#key powerpoint tips

[romerona]

The Cook and The Teacher!

Let's pretend The Bear and Abbot Elementary are in the same city.

Another cute interaction between Carmen (Carmy) Berzatto x Abbot Teacher Femreader! Sunshinereader!

Warnings: None

You glanced at the clock again, sighing like it had personally offended you. Your fingers tugged at the edge of your sleeve, mostly for dramatic flair at this point. The hands hadn’t moved much since the last time you looked—which was approximately forty-seven seconds ago, but who’s counting?

Not that you were nervous. No, no. Nervous is for people who don’t have an emergency backup plan involving a pigeon wearing a tiny tie and a PowerPoint presentation about apples.

You were just… mildly concerned.

Okay, maybe “low-key spiraling” was a more accurate term.

He said he’d come. Offered, even. You hadn’t begged, bribed, or emotionally blackmailed him (which you were fully capable of, for the record). He’d volunteered. That was important. Crucial, even.

It had all started with your now-iconic meltdown earlier in the week—Career Day Eve, if you will—when the zookeeper cancelled via email and emoji. An elephant emoji, to be exact and you, of course, had reacted in a calm, measured way.

By ranting to your handsome neighbour while pacing your living room in mismatched socks and clutching a mug of tea that had gone cold hours ago.

“I told them they were gonna see someone who works with LIONS, Carmy. Actual, roar-in-your-face, majestic-ass lions.” You groaned, flopping onto the couch like your spirit had physically left your body. “Ugh, I knew it. You can never trust someone with an exotic job and a man bun. That’s, like, a statistically proven red flag.”

From his seat at the far end of the couch, Carmy raised an eyebrow, expression maddeningly calm as he absently played with one of your throw pillows—the one you embroidered with little sunflowers during your short-lived cottage-core phase. He didn’t say anything. He just let you spiral.

You shot up, posture suddenly straight, eyes wild with new inspiration. “It’s fine. It’s fine. It’s all fine. I’ll just… bring in Gus. Yeah. Kids love Gus. Boom. Problem solved.”

Carmy blinked. “You’re not seriously—”

“Oh, I’m dead serious,” you interrupted one hand over your heart. “I’ll dress him up. Tiny tie, maybe a little badge. ‘Hello, my name is Gus. I’m a bird with a superiority complex and a cracker addiction.’ They’ll eat it up.”

That was when he said it, without looking up, like he was offering to pass the salt instead of volunteering for chaos. “I could come.”

You paused mid-rant, mouth half-open. “Come where? The pity party? Too late, I already RSVP’d with tears and dramatic flopping.”

“Career Day,” he said, glancing over at you finally. “I could do it. Talk to the kids. If you want.”

You blinked. Then blinked again, slower this time, like your brain needed an extra second to process the words.

“Carmy. Be serious. You run a whole kitchen. You work, like, twenty hours a day and sleep in four-minute intervals. I’m not about to let you donate one of your free mornings to a classroom of sugar-high fourth graders who will, at some point, absolutely ask if you ever had a rat under your hat."

He shrugged, unfazed. “I don’t mind.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but he cut in before you could unleash another dramatic protest.

“If it helps you,” he said, his tone easy but sincere, “I can handle being asked about Ratatouille.”

You gawked at him. “You're serious?”

He nodded, resting his arm along the back of the couch like this was a totally normal Tuesday. “Sure.”

“Carmy,” you said slowly, voice pitched somewhere between disbelief and exasperated fondness. “You do understand this is unpaid, right? Like, full-on volunteer mode. Zero dollars. No tips. Just you, a room of small humans, and probably a glitter explosion.”

He looked at you, completely unbothered. “Still don’t mind.”

You knew Carmy well enough by now to understand there were layers—deep, complicated, messy layers—hiding beneath that simple, “I could come.” Because yeah, sure, Carmy loved to cook, but he didn’t glamorize it. Not even a little. The passion was real, but so was the damage. Even though he hadn’t laid it all out for you—hadn’t sat you down and unpacked every scar—you could see it. You felt it.

You’d seen it.

In the way, his shoulders tensed at the mention of certain names, in the haunted, faraway look he got when he talked about past kitchens, the way his eyes darkened when work crept too far into the personal, the way silence filled in for stories he couldn’t bring himself to tell. The job had nearly eaten him alive more than once. You could tell. It had taken from him—family, sleep, health, peace. Years of his life he was still fighting to claw back, one broken, beautiful piece at a time.

So the idea of standing in front of a room full of wide-eyed, hopeful fourth graders and telling them, “Follow your passion!” like that passion hadn’t nearly swallowed him whole?

Yeah. That wasn’t a small ask.

And yet—he’d offered. Unprompted. Just a soft, casual, “I could come.”

For you.

And god, wasn’t that the part that ruined you a little?

Still, you'd waited a full twenty-four hours before giving him the green light. For his sake. For yours. For that part of you—the newer, softer, protective part—that had started to believe in shielding him from things, even when he didn’t ask to be shielded.

Because Carmy Berzatto may have survived a thousand kitchens, but that didn’t mean he needed to walk into this one unless he truly, truly wanted to.

And the crazy thing was? He did.

Now here you were, pacing between tiny desks like a caffeinated motivational speaker who didn’t have a Plan B involving a pigeon. You were totally calm. Totally fine. Totally not spiralling internally while your brain whispered charming thoughts like, 'he’s not coming', and 'Congrats, you’re about to host a cooking segment with no chef, no plan, and possibly a breakdown'.

“Miss!” one of your students called out, yanking you out of your mental spiral like a life preserver made of glitter glue. “When’s the chef getting here?”

You spun on your heel, smile locked in place like the unbothered queen you absolutely were not.

“Soon!” you beamed, while glancing at the cameras. “He’s probably just fighting with a soufflé or locked in a passionate debate with a garlic clove. You know—chef stuff.”

They laughed. You did too, though yours was the manic sort that said everything’s on fire, but at least we’re warm.

You had told them a real chef was coming. A famous one, even. But you’d kept that part tucked away. Just in case. You didn’t want them disappointed if he didn’t show.

You didn’t want to be disappointed if he didn’t show.

Because while you were currently dazzling these kids with your best “unbothered teacher queen” routine, inside? Yeah, your soul had filed an early resignation.

You glanced at the clock again.

Cool cool cool.

It was fine. Everything was fine. You were totally not about to fake a PowerPoint on “Why apples are the real MVP of fruits” while sobbing internally.

You gave your class a cheerful clap of your hands, channeling the kind of positivity that could sell overpriced candles on Etsy. “Alright! While we wait, why don’t we write down what questions we might want to ask our guest, hmm? Think big. Think bold. Think ‘What’s your favorite sauce?’ but, like, deeper.”

"Writting?" A collective groan rose from the class, dramatic and loud, as if you’d just asked them to handwrite the Constitution.

You raised your eyebrows, completely unfazed. “Yes, writing. The horror. Grab your pencils, Hemingways.”

And just as a few reluctant pens started to scratch against paper, the door swung open—abrupt, theatrical.

You were just about to exhale a tiny breath of relief when the classroom door swung open—and not in the chef arrives like a movie moment with the wind blowing his coat kind of way.

Nope.

It was Ava.

Your best friend. Your favorite menace. And the one person on Earth with zero chill.

Ava stepped in like she owned the place—which, to be fair, she kind of did, at least spiritually with phone in hand, eyes scanning the room like she was about to announce lottery numbers.

You blinked at her. “Principal Coleman?”

She ignored you completely and addressed your students with dramatic flair. “Excuse me, tiny scholars. I have a very important update.”

You narrowed your eyes. “Ava.”

She turned to you, positively glowing with mischief. “Your hansome chef is here.”

You blinked. “My—what?”

“Girl,” she said, one eyebrow raised. “The one you told me about. With the tattoed arms and the trauma. He’s here. And I gotta say, you undersold it.”

The class erupted into giggles. You blinked harder.

You blinked, stunned, brain buffering like a broken Wi-Fi signal. “Ava, this is a classroom. A learning environment.”

“I learned something,” she said with a wink. “I learned you have a taste for emotionally complex kitchen men with cheekbones so sharp they could dice an onion.”

“Can you just send him in, please?” you asked, voice sweet but strained, like you were one Ava comment away from evaporating into glitter.

Ava raised her brows like okay, ma’am, then dramatically pivoted on one heel, mumbling something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like, “Don’t say I never brought you anything good.”

The door closed behind her with a dramatic little click, and you turned back to your students, who were all openly staring at you like you were the lead in a very juicy reality show.

“Miss,” one of them stage-whispered, eyes wide with scandal, “are you dating the chef?”

You blinked. “Excuse me—what? No. Absolutely not. We are just… two humans who happen to know each other and occasionally share oxygen in the same room.”

And with a dramatic little head shake and the world's weakest scoff, you muttered, “Kids and their imaginations.”

A second student raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “But Miss… your face is doing the same thing it did when that one dad brought you cupcakes for Valentine’s Day.”

You opened your mouth. Closed it. Blinked. Then pointed at the worksheet pile like it held the answers to life itself.

“Okay—first of all, pencils up, Cupid Patrol. Second, that wasn’t a dad, it was the very kind district representative who happened to believe in seasonal baked goods and workplace appreciation.”

The kids oooh’d like you’d just admitted to a full-blown scandal.

“And for the record,” you muttered, loud enough for the mic to catch, "Nothing happened. It was one cupcake. Vanilla. Calm down.”

The camera lingered.

You blinked. “Cut somewhere else.”

You were still glaring at the camera crew when the door creaked open again—this time quieter, less dramatic, almost hesitant.

You turned, mid-eye-roll, fully expecting Ava to have come back for one final round of public humiliation.

But it wasn’t Ava.

It was him.

Carmy stepped into the room, somehow looking both like a Michelin-starred chef and a man who was deeply unsure if he’d accidentally walked into a daycare. His white tee was freshly pressed, chef’s coat folded neatly over his arm, hair was slightly messy like he’d fought with it in the car, lost, and decided to just let fate take the wheel, carrying a large bag.

He stood there for a second, blinking at the sea of tiny faces—and you.

“Uh… hi,” Carmy said, voice low and hesitant.

Your brain, which had been barely clinging to function, promptly short-circuited.

“Hi,” you echoed, way too breathy for someone in charge of young minds, smiling like a fourth grader yourself.

“Miss! Is that him?” one student asked, already halfway out of their chair like they were witnessing a celebrity walk-in.

You blinked back into Teacher Modetm with the grace of someone internally screaming. “Yes. Yes, that’s him. Everyone—uh—remain seated.”

You gestured toward Carmy. “This is Chef Carmy, our very special guest for Career Day!”

The kids leaned forward like a chorus of curious meerkats, eyes wide, pencils ready.

“Can we all say, ‘Hi, Chef Carmy’?” you asked.

“Hiiii, Chef Carmyyyyy!” the room chorused in chaos, overlapping voices.

Carmy raised a hand in a small wave, his lips pulling into a sheepish smile. “Hey. Uh… thanks for having me.”

Then—of course—he glanced over at the camera crew like he just now realized they existed, eyes slightly wide before blinking quickly back to you. He stepped closer, leaning in just a bit, voice soft—just for you.

“Sorry I’m late,” he murmured. “Traffic was… hell.”

You grinned, shaking your head. “You’re fine. You made it. That’s what matters.”

He nodded, almost imperceptibly, still looking at you like you’d somehow made this less terrifying just by standing there.

And then, because this day was determined to destroy you emotionally, one of your students blurted out, “Miss, your face is doing the thing again!”

You didn’t even flinch as you turned to the children. “Okay! We are officially in session. Chef Carmy is here, so I hope you have your questions ready—and no, none of them can be about Ratatouille, or I will confiscate your recess.”

A hand shot up immediately. “Is it true chefs yell a lot?”

Carmy blinked, caught between answering and short-circuiting.

You sighed dramatically, shooting him a look. “And here we go.”

To his credit, Carmy recovered quickly. “Uh… yeah,” he said honestly, scratching the back of his neck. “Sometimes. But mostly just when things are on fire or… slicing off a thumb.”

A collective gasp filled the room.

“Wait, did you really cut your thumb off?” one kid asked, absolutely horrified and delighted.

Carmy hesitated. “No, but… close enough.”

“Cool,” the kid breathed.

You gave Carmy a look like sir, but he just gave you a little shrug back that said I’m trying here.

Still, you beamed. Progress. He was finding his rhythm.

And then, the spaghetti.

You’d cleared a small table for him earlier, just in case he brought something. But you had not expected him to go full cooking show.

With sleeves rolled, Carmy walked the kids through how to make fresh spaghetti from scratch.

“Alright, so—flour,” he said, pouring it out onto the surface. “Then you make a little well, like this.”

“Ooooh,” the kids chorused, some of them leaning forward like they were witnessing magic.

You stood off to the side, arms crossed, trying very hard to look composed and not like you were watching a rom-com scene play out in real time. Because Carmy? Flour dust on his hands, explaining things so gently, so patiently, even when the questions made zero sense? It was unfairly attractive.

“So the eggs go in the middle, and you start mixing with a fork—”

“What if you used a spoon?”

“Would it still work if it was peanut butter instead of eggs?”

“Could you make the dough into, like… animal shapes?”

“Do you have beef with Gordon Ramsay?”

Carmy was trying his best. “Okay, uh—no spoons, no peanut butter, yes to animal shapes, and… no comment on Gordon Ramsay.”

He cracked eggs into flour, mixed dough by hand, and passed around little pinches so the kids could feel it for themselves. He used terms like “emulsify” and “al dente,” then immediately explained them in fourth-grade-speak. He asked for volunteers to help him roll the dough out with a tiny pin you’d borrowed from the kithcen. He let one kid sprinkle flour on the surface with a flair that could only be described as “chef-in-training chaos.” Another student tried to twirl the noodles like he was doing a magic trick.

He was awkward, yes—but also patient, funny in that deadpan way that made the kids hang onto every word.

Somewhere around the rolling-out portion of the lesson, the door creaked open again—and in walked the kitchen staff from the cafeteria. Hairnets. Aprons. Pens and little spiral notebooks in hand.

“We heard there was a Michelin star in the building,” Shanae announced from the doorway, arms crossed over her cafeteria apron, clearly enjoying the scene unfolding. “We just wanted to, you know… take a peek.”

“If you need to boil it, Chef Carmy, you can use my pot,” Devin offered, already scribbling something in a little notepad like he was about to text his group chat immediately.

"Thank you, Chef," Carmy nodded at him with a polite smile, a little bashful now, and returned to cutting his dough.

As if that wasn’t enough, Mr. Johnson sauntered in not five minutes later, leaned against the back wall like he was in a speakeasy, and said, “You know, back in ‘92 I made lasagna so good the mayor cried. Just sayin’.”

He then turned and disappeared down the hall like a wizard of chaos, muttering something about gluten conspiracies.

You didn’t even blink. “Thank you, Mr. Johnson.”

Then, Melissa strolls in, coffee in hand and eyebrows already at maximum scepticism.

She paused in the doorway, scanning the flour-dusted counter, the students gathered around like Carmy was performing miracles, and Carmy himself—elbows deep in pasta dough.

She sipped her coffee as she stared at the pasta. “Wait, so… what’s your last name?”

Carmy glanced up, blinking like he’d been pulled out of a trance. He looked at Melissa, then at you, like he was checking to see if this was a trick question. “Uh�� Berzatto.”

Melissa squinted. A beat passed.

“Huh,” she said, in a tone that somehow contained five different layers of meaning: vague suspicion, mild approval, distant familiarity, one raised red flag, and a complete personality assessment. “Makes sense.”

And just like that, she turned and walked off, heels clicking, coffee still steaming, not another word spoken.

Carmy blinked after her, then looked at you, deadpan. “Was that a threat?”

You shrugged. “Honestly? It’s better not to ask.”

“Right,” Carmy mumbled, brushing a bit of flour from his fingers before continuing like he hadn’t just been hit with a drive-by personality analysis from a woman with mob energy and perfect eyeliner.

He rolled back into the lesson with ease, walking the kids through shaping the dough into spaghetti strands.

“You want it thin, but not too thin,” he was saying, hands moving with a kind of gentle confidence that made even flour seem like it was cooperating out of respect. “If you can see through it, you’ve gone too far. Unless you’re making ravioli. But that’s… a whole different story.”

Meanwhile, you?

You couldn’t take your eyes off him.

Every time he explained something—how the gluten develops, why olive oil matters, the difference between done and perfect—you leaned in without realizing. Just a little. Drawn in, like the words were for you and only you.

And the worst part?

Sometimes he looked at you while he talked. Just little glances. Barely-there flickers. But each one lit you up like someone had turned on all the fairy lights inside your chest.

Your heart fluttered. Your cheeks hurt from smiling. Your brain? Fully composing a sonnet titled To the Man Making Spaghetti in My Classroom.

You were so, so doomed and just when your face was halfway to full heart-eyes emoji status, you remembered—

The cameras.

You blinked, snapped your head toward them, and straightened up like you hadn’t just been silently daydreaming about holding Carmy’s tattooed hand while wandering through a farmer’s market in the fall or about his hands elsewhere...

One cameraman raised an eyebrow.

You cleared your throat. Smiled. Gave a stiff little nod like everything is normal and fine and I am a professional adult woman.

The rest passed too quickly for your liking.

One second, he was explaining how flour and eggs became pasta, and the next he was handing off the fresh noodles to Devin who looked so starstruck you half-expected him to ask for an autograph, but instead, he just took the dough reverently, muttering, “I got you, Chef,”

While Devin handled the boiling, Carmy fielded more questions, bouncing between wide-eyed children and genuinely curious adults.

One kid asked if he ever cried over burnt toast.

“Only once,” Carmy replied. “It was a really good piece of bread.”

Another asked if he’d ever cooked for a king.

“Not officially,” he said, glancing at you with a quick smirk that made your heart do a cartwheel. “But I’ve cooked for people who matter.”

The kitchen staff and at least one substitute from down the hall— all threw out questions about risotto techniques, braising, and how he gets his red sauce just right.

He pulled out a small pan he’d brought, explaining how to build a sauce from scratch—olive oil, garlic, a little tomato, basil. Simple, but the room smelled like heaven. The adults were wide-eyed. The kids were openly drooling. You might’ve been, too.

He offered tiny sample spoons as he stirred, like it was the most natural thing in the world to casually do a cooking demo in a public school classroom. And when Devin returned with the perfectly cooked pasta—because of course it was perfect—Carmy tossed it with the sauce and started plating like it was no big deal.

Little paper bowls. Plastic forks. A sprinkle of cheese. And just like that, he was handing out servings of handmade pasta to a group of nine-year-olds and the adults like they were at some five-star tasting event.

You got a plate, too and the second you took a bite, you nearly sat down.

It was so good—like warm, rich, made-with-love kind of good. Like maybe he put his entire soul into the sauce and also possibly his feelings for you kind of good. You blinked up at him, genuinely speechless for the first time all day.

He raised an eyebrow. “Okay?”

You nodded, slow. “I hate you a little bit.”

He chuckled. “I’ll take that.”

And yeah, you were so, so gone.

The kids were still buzzing as they lined up to leave, chattering about pasta like it was the greatest invention since slime. A few waved wildly at Carmy on their way out, and others whispered to each other like they’d just met a celebrity—which, honestly, they kind of had to and Carmy gave them a small, slightly awkward wave back.

“Miss,” one whispered as they passed you, eyes wide with hope, “can Chef Carmy come back next week?”

You smiled, warm and fond. “We’ll see.”

When the last of them filed out and the door finally clicked shut, the room fell into a warm, quiet hum—sunlight filtering through the windows, flour still dusted on the counter, the lingering scent of garlic and tomato hanging in the air like some kind of cozy spell.

You turned, and there he was.

Carmy stood at the table he’d used, wiping it down with a damp towel, sleeves still rolled to his forearms, curls a little wild after an hour of navigating the adorable storm that was your classroom. He looked… calm. Settled.

“Hey,” you said, a little sing-songy as you stopped beside him. “Chef of the Year. You did it.”

He glanced up, met your eyes with a crooked smile. “Hey.”

“I just wanted to say thank you,” you said, lowering your voice just a bit. “Like, really—you didn’t just show up, you… you were brilliant, Carmy.”

He let out a breath that was half-laugh, half something more complicated. “I was wingin’ it the whole time.”

“Well,” you said with a smile, “you wing things very charmingly.”

His eyes lingered on you for a beat longer than strictly necessary. “You made it easier.”

The words landed between you like something delicate and important. You swallowed, heart doing that tight, fluttery thing again—the one that always showed up whenever he looked at you like that.

You tried to recover, tossing the moment a wink and a grin just to keep yourself grounded. “So does that mean you’re open to a regular Thursday guest chef gig?”

He smirked, low and lopsided. Shook his head like he couldn’t believe you—but not in a bad way. “I don’t know if I’m built for the fourth grade attention span.”

“They were obsessed with you,” you said matter-of-factly, crossing your arms and stepping just a little closer.

“They were obsessed with the pasta.”

You tilted your head, eyes twinkling. “It wouldn’t be hard for it to be both.”

That made him pause. Just long enough for the tension to hum again, low and warm.

That made him pause. Just long enough for the tension to hum again, low and warm.

He looked at you like he was trying to read between your words. Like he wasn’t quite sure if you meant it the way it sounded—but hoping you did.

A beat passed. You held his gaze, smile softening just slightly. Just enough.

And then he looked down—at your shoes, the floor, literally anything else that wasn’t your face—and cleared his throat. “I should… probably get going.”

“Right. Yeah.” You brushed past him to grab a tray, your shoulder just barely bumping his as you passed. “See you around, Carmy Next Door.”

If he froze for half a second—well, that was between him and the classroom air that had suddenly grown suspiciously warmer.

You kept your back to him, pretending to busy yourself with stacking paper plates while absolutely listening for every move behind you.

A minute later, he was at the door, bag slung over one shoulder, hand on the knob.

“Yeah, see you around,” he said, almost too casually.

You turned toward him, giving him a smile that was part “Thank you, again.”

He nodded but didn’t move. Just stood there and after a pause he cleared his throat, glanced down, then back up at you—like he was in the middle of a conversation with himself and currently losing.

“Hey—” he started, then stopped, his jaw clenching just slightly. “Would it be weird if I…”

You raised your brows, trying not to let the hope leak into your smile. “If you what?”

He shifted his weight, ran a hand through his curls. “If I asked you to dinner.”

You tilted your head, giving him your best faux-casual sass. “Like a date?”

“Yeah. Like a date.” He gave the tiniest nod, just enough

You didn’t even hesitate. “Took you long enough.”

His mouth curved into the softest smile you’d seen from him all day—like it caught him off guard like it made something inside him loosen.

“So that’s a yes?” he asked, voice quiet.

“It’s a yes,” you said, and damn, you didn’t even try to hide your smile this time.

He opened the door, then turned back one last time. “I’ll text you.”

“You better,” you said. “You owe me pasta without a classroom audience.”

He laughed under his breath, then stepped out, the door clicking softly behind him.

You stood there for a moment, alone in the quiet hum of the classroom, heart fluttering like you were seventeen and just got asked to prom. Which, honestly… wasn’t that far off.

You let out a breath, tried to pull yourself together, and failed—because your face still hurt from smiling and your brain was very much replaying every single second in high-definition slow motion.

Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spotted it, the cameras.

Still rolling.

“Told you it was a matter of time,” you said, voice smug and giddy. Then you added, dead serious: “Also—if you zoomed in on me blushing again, we’re fighting.”

Cut to black.

A/N: Helloooooo. How is everyone!?? Okay first I want to apolagize that it took me so long to publish this part, lots going on rn, second, I thank you all for the support, for those likes, commentsss and shares ❤️ Like its crazyyyy.

Be safe out there 🫶 Tell me if you would like to get tagged.

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@hiitsmebbygrl16 @urthem00n @svzwriting29 @tyferbebe @akornsworld @khxna @ruthyalva96 @beingalive1 @darkestbeforethedawn16 @turtle-cant-communicate spideybv28 veryberryjelly @daisy-the-quake leilanixx softpia cosmix-stxrs the-disaster-in-waiting memoriesat30 emerald-jade1 sabrina-carpenter-stan-account ateliefloresdaprimavera theflowerswillbloom blairfox04 nicksolemnlyswears stardream14 notme22sblog mattm1964 maddeningmentalmess isla-finke-blog literature-nerd-blossom starberryhorse hipsternerd9 landpiranha-blog miarabanana everywherenothere just-soft-things1 blue-4-raven rockyeatrock this--is--music lettucel0ver chayceschultz silas-aeiou alexxavicry

[mindfulstudyquest]

❥﹒♡﹒☕﹒ 𝗽𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮'𝘀

having good grades doesn't necessarily mean you're smart, a test or exam can't always determine someone's intelligence, but it's academic validation we crave, right? so here are some tips thanks to which you will get straight a's.

𝟭. understand what the professor wants ( 🪼 )

learning the entire book by heart is tiring and basically useless. we take our education seriously, but it's impossible to know everything about everything, so inevitably there will be topics we can gloss over. check old tests, listen to the teacher during the lecture, talk to students who have already attended the course and passed the exam. understand which aspects your professor particularly cares about and concentrate on those, your exam will certainly go well.

𝟮. strengthen your memorization ( 🦋 )

very often the amount of things to study is just too much and, even though you spend all day in the library rereading the topics again and again, you feel that it is not enough. you get confused, you forget steps, you get lost in the labyrinth of the subject. investing in understanding your form of memorization will benefit you in the long run. identify your type of memory (spatial, photographic, echoic, etc.) and focus on how to improve it. having a good memory will make your studying for the exam much faster and easier.

𝟯. pay attention in class ( 🫧 )

attend all lectures and take notes. much of your studying comes from your professor's lecture. underline the important things in your textbook, carefully follow their speech and - if there are any - their powerpoint slides, writing only the things that the teacher adds and which are not written either in the book or in the extra material, if necessary, record the lesson so you can listen to it again at a later time.

𝟰. organize your notes the same day ( 🧃 )

when i take notes in class i write badly and quickly to keep up with the teacher, shortening words or omitting passages.  by reorganizing your notes that same evening (at most the next day, if you really don't have time) you can revise your work when the lesson is still fresh in your mind; if you wait too long, you will forget most of the things and you will find yourself staring blankly at pages of notes which, at that point, will seem more like hieroglyphics to you than anything else.

𝟱. use ai responsibly ( 🪴 )

artificial intelligence is everywhere nowadays and why not use it to our advantage? of course i'm not suggesting that you let an ai take care of all your tests and essays, it wouldn't make sense, however very often it helped me make a list of key points to develop in a research paper, or gave me excellent ideas and insights for projects. they can also be used to create flashcards, summarize and simplify articles, or create practice tests based on the material you will have to study.

𝟲. delve deeper into your “whys” ( 🌾 )

sometimes when i study i stare into space and wonder why i am studying something that seems completely irrelevant to my path. i'm sure it happens to you too, don't ignore this feeling. don't be afraid to explore themes and topics that aren't clear to you, if two statements seem contradictory ask yourself why, if you don't understand some passages, don't be afraid to ask a question. we study for ourselves, before studying to graduate, to work. there is no shame in not understanding, your intelligence lies in striving to clarify what seems obscure.

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[en-abime-updates]

June 15th

Morning

Mal posts the player-made zine on FreeDF. You can find it by adding the URL slug /dans-des-circonstances-eternelles to en-abime.com. She has decided to visit Tati, although it is unknown where she is right now.

Since the zine mentions a twin by name, they visit it and share a PowerPoint of all the information they had about Thomas (accessible through clicking the glitch on the page.) (It is unknown where the twin is right now.) A letter in a different font (the “T” on “The Incident”) links to w-h-a-t-h-a-p-p-e-n-e-d.

Summary: This PowerPoint includes a photo of Thomas and the details around his disappearance: He was a freshman exchange student at Princeton University in New Jersey whose parents had died 2 years before of the flu. He went missing in October of 1915 – he checked into a carrel in the library and never checked out. (The footnotes note these carrels are now in Firestone Library.) He was “kind of an introvert” but an “excellent student,” so no one noticed he was missing until months later. The Works Cited page of the PPT only lists en-abime.com as well as the page for requesting visitor access to Firestone Library. Players speculate this may be the site of a geocache.

The zine page also links to Mal’s Favorite Gigs in NYC. This page begins as a blank page and populates with pop-ups addressing the reader as you scroll down, before showing a list of Mal’s bands and performance venues – potentially another geocache lead? It also features a voice that speaks in blackout poetry, similar to the blackout poetry sections of the CYOA.

Summary: The pop-ups ask the reader to record information about themselves (to presumably join the abime) – “Log on now!” “Share abundantly your photographs, experiences, and stories with your friends.” It then presents Mal’s list of gigs as “a gift.” The list of gigs lists the band and location of each performance, as well as a short description of Mal’s experience performing with them. Mal’s handwritten note at the top reads “if you haven’t got an I.D., even a fake one, FORGET ABOUT IT, DUDETTE!” Below the gig list, the pop-ups ask the reader to “Match them with the right keys to the kingdom” for an “instantaneous cure,” “but hurry, a machine for living won’t be hanging around for long.” Below this, the blackout poetry voice begins, imploring the reader to “stop feeding us.” Their requests and cries for help are similar in tone to the ones in the CYOA.

Mal’s Favorite Gigs page leads to HELP, what looks like a customer service page with a set of Q&As and a form. The page is written by (and the Q&As are answered) by the same voices from the Mal’s Gigs page (Ad pop-ups and blackout poetry). The header at the top of the page toggles between “archive” and “appetite” on hover, and “appetite” is “all” while “ARCHIVE” is “NOTHING.” The form is “for Urgent Retrieval Concerns” and asks the reader to “DESCRIBE: WHAT YOU SEE. WHERE YOU ARE. WHERE YOU HAVE SOUGHT. WHERE YOU HAVE NOT YET SOUGHT.”

Summary: The two voices describe themselves as brothers, and have very different personalities. The popup voice describes itself as our “friend,” and encourages the questioner to find “these things” and “make them happy.” The question text eventually goes off the rails: (“Why is my skin so heavy? Why are my eyeballs so dry? Why are my bones so wet?”) to which the popup text voice answers, “You aren’t there yet, friend, but you’re doing well!” In contrast, the blackout poetry voice describes itself as our “bastard creation” and says that if we are “here” it has “failed.” It begs us to “please don’t go looking for this [...] please instead forget all about this. About them. About me.” On the left side of the page are a list of what seems to be various manifestations of HEAVEN, a series of tips that seem to be for geocaching, and there is a form at the bottom that asks for location, time, name of who they are looking for, and a description of their location.

Afternoon/Evening

Players submit form responses to HELP, most of which receive unhelpful answers via email. 

Players submitting questions to the form received a response from the email en-abime-dot-com@gmail.com from a username THE ARCHIVE THE APPETITE. Most contained a screenshot of their question and a popup image reading “USE TOOLS FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE.” Some emails contained an additional image reading “HA!HA!HA!” 

At 2:41 PM EST, player sylvan receives a reply to his email “bonjour” with the additional image “I DON’T SPEAK FRENCH” and the subject line “19/20” A minute earlier at 2:40, another player Vincent received a similar email with the subject line “20/20.” Later, Vincent receives another, this time with the subject line “18/20.” Players decide not to send more emails until figuring out more about the “INTENDED PURPOSE” so the countdown stops. 

At around midnight, player charles entertainment cheese sends a question: “We have looked everywhere. We are Thomas stretched across En Abime. I want to know where he entered from - Princeton? New Jersey? The Library? We have looked across as many pages as we have. We have found him in PDFs and websites where his past self is recorded and archived.” This receives a different response, without a countdown number, hinting that these questions are closer to the “INTENDED PURPOSE” and “for greater knowledge on more subjects, use your library often!”

Overall Theories

Players think these pop-ups and blackout text are two new characters, the Archive and the Appetite, which may be made up of the Abime itself. They seem more powerful than the other characters and may have placed the flyers around the different locations. They seem to want us to find whatever information they don’t yet know, and are interested in physical geocaches. 

Next steps from this update:

Follow these geocache leads

Crack w-h-a-t-h-a-p-p-e-n-e-d

Figure out the purpose of the HELP form

[writerswho]

Fanfiction. Title: To: You, From: Me. Word count: 1466. Ratings: Teen And Up Audiences. Relationship: Thirteenth Doctor/Yasmin Khan. Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Implied Sexual Content. Summary: If this night never happens again, the Doctor wants to make sure that just this once she didn't run. Links: ao3, tips! Commissions info here!

Older doesn't mean wiser. The Doctor is proof of that. Over two thousand years and she's still an idiot. But Yaz is different. She always has been. The Doctor doesn't know exactly the difference between this Yaz and her Yaz. She's just as bad as her previous face when it comes to perceiving things based purely on physical appearance. Such a concept makes no sense where she comes from. But she knows that this Yaz is not the same Yaz she left in Sheffield three hours ago. This Yasmin Khan has something different about her. Her shoulders are curvier, her dark hair has grey strands. Her skin is stained and faded. She speaks slowly and walks slowly. Her voice is hoarse as if it has been overused. But she is still Yaz. Her smile is still the same, her eyes are still the same. And she seems so happy. So absurdly happy. The Doctor thinks she has never seen Yaz so happy.

Yaz smiles and chatters, and the Doctor listens. Because she loves to hear Yaz talk, she loves to hear all her humans talk. It's her favourite part of having them around. Yaz tells us about her life. A long, happy life full of encounters and people. She tells the Doctor about Ryan and Graham and about Liverpool. The Doctor didn't realise that Yaz liked Liverpool so much, maybe she should take her Yaz there one day. She talks about her children, her grandchildren, and her wife. Yaz has got married! The Doctor is so happy, so absurdly happy. She married and had children and grandchildren who visit her every summer. Her wife, Yaz tells her, died just over ten years ago. Doctor feels her pain. She understands better than most the sorrow of outliving those you love. Yaz's smile doesn't falter as she talks about her wife, telling how they met, what their first date was like, and how wonderful the years they spent together were. Her gaze is sad and wistful, and she lets a few tears fall, but Yaz is happy to have found someone to love and who has loved her back.

The Doctor and Yaz sit side by side on the settee. They are covered by a heavy blanket. The fire in the fireplace crackles quietly, warming the room. They drink tea and chat for hours on end. Yaz's smile is so beautiful and her voice is so sweet. The Doctor lets her gaze wander around the living room of the small cottage, noticing the dozens of photographs. She thinks about her Yaz, about how she has a beautiful life ahead of her. About how she has travelled through space and time and countless planets and seen countless things and still finds more excitement and fun in a story about her youngest grandson getting the whole family together one spring afternoon to give a PowerPoint presentation on why they should let him learn archery at the tender age of eight.

‘Was it worth it?’ The Doctor asks. Her voice is a whisper. ‘Travelling with me, getting to know me, was it worth it?’

The smile Yaz gives the Doctor is a sad one, apologetic even. She holds the Doctor's face in her hands and uses her thumbs to caress her features, catching a solitary tear on the way.

‘I love my family, and I loved my wife very much,’ Yaz is sincere. ‘But there's someone else I've also loved very much. Someone who showed me that living was more than just existing. Who showed me the stars and put time and space in the palm of my hand, literally.’ Yaz reaches for the chain around her neck with one hand. She pulls on the chain, revealing the pendant. It's a key. A key that the Doctor remembers giving her just a few weeks ago.

‘Do you still have that old thing?’ The Doctor comments incredulously. In the corner of the room, a certain blue box makes an unhappy noise.

‘That old thing, as you call it, was proof that you recognised me as your companion all those years ago,’ Yaz puts it simply. ‘It's proof that everything we lived through was real. And that it was all worth it.’

The Doctor doesn't usually cry. They swallow their emotions and do everything they can to remain empty and void. The Doctor also doesn't like crying in front of people, not because of some idiotic idea that it's a sign of weakness. No, the reason is much worse. The reason the Doctor avoids crying in company is because their crying is never pretty. It's something angry and visceral, something that comes after losing someone, after failing. Something that destroys everything around them, whether it's an object or a person. And it's always sad. Absurdly sad. That's why, when they cry, they typically do it alone. Lost in some corner of the TARDIS, or in their bedroom that exists just for the sake of existing.

However, at this moment, the Doctor allows herself to cry in the presence of Yaz. It's a sad cry, like all the others. But also happy, like no other.

The Doctor holds Yaz's hands as if they were an anchor, keeping her stuck in reality. She sinks her face into Yaz's hands and cries.

‘I loved you too,’ Doctor confesses.

‘I know.’

‘I don't think you know,’ the Doctor takes a deep breath. ‘I loved you, I loved all of you, and it always hurts when it's time to leave because my life is so long and yours passes in the blink of an eye. But you're giants, you know? Giants! And I love you, each and every one of you. In different ways, I admit. But never one more than the other, just differently. And you, Yaz, you're different. You're like them. Like her. And I love you, Yaz.’

‘I've waited so long to hear you say that,’ Yaz smiles. It's almost happy but immensely sad.

‘I'm sorry it took me so long.’

‘It wouldn't be you if you did things on time, would it?’

‘Oi!’

The two laugh, happy with the familiarity they still have. Outside Yaz's little cottage, the stars turn into snowflakes. It's the first snow of the year. It's the first snow in a long time. Winters aren't like they used to be, nor are summers or autumns or springs. Some things have changed for the better, others Yaz tries not to think about. She lets her head rest against the Doctor's shoulder and the two of them use each other's warmth to stay warm under the blanket.

‘You knew, didn't you?’ Yaz asks after a long period of silence.

‘Maybe,’ Doctor rubs her neck. ‘Timelines are complicated, they're not straight lines, they're more like--’

‘A big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff,’ Yaz interrupts.

‘Jeremy Bearimy,’ the Doctor finishes her sentence.

‘Doctor, you've got to stop making up words,’ Yaz teases.

‘All words have been invented at some point,’ she laughs. ‘But anyway. Perhaps I knew, or maybe I didn't. It really depends on whether this is the first time we've been here together in this room, or whether it's a constant occurrence. At the end of the day, time can always be rewritten.’

‘I hope not,’ Yaz says. ‘I hope that even if you didn't know, and this becomes something fixed. Something of ours. Time can be rewritten, sure, but that doesn't mean that some things should be.’

‘I once met someone who said almost the same thing,’ says the Doctor sadly.

‘That person sounds very wise.’

‘She was amazing.’

The silence between the two is comfortable. The warmth of their bodies is pleasant. The Doctor holds Yaz's hands between hers, tracing the marks of time that her Yaz still doesn't have. Their long-abandoned mugs sit empty side by side on the coffee table.

‘If this were a one-off event,’ Yaz's voice is loud in the silence. ‘If this night were never to be repeated, what would you do?’

The Doctor kisses Yaz. It's a sweet, soft kiss that tastes like tea and biscuits. The sofa is wide and big and comfortable enough for the Doctor to lean over Yaz on it. She runs her hands over Yaz's body, touching every corner of her. Their clothes are lost in the turmoil. The Doctor kisses every part of Yaz. Her wrinkles and marks and blemishes and folds. She caresses and massages and stimulates, and draws out such delicious and luscious sounds from Yaz. They dance into the night, turning a cold winter's evening into something hot and sweaty. The Doctor savours every bit of Yaz, drinking from her and tasting her flavour.

If this night never happens again, the Doctor wants to make sure that just this once she didn't run.

[looking4mikey]

Update — 25.02.2025

I forgot my login details for a few months. (Un?)fortunately, conveniently over mocks time so I couldn't post that, though my grades were not that great so I need to get my head down and work on that. Also, it was my birthday in December, also conveniently while I wasn't on this blog.

On the plus side, I'm motivating myself a little bit more. English Lit is fine, though I'm a little nervous to get my first Streetcar essay back.

History's tricky because all my teacher does it read off powerpoints and let us just work on textbook stuff while everyone talks loudly about unrelated stuff, so I struggle to focus. I might make some flashcards though and take stuff from the CCEA revision book or something.

Media Studies has been difficult lately because of coursework and my teacher being a pain to deal with. I'm just gonna cope through it and memorise the key terms and theorists and stuff (any tips?)

I did finish reading A Streetcar Named Desire, which I loved and am still working on in class, and I just finished Diary of an Oxygen Thief today, which I hated.

I've fallen behind on my language learning, though, besides bits and pieces of French snd German. Norwegian has been slightly abandoned, at least for the moment, but I've taken the opportunity to familiarise myself with Russian a little bit because of my history work.

[thegelicopter]

hello! I was looking through tags on that music post and saw that you mentioned tips on music theory! I was in choir for a really really long time, but we never learned music theory during it, just things like harmonics and thirds :( Could you just give a summary of the basics?

(I'm not ignoring you, I've just been working on this and I'm also a full-time music teacher so I'm pretty busy lolol)

I know you said basic, but I'm going to go ahead and make a pretty extensive PowerPoint for non music people to learn too.

Some topics I'll include: - How to read music - How to find those notes on a piano - How to identify Key Signatures - How to read/use The Circle of Fifths - Intervals - Identifying Chords - and anything else I might think of along the way

It'll be a PowerPoint with internal links so you can navigate to the section you want to skip to if you already know how to do the very basic stuff. Theory is a little hard to simplify if you don't know how to read music already, especially since I have no means of doing this aurally (with sound) I'll tag you when it's finished :3

[salagauno]

The Ultimate Guide to a Multifaceted PowerPoint Template Design

In a world where effective communication is paramount, a versatile PowerPoint template design stands as a powerful tool to captivate audiences, convey ideas, and leave a lasting impact. In this guide, we explore the key elements and strategies for creating a multifaceted PowerPoint template that adapts to various themes, content types, and presentation styles.

Section 1: Understanding Versatility in Design Exploring the concept of versatility in PowerPoint design, the importance of adaptability, and how it enhances engagement.

Section 2: Core Design Principles Delving into the foundational design principles that underpin a versatile template. Topics covered include color theory, typography choices, and the use of white space.

Section 3: Adaptable Slide Layouts Examining the creation of diverse slide layouts to accommodate different content types. Tips for designing title slides, content slides, image-centric slides, and data-driven slides.

Section 4: Seamless Brand Integration Discussing techniques for seamlessly integrating branding elements within the template design to maintain consistency and reinforce identity.

Section 5: Visual Storytelling Tools Exploring the art of visual storytelling and how to incorporate elements like icons, images, and illustrations to enhance narrative impact.

Section 6: Dynamic Data Visualization Detailing strategies to design dynamic and customizable data visualization slides, including various chart styles and graph types.

Section 7: Interactive Elements and Animations Examining the judicious use of animations and interactive elements to engage the audience without overwhelming the content.

Section 8: User-Friendly Customization Providing guidelines on creating a user-friendly template that allows presenters to customize content easily without compromising design integrity.

Section 9: Case Studies in Versatility Showcasing real-world examples of organizations and individuals utilizing versatile PowerPoint templates across various industries and purposes.

Section 10: Creating Your Own Versatile Template Step-by-step instructions for creating a multifaceted PowerPoint template from scratch, including practical design tips and considerations.

Section 11: Future-Proofing Your Design Addressing the ever-evolving landscape of design trends and technology, and how to future-proof your template for lasting relevance.

Conclusion: In a world where every presentation is a chance to make an impact, a versatile PowerPoint template design emerges as an invaluable asset. By mastering the art of adaptability and embracing the principles of design, you can create a template that resonates with diverse audiences and empowers you to tell your story effectively, regardless of the subject matter or context.

[visual-sculptors]

Winning Strategies for Delivering Impactful Consulting Presentations

Introduction

To deliver an impactful consulting presentation, it is essential to demonstrate a high level of professionalism by presenting information in a clear, organized, and effective manner. The utilization of well-crafted speaking points and visually stimulating aids can greatly enhance the overall delivery of your message. Commence your presentation with a concise and explicit statement of your objectives, followed by a proficiently crafted introduction that encapsulates the core message and highlights the key takeaways of your findings. The main body of your presentation should focus on the in-depth development of key points, with the thoughtful integration of visual aids to relay complex data.

To conclude your presentation, provide a comprehensive summary of the main outcomes and emphasize how your expertise can serve as an asset in fortifying the resolution of the issue at hand. It is important to exude unwavering confidence throughout the presentation to leave a lasting impact on your audience.

Proven Techniques for Successful Consulting

To delivers an effective consulting presentation, the primary focus should be on identifying and analysing the fundamental challenge in question, while offering actionable remedies that encompass a holistic approach to implementation.

 To strengthen key points and validate the presenter's argument, impactful visuals such as charts and graphs should be integrated. Moreover, the presenter must exude confidence and charisma, establishing a captivating ambiance that guarantees their message resonates with the audience.

The Ultimate Guide to McKinsey-Style Presentations: Harnessing the Power of Persuasion

The McKinsey presentation methodology is a widely respected technique utilized by seasoned business consultants for developing top-notch professional presentations. This comprehensive framework emphasizes the criticality of employing effective storytelling methods, leveraging concise and visually impactful slides to highlight the critical aspects of a given business challenge. This approach also capitalizes on the strategic use of imagery, such as charts and graphs, to efficiently convey intricate data without inundating the audience with superfluous text or extraneous information.

Elevate Your Consulting Game: Designing a Compelling PowerPoint Presentation

The creation of a successful consulting PowerPoint presentation entails more than mere data recitation. It demands the artful implementation of visually engaging and narrative strategies that captivate your audience. To ensure victory, consider the following recommendations: distil your message to its most essential components; integrate pertinent information in a comprehensible manner select an aesthetically pleasing design template and employ a cohesive colour palette; and compose compelling language with a clear and decisive call-to-action.

 Final note

Delivering impactful consulting presentations requires a combination of careful planning, effective communication, and compelling visuals. By following the strategies outlined in this post, including understanding your audience, crafting a clear message, and using data and storytelling to support your argument, you can create presentations that engage and inspire. Whether you're working with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders, these tips will help you communicate your ideas with confidence and achieve your desired outcomes. As a consultant, your ability to deliver compelling presentations can make all the difference in your success, and these strategies can help you achieve your goals and create meaningful impact.

Are you seeking the services of a skilled design agency to enhance the quality of your upcoming business presentation and take it to unparalleled levels of excellence?

We cordially invite you to explore the realm of premium presentation design agencies. Our seasoned team of experts at Visual Sculptors is eagerly poised to collaborate with you on your upcoming presentation design venture. We look forward to the prospect of working together towards realizing your vision for an exceptional presentation.

[g4geventscollateraldesigns]

Tips & Tricks: A well-designed PowerPoint or Keynote slide deck can captivate audiences and strengthen your message during presentations. Focus on creating clean, visually cohesive slides that align with your event’s branding and theme. Use high-quality images and infographics to illustrate key points, ensuring they complement rather than overwhelm the content. Maintain consistency with fonts, colors, and layout to create a professional look. Keep text concise—each slide should support your speaking points rather than duplicate them. Incorporate transitional animations sparingly to keep the audience engaged without distraction. A thoughtfully designed slide deck enhances your presentation, leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

[techtalktutorials]

How To Underline Text In Microsoft PowerPoint | Step-By-Step Office 365 ...

Want to emphasize key points in your presentation? In this quick and easy tutorial, you’ll learn how to underline text in Microsoft PowerPoint. Whether you're using PowerPoint for school, work, or personal projects, underlining text can help highlight important information and improve readability.

Follow this step-by-step guide to add underlines using the toolbar. Perfect for beginners and anyone looking to boost their PowerPoint formatting skills!

💡 Tip: Want more style? Click the dropdown next to the underline icon to choose different underline styles or colors.

Simple Steps 1. Open your project in Microsoft PowerPoint. 2. Select the text that you want to underline. 3. From the "Home" tab, in the "Font" area on the ribbon, click on the "Underline" icon.

[techaircraft]

Want to create impactful presentations that leave a lasting impression? 💼✨ Learn Microsoft PowerPoint — the essential tool for students, professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs. From basic slides to advanced animations, charts, and design hacks, mastering PowerPoint will boost your communication and creativity skills.

In today’s digital age, knowing how to present your ideas clearly and confidently is key. Whether you're preparing for a business pitch, academic project, or virtual meeting, PowerPoint helps you organize your thoughts visually and effectively.

Our course/tutorial guides you step-by-step through the features, tips, and tricks to make your presentations not just informative — but unforgettable.

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[latestaireviews]

Top Generative AI Tools in 2025: Features, Use Cases & Pricