions in those fields if you live in a decent sized city. most will ask for some experience tho so try to secure an internship in those fields if you can.

i did my best to give you some ideas but i'm by no means qualified to give you any sort of good advice. i studied english and child development and i work on an autism assessment team so it's a very different career path then what you are on. but i send you the best wishes because i've been there and i was also scared. it sucks but you WILL pull through and get it together we all do. most people have no clue what they're gonna do after graduating it's a normal.

[hailing-stars]

@febuwhump day 10 : I'm sorry, I didn’t know keep moving forward summary

“Oh, look who it is,” said Tony. “The amazing Peter Parker and Iron Lad.”

“I’ve asked you to stop calling me that,” said Harley. He put his laundry basket down on the porch.

“Shouldn’t you two be off doing college boy things? Like blowing up your dorm rooms or terrorizing your professors into retiring early?” Tony’s eyes shifted to Peter. “Or not studying for your Chem midterm on Monday?”

Peter frowned, and dropped his laundry bag from his shoulder. It landed with a thud, next to Harley’s basket. “How did you know about my test?”

“Think it’s hard for this genius and savior of the universe to hack a lousy MIT server?”

A gentle breeze fresh off the lake blew through Peter’s hair, bringing with it all the familiar and welcoming scents of his second home.

He shut the door to Harley’s baby, a vintage red Camaro with black racing stripes, and immediately locked eyes with Tony, who watched them both walk the dirt path up to the lakehouse from his favorite chair on the porch.

“Oh, look who it is,” said Tony. “The amazing Peter Parker and Iron Lad.”

“I’ve asked you to stop calling me that,” said Harley. He put his laundry basket down on the porch.

“Shouldn’t you two be off doing college boy things? Like blowing up your dorm rooms or terrorizing your professors into retiring early?” Tony’s eyes shifted to Peter. “Or not studying for your Chem midterm on Monday?”

Peter frowned, and dropped his laundry bag from his shoulder. It landed with a thud, next to Harley’s basket. “How did you know about my test?”

“Think it’s hard for this genius and savior of the universe to hack a lousy MIT server?”

“Morgan’s right,” said Peter, having flashbacks to that time, a couple of weeks earlier, when she had called him from her closet to complain that her dad spent the entire day at her school. “You have boundary issues.”

“And I’m called Iron Man 2,” said Harley.

“Yeah,” said Peter. “Cause he’s the sequel.”

“Well you know what they say about sequels. They’re never as good as the original.”

“It’s cold here,” said Harley. He turned to Peter. “Why did we come here, again?”

“I dunno, my memory’s sort of foggy…”

“Oh, let me try,” said Tony. “Maybe cause you’re both broke college students who haven’t had a solid meal since the last time you drove four hours to do laundry, and you know on Friday nights I make my famous lasagna.”

“Yeah,” admitted Peter. “Sounds about right.”

Tony pulled him into a belligerent hug, knocking the air of him, and ruffling his hair with his prosthetic arm. Harley was nex

t, though he tried, and failed, to get away. Peter lifted both heaps of laundry off the porch. The three of them went inside, where the aroma of home cooked lasagna filled the air.

Peter breathed it in, and a peaceful feeling spread through his body. He was home. At least for a while.

*

The garage was dimly lit, but that was the way Harley liked it. Reminded him of home, and all those nights he’d snuck out to the garage after his mother went to bed to tinker until sunrise, working quietly by lantern and flashlights only, to stay hidden and unbothered.

It didn’t matter how much noise he made at the Stark lake house. He’d always be drown out by Morgan’s chaos or Tony’s rambling or Peter’s frequently moody loud thoughts. It was comforting, and annoying, at all once.

“Burning the midnight oil?” asked Tony, and Harley poked his head up from insides of his beloved Camaro.

Tony wore a robe patterned with tiny Spider-Mans over his pajamas, and Harley had never really gotten used to that, to seeing Tony Stark, Iron Man, walking around in goofy dad pajamas.

“Something like that.”

“I can help you, you know,” said Tony. He patted the red Camaro, and Harley swatted his hand away.

“No way,” said Harley. He knew what happened when Tony started tinkering, even when he’d claim they were only minor upgrades. “Touch her and die. I like her the way she is.”

“That’s not what you said when you asked for my expert advice about your suit.”

“One of my biggest regrets,” said Harley.

“Brat.”

“Old man.”

“I’m not that old,” pointed out Tony.

“But you’re retired,” said Harley. “And that automatically ages you up about twenty years.”

“I’m not retired. I’m a dad, thus making retirement impossible.”

Tony sat on a stool, and with his latest statement, his mood shifted towards something more heavy, more sad. Just the way conversation tended to go lately, as if someone had died. That was about right. Someone had practically died.

“You’re worried about Peter?” Harley guessed.

“I’m always worried about Peter,” said Tony. “And Morgan. But I actually came in here to talk about you.”  

“Me?”

“Yeah, you,” said Tony. “How’s MIT? How’s your first semester going? I need all the details.”

Harley paused, wondered if it was alright to tell the truth, then realized he couldn’t help it. He broke out into a grin.

“It’s great,” said Harley. “It’s everything I thought it’d be.”

They spend the next couple of hours ignoring the Camaro in favor and talking about hated professors, loved professors, his favorite classes, parties, that girl in his Econ class that always seems to evade him whenever he’d worked up the nerve to ask her out.

“I’m glad you’re having a good time,” said Tony. “You don’t have to feel guilty about it just because -”

“-because Peter’s not?” offered Harley. “I’m worried about him, too.”

“He’ll be fine,” said Tony, but there wasn’t any reassurance in his words and his eyes looked a bit lost, evident even in the dimly lit garage.

“He’s depressed.”

Tony took a breath, as if he’d known along, but wasn’t ready to hear the simple, plain truth stated like that.

“Yeah,” said Tony. “I suppose he is.”

After several seconds of dead air, Tony stood up from his stool, and clasped him on the shoulder. “I appreciate you looking out for him, as long as you’re remembering to look after yourself.”

“Yeah, sure,” said Harley. “It’s really like we look out for each other, tough. Take turns being the responsible one. We’ve got a calendar for it and everything.”

Tony laughed, and got that far off look in his eyes. The one he usually got before launching into a story about his and Rhodey’s college days, but on that night, Harley was spared a story about good ole days. He suspected it was due to Tony worrying more about Peter than he was letting on.

*

Tony wanted to call May.

She was a beacon of parental wisdom, especially when it came to Peter, and Tony could really use the help. He was out of his league, here, but last time he’d call at this time of night, he hadn’t gotten advice about how to sooth Morgan through the sudden loss of her imaginary friend. He’d gotten yelled at, by her, and then by Happy, both of them grumpy about being woken up.

And since Pepper also didn’t like being woken up, Tony would have to go with his instincts this time. His instincts told him what Peter needed was a little bit of tough love.

So, he positioned himself on the stairs, just as Peter tried disappearing into his room for some sleep.

“Tony,” said Peter. “Please don’t be annoying.”

“Too late. I was born that way.”

“Please move. Tired.”

“MIT has really gone downhill since I left, huh,” said Tony. “Students can’t even speak in complete sentences.”

Peter groaned, and Tony slung his arm around him, directing him into the kitchen where’s set up the table with a variety of study aids and all of Peter’s school books.

“What is this?”

“Oh you know,” said Tony. He let go of him, and walked around the table. “You got your energy drinks, you sour gummy candy, your laptop, school books, day old pizza in the fridge, all the necessities for an all-nighter.”

“Why?”

“I’m teaching you how to be a real college student,” said Tony. “And I figured I could help you study for your Chem midterm, since you don’t seem to be interested in it at all.”

“I’m a genius. I don’t need study help.”

“Uh huh,” said Tony. “A genius who’s almost failing Chemistry, and will without a decent score on this test.”

Peter dropped his shoulders, and annoyance flashed across his face. Tony waited for him to yell, or start a fight with him.

He’d been so polite, for the most part, during his teen years Tony figured it was about time for them to be at odds over something, about time for Peter to go off the rails the way only a nineteen-year-old could.

“I was thinking,” said Peter, stating his discontent calmly. No yelling only meant it was gonna be harder for Tony to shoot this down. “I could just forget about school.”

“Forget about school?”

“Yeah,” said Peter. Like it was no big deal. “I could help you and Bruce figure what’s wrong with me.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you. Except for your Chemistry grade.”

“You know what I mean, Tony,” said Peter, a bite to his tone. “Find out what’s wrong with my powers. So I can be Spider-Man again.”

“Kid, we’ve been through this over and over again. Bruce and I, we’re handling this. School is your job right now.”

“Well I’m tired of just sitting around, and waiting -”

“-hence you being enrolled at MIT.”

Tony pushed Peter towards the table, and they both sat down.

“Listen, Pete,” he told him. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what it’s like to have these powers and suddenly have them disappear. It’s been… rough on you. And May and I get that. We let you mope around New York all summer long, but it’s time to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.”

Peter stared at the table, at all the study materials, and it was hard for Tony to interpret what he was thinking.

“Think of it as a shot at having some normalcy,” he said. “Before you get your powers back and with them, all of Spider-Man’s responsibilities.”

“What if,” said Peter. His mask of uninterest started to crack. “And what if they don’t come back?”

“They will.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do,” said Tony. “I literally saved this whole universe, and our friend Professor Hulk brought half the population back. I think we’ve got it covered.”

“Yeah,” said Peter, though he didn’t sound convinced. He looked away from Tony, and at his school books. “I guess we better get started.”

Tony frowned.

He had been hoping for more conversation, or at least to break through to the kid, in some way, even if it was just a talk and a vent.

Instead he had an almost breakthrough. A tiny crack in the disguise. And that wasn’t good enough, even if Peter was studying and allowing Tony to help him.

When they’re done, Peter disappeared to his room to get some sleep, and Tony sat up, at the table, sipping on a god-awful energy drink and wondering who he’d have to bribe to become a professor at MIT.

[fukurodaze]

haikyuu!! third gym squad taking the ib diploma programme

ok... my friend and i got rlly stressed the other day and made headcanons for these guys if they were to take classes in the ib... it’s like a levels but like... a bit more death!

for my ib diploma folks you can just hop on over and read what i’ve hc’d but for my non-ib folks, lemme give you a bit of an introduction to the ib diploma programme.

characters included: bokuto koutarou, kuroo tetsurou, akaashi keiji, tsukishima kei, haiba lev, hinata shouyou

THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME is a rigorous two-year pre-college program in your last two years of high school. a full programme consists of one class from each of the six required groups (totalling to 6 classes), which are G1 - first language; G2 - second language; G3 - social sciences; G4 - natural sciences; G5 - mathematics; and G6 - arts (though, arts is optional, and can be switched out with another subject from G3 or G4).

within these six courses, students are required to take at least three high-level (HL) courses and three standard level courses (SL), but some students may take four HL courses and have two SL courses (kind of a rough one tho). 

just to note: there’s two types of math courses - applications and interpretations (Math AI) and analysis and approaches (Math AA). MAA courses are known to be harder than MAI courses because students do more theory work and have non-calculator sections in exams, unlike MAI courses where calculators are required for every exam. also, it is possible for a person to take IB courses instead of the full diploma programme, but i’m not very well acquainted with that variation of the IB programme so we’re just going to assume all the boys got 6 courses.

okay. i am so sorry i just lectured you on a whole school curriculum. anyways. back to haikyuu!!

BOKUTO KOUTAROU : Japanese Language and Literature HL, Mandarin Ab Initio SL, Geography HL, SEHS (Sports, Exercise, and Health Science) HL, Math AI SL, Economics SL

ok so it’s canon that this dude is not doing very well in math but his parents made him do higher level math at first poor boy >:(

he started the year off in higher level and thought he was gonna be fine

no. he was not fine.

so he ended up switching his math hl to sl and his japanese sl to hl

IT IS CANON (special chapter in volume 19 titled “i just forgot” where bokuto has a wholeass crisis about words) that bokuto’s really one to actually really like to think about how words work and function as systems in the same way ib language courses do!!

actually having him do japanese ll hl is just an excuse for me to keep him in math sl sorry

i mean koutarou may be my fav tax evader but he really did sit through two years worth of econ classes... smh

mans is Not listening and has to rely on yukie for notes but he just memorises case studies for exams and does not do anything else

i feel like he just takes mandarin because he thought it was the easiest one... he also thinks the words sound similar so it’s easy to memorise

he’s a pretty good communicator so he practices his mandarin quite a lot. as in, he’s made friends to talk to in mandarin. we love to see it!!!

also. um. i hc that he’s pretty decent at memorisation so geography!! this goes for memorising all the kanji and mandarin characters too

i think SEHS is pretty self-explanatory. mans already known he wanna be a pro athlete might as learn about being healthy as an athlete

KUROO TESTUROU : Japanese Language and Literature SL, English B SL, Business Management HL, Chemistry HL, Math AI HL, Biology HL

now... we all know this mf been taking chemistry hl. it is CANON

and as per his career path... DEFINITELY business management hl

i feel like he’s so analytical in the way he sees things that he likes to explore many areas of knowledge where there are different ways of thinking

takes english as a second language because... whew.. aint it sexy when mans wanna be multifaceted in business

also takes higher level biology because he’d rather not with the languages... but later on i believe he ends up in a higher level language class because he might as well

i feel like kuroo’s classes just give me a vibe i know too too well... 

mans takes math ai. he does not wanna fuck around with a pencil proving a theorem he just wants the answer bro

like in volleyball, he’s a quick thinker. so he’s pretty g with math and business stuff

i literally know someone with this class combo ... it’s not very chill but it screams “you never see me do any course work but i always get at least a B+ in every subject”

AKAASHI KEIJI :  Japanese Language and Literature HL, French Ab Initio SL, Psychology HL, Chemistry SL, Math AA SL, Visual Arts HL

now... this subject combo radiates such pretty energy

pretty subjects for a pretty boy

he was originally going to do biology sl but then found out there is chemistry in biology so he just decided with chemistry. plain and simple.

we all know akaashi is both emotionally and academically intelligent

he’s logical and analytical, and when faced with a tough time he works through it well albeit going through a little bit of struggle

this automatically puts him in math aa... i just see him actually liking proving theorems??? 

but maybe he just thinks his calculator is a nuisance sometimes and would rather solve everything by hand 

also art boy! this dude likes graphic design more but when it comes to traditional art he does Not Hold Back

i like to think that he’s into painting backgrounds and mixed media

if he didn’t take VA, i’m pretty sure he would take economics. because. it’s quite systematic and i think akaashi would take a liking to it

as for japanese ll hl... we all know this dude was supposed to be a part of the literary section in a magazine/manga company but was moved to editor

goes hand-in-hand with psychology, likes to know how words convey meaning and how they affect people

he also thinks french is kind of a cool language. i feel like this guy just wants to do it because it sounds cool and novel for him

all in all, pretty solid subject combo!

TSUKISHIMA KEI : Japanese Language and Literature HL, French Ab Initio SL, History HL, Biology SL, Math AA HL, Instrumental Music HL

4 hl’s... here we are folks

honestly does it for colleges to go like “holy shit this dude is kinda crazy”

but does suffer... coursework tings :)

first of all this dude takes french (even though it’s a beginner’s class) because he just loves to sound cool huh

the summer before his courses started he would have had the basics down after looking through free ib textbooks

plus, being the guy that’s super good at a new language in the class is a huge ass flex and a big ass ego boost. and anyways, with language, he thinks it’s just a lot of simple patterns working together.

this also applies to japanese ll hl... finds writing essays and making arguments ez (at least that’s what he tells himself - he’s kinda nervous when it comes to japanese but he holds on anyway)

practices extra hard on pronunciation. sounds hot tho

math aa hl??? there we go. another crazy one. thought he could ace the class at first.... no. no he couldn’t 

thinks about moving down to sl. probably does. (at least it’s not math ai)

history and biology go hand in hand for him. he has significant interests in prehistoric times, and likes to learn about the origins of life - that’s a given

but he does get tired of the politics talk in history like... goddamn all these people making so many mistakes? just stop making them smh

and instrumental music was just something he got onto because he really would like to just have a course where he could enjoy himself while also learning about the stuff he likes

nobody knows what music he listens to... but i think he’s willing to listen to anything as long as it’s music and it has the kinds of vibes he digs

HAIBA LEV: Japanese Language and Literature SL, Mandarin Ab Initio SL, Psychology HL, Chemistry SL, Math AI HL, Theatre HL

i don’t know how to explain it but lev has such strong psych and chem energy

yes haiba lev’s classes are the ones i picked via roulette wheel

jk not really

here’s the thing though, lev takes psychology because he thinks econ, business management, history, ess, all that jazz is just... absolutely boring. like. super. mf-ing. boring.

so he’s like ooh cognitive processes!

kinda hates that he has to study research methods and research methods ONLY at first but when he gets the hang of it he really finds it one of his fav subs

i actually have no explanation for mandarin ab initio sl... he just seemed like the kind of guy who would wanna do the class solely because he thinks mandarin sounds cool with their intonations and everything

plus he heard that the teacher gives mooncakes every lunar new year ad he. loves. them.

okay now hear me out.

lev is good at math.

maybe not lightning speed analysis or calculations like akaashi, but he finds solving problems fun! except for when they’re without a calculator bc he HATES doing calculations by hand

he can get a bit clumsy with his hand calculations too so it’s nice to just have a calculator on hand

literally only does math ai for the sake of using a calculator at all times (a/n: i take this class, and this was the reason i took it too. COMPLETELY VALID)

and then does theatre for the fun of it!!! confidence levels high for presentations and performances... good fit

kinda thought that ib theatre would be his easy A but oh how he was wrong... hates the research tasks at first but he gets used to it

HINATA SHOUYOU: Japanese Language and Literature SL, Portuguese Ab Initio SL, SEHS HL, Geography HL, Math AI SL, Theatre HL

his classes are bokuto energy but with theatre and portuguese

MANGA SPOILERS! we all know he started thinking abt going to brazil in his second year of high school, and the ib diploma programme starts in the last two years of high school so it fits PERFECTLY

lowkey most of the boys take japanese ll sl because they just. have to.

this is also hinata’s case <3

SEHS HL!!! he has a vision for the future and it definitely involves him understanding health and sports and everything like that, especially after nationals in his first year :(((( still sad abt that

but he’s motivated for this higher level class because he’s really just gonna go all out with the research

math ai sl because... he prolly don’t give a fuck about numbers!!! (it hasn’t been made clear already, but math ai sl is the lowest level math course)

he also took theatre hl because even though he does get scared at first, he’s a natural when it comes to learning new cultures

he’s just so curious about it all and it makes him quite engaged in the class as well!!!!

also kinda took theatre because the other subjects were just not it for him

about geography... he hates memorisation but he also hates everything else in the social studies group so

he just gets by by trying to find the little details of the things he’s studying interesting because really... geography class is just the base of all the places on his bucket list

hinata’s def one of those dudes who picks his subs purely off of liking because we all know he’s going. any subject that isn’t based off of liking is usually a mandatory subject anyways

[morwensteelsheen]

I’m starting grad school this autumn and honestly I’m getting nervous. Like yes I am v excited about the whole prospect overall and I do miss being a student but am intimidated by 3 hr long seminars and thesis writing and massive amounts of reading… everyone keeps saying it’s gonna be very different from undergrad so okay, but how specifically? Is it the large amounts of reading? I already had insane amounts of reading (humanities degree hurrah) especially in my last two years but could you expound on your own experience and how you take notes/read quickly/summarize or just how to deal with first time grad students?

Oh, yeah for sure! A necessary disclaimer here is that I'm at a certain poncy English institution that is noted for being very bad at communicating with its students and very bad at treating its postgrad students like human beings, so a lot of these strategies I've picked up will be overkill for anyone who has the good sense to go somewhere not profoundly evil lol.

So I'll just preface this by saying that I am a very poor student in terms of doing what you're supposed to. I'm very bad at taking notes, I never learned how to do it properly, and I really, really struggle with reading dense literature. That said, I'm probably (hopefully?) going to get through this dumb degree just fine. Also — my programme is a research MPhil, not taught, so it's a teensy bit more airy-fairy in terms of structure. I had two classes in Michaelmas term, both were once a week for two hours each; two in Lent, one was two hours weekly, the other two hours biweekly; and no classes at all in Easter. I also have no exam component, I was/am assessed entirely on three essays (accounting for 30% of my overall mark) and my dissertation (the remaining 70%), which is, I think, a little different to how some other programmes are. I think even some of the other MPhils here are more strenuous than that, like Econ and Soc Hist is like 100% dissertation? Anyways, not super important, but knowing what you're getting marked on is important. I dedicated considerably less time than I did in undergrad to perfecting my coursework essays because they just don't hold as much weight now. The difference between a 68 and a 70 just wasn't worth the fuss for me, which helped keep me sane-ish.

The best advice anyone ever gave me was that, whereas an undergrad degree can kind of take over your life without it becoming a problem, you need to treat grad school like a job. That's not because it's more 'serious' or whatever, but because if you don't set a really strict schedule and keep to it, you'll burn yourself out and generally make your life miserable. Before I went back on my ADD meds at the end of Michaelmas term, I sat myself down at my desk and worked from 11sh to 1800ish every day. Now that I'm medicated, I do like 9:30-10ish to 1800-1900 (except for now that I'm crunching on my diss, where, because of my piss-poor time management skills I'm stuck doing, like, 9:30-22:30-23:00). If you do M-F 9-5, you'll be getting through an enormous amount of work and leaving yourself loads of time to still be a human being on the edges. That'll be the difference between becoming a postgrad zombie and a person who did postgrad. I am a postgrad zombie. You do not want to be like me.

The 'work' element of your days can really vary. It's not like I was actually consistently reading for all that time — my brain would have literally melted right out of my ears — but it was about setting the routine and the expectation of dedicating a certain, consistent and routinized period of time for focusing on the degree work every day. My attention span, even when I'm medicated, is garbage, so I would usually read for two or three hours, then either work on the more practical elements of essay planning, answer emails, or plot out the early stages of my research.

In the first term/semester/whatever, lots of people who are planning on going right into a PhD take the time to set up their applications and proposals. I fully intended on doing a PhD right after the MPhil, but the funding as an international student trying to deal with the pandemic proved super problematic, and I realised that the toll it was taking on my mental health was just so not worth it, so I've chosen to postpone a few years. You'll feel a big ol' amount of pressure to go into a PhD during your first time. Unless you're super committed to doing it, just try and tune it out as much as you can. There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking a year (or two, or three, or ten) out, especially given the insane conditions we're all operating under right now.

I'll be honest with you, I was a phenomenally lazy undergrad. It was only by the grace of god and being a hard-headed Marxist that I managed to pull out a first at the eleventh hour. So the difference between UG and PG has been quite stark for me. I've actually had to do the reading this year, not just because they're more specialised and relevant to my research or whatever, but because, unlike in UG, the people in the programme are here because they're genuinely interested (and not because it's an economic necessity) and they don't want to waste their time listening to people who haven't done the reading.

I am also a really bad reader. Maybe it's partially the ADD + dyslexia, but mostly it's because I just haven't practiced it and never put in the requisite effort to learn how to do it properly. My two big pointers here are learning how to skim, and learning how to prioritise your reading.

This OpenU primer on skimming is a bit condescending in its simplicity, but it gets the point across well. You're going to want to skim oh, say, 90% of the reading you're assigned. This is not me encouraging you to be lazy, it's me being honest. Not every word of every published article or book is worth reading. The vast majority of them aren't. That doesn't mean the things that those texts are arguing for aren't worth reading, it just means that every stupid rhetorical flourish included by bored academics hoping for job security and/or funding and/or awards isn't worth your precious and scarce time. Make sure you get the main thrust of each text, make sure you pull out and note down one or two case studies and move right the hell on. There will be some authors whose writing will be excellent, and who you will want to read all of. Everything else gets skimmed.

Prioritisation is the other big thing. You're going to have shitty weeks, you're probably going to have lots of them. First off, you're going to need to forgive yourself for those now — everybody has them, yes, even the people who graduated with distinctions and go on to get lovely £100,000 AHRC scholarships. Acknowledge that there will be horrible weeks, accept it now, and then strategise for how to get ahead of them. My personal strategy is to plan out what I'm trying to get out of each course I take, and then focus only on the readings that relate to that topic.

I took a course in Lent term that dealt with race and empire in Britain between 1607 and 1900; I'm a researcher of the Scottish far left from 1968-present, so the overlap wasn't significant. But I decided from the very first day of the course that I was there to get a better grasp about the racial theories of capitalism and the role of racial othering in Britain's subjugation of Ireland. Those things are helpful to me because white supremacist capitalism comes up hourly in my work on the far left, and because the relationship of the Scottish far left to Ireland is extremely important to its self definition. On weeks when I couldn't handle anything else, I just read the texts related to that. And it was fine, I did fine, I got my stupid 2:1 on the final essay, and I came out of it not too burnt out to work on my dissertation.

Here is where I encourage you to learn from my mistakes: get yourself a decent group of people who you can have in depth conversations about the material with. I was an asshole who decided I didn't need to do that with any posh C*mbr*dge twats, and I have now condemned myself to babbling incomprehensible nonsense at my partner because I don't have anyone on my course to work through my ideas with. These degrees are best experienced when they're experienced socially. In recent years (accelerated by the pandemic, ofc), universities have de-emphasised the social component of postgrad work, largely to do with stupid, long-winded stuff related to postgrad union organising etc. It's a real shame because postgrads end up feeling quite socially isolated, and because they're not having these fun and challenging conversations, their work actually suffers in the long term. This is, and I cannot stress this enough, the biggest departure from undergrad. Even the 'weak links' or whatever judgemental nonsense are there because they want to be. That is going to be your biggest asset. Talk, talk, talk. Listen, listen, listen. Offer to proofread people's papers so you get a sense of how people are thinking about things, what sort of style they're writing in, what sources they're referring to. Be a sponge and a copycat (but don't get done for plagiarism, copy like this.) Also: ask questions that seem dumb. For each of your classes, ask your tutors/lecturers who they think the most important names in their discipline are. It sounds silly, but it's really helpful to know the intellectual landscape you're dealing with, and it means you know whose work you can go running to if you get lost or tangled up during essay or dissertation writing!

You should also be really honest about everything — another piece of advice that I didn't follow and am now suffering for. The people on your courses and in your cohort are there for the same reasons as you, have more or less the same qualifications as you, and are probably going to have a lot of the same questions and insecurities as you. If you hear an unfamiliar term being used in a seminar, just speak up and ask about it, because there're going to be loads of other people wondering too. But you should also cultivate quite a transparent relationship with your supervisor. I was really cagey and guarded with mine because my hella imposter syndrome told me she was gonna throw my ass out of the programme if I admitted to my problems. Turns out no, she wouldn't, and that actually she's been a super good advocate for me. If you feel your motivation slipping or if you feel like you're facing challenges you could do with a little extra support on, go right to your supervisor. Not only is that what they're there to do, they've also done this exact experience before and are going to be way more sympathetic and aware of the realities of it than, say, the uni counselling service or whatever.

Yeah so I gotta circle back to the notes thing... I really do not take notes. It's my worst habit. Here's an example of the notes I took for my most recent meeting with my supervisor (revising a chapter draft).

No sane person would ever look at these and think this is a system worth replicating lol. But the reason they work for me is because I also record (with permission) absolutely everything. My mobile is like 90% audio recordings of meetings and seminars lol. So these notes aren't 'good' notes, but they're effective for recalling major points in the audio recording so I can listen to what was said when I need to.

Sorry none of this is remotely organised because it's like 2330 here and my brain is so soft and mushy. I'm literally just writing things as I remember them.

Right, so: theory is a big thing. Lots of people cheap out on this and it's to their own detriment. You say you're doing humanities, and tbh, most of the theory involved on the humanities side of the bridge is interdisciplinary anyways, so I'm just gonna give you some recommendations. The big thing is to read these things and try to apply them to what you're writing about. This sounds so fucking condescending but getting, like, one or two good theoretical frameworks in your papers will actually put you leaps and bounds beyond the students around you and really improve your research when the time comes. Also: don't read any of these recommendations without first watching, like an intro youtube video or listening to a podcast. The purists will tell you that's the wrong way to do it, but I am a lazy person and lazy people always find the efficient ways to do things, so I will tell the purists to go right to hell.

Check out these impenetrable motherfuckers (just one or two will take your work from great to excellent, so don't feel obliged to dig into them all):

Karl Marx and Fredrich Engels (I'm not just pushing my politics, but also, I totally am) — don't fucking read Capital unless you're committed to it. Oh my god don't put yourself through that unless you really have to. Try, like, the 18th Brumaire of Louis Napoleon for the fun quotes, and Engels on the family.

Frantz Fanon — Wretched of the Earth. Black Skin White Masks also good, slightly more impossible to read

Benedict Anderson — Imagined Communities. It's about nationalism, but you will be surprised at how applicable it is to... so many other topics

Judith Butler — she really sucks to read. I love her. But she sucks to read. If you do manage to read her though, your profs will love you because like 90% of the people who say they've read her are lying

Bourdieu — Distinction is good for a lot of things, but especially for introducing the idea of social and cultural capital. There's basically no humanities sub-discipline that can't run for miles on that alone.

Crenshaw — the genesis of intersectionality. But, like, actually read her, not the ingrates who came after her and defanged intersectionality into, like, rainbow bombs dropped over Gaza.

The other thing is that you should read for fun. My programme director was absolutely insistent that we all continue to read for pleasure while we did this degree, not just because it's good for destressing, but because keeping your cultural horizons open actually makes your writing better and more interesting. I literally read LOTR for the first time in, like February, and the difference in my writing and thinking from before and after is tangible, because not only did it give me something fun to think about when I was getting stressy, but it also opened up lots of fun avenues for thought that weren't there before. I read LOTR and wanted to find out more about English Catholics in WWI, and lo and behold something I read about it totally changed how I did my dissertation work. Or, like, a girl on my course who read the Odyssey over Christmas Break and then started asking loads of questions about the role of narrative creation in the archival material she was using. It was seriously such a good edict from our director.

Also, oh my god, if you do nothing else, please take this bit seriously: forgive yourself for the bad days. The pressure in postgrad is fucking unreal. Nobody, nobody is operating at 100% 100% of the time. If you aim for 60% for 80% of the time and only actually achieve 40% for 60% of the time, you will still be doing really fucking well. Don't beat yourself up unnecessarily. Don't make yourself feel bad because you're not churning out publishable material every single day. Some days you just need to lie on the couch, order takeout, and watch 12 hours of Jeopardy or whatever, and I promise you that that is a good and worthwhile thing to do. You don't learn and grow without rest, so forgive yourself for the moments and days of unplanned rest, and forgive yourself for when you don't score as highly as you want to, and forgive yourself when you say stupid things in class or don't do all of (or any of) the class reading.

Uhhhh I think I'm starting to lose the plot a bit now. Honestly, just ping me whatever questions you have and I'm happy to answer them. There's a chance I'll be slower to respond over the next few days because my dissertation is due in a week (holy fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but I will definitely respond. And honestly, no question is too dumb lol. I wish I'd been able to ask someone about things like what citation management software is best or how to set up a desk for maximum efficiency or whatever, but I was a scaredy-cat about it and didn't. So yeah, ask away and I will totally answer.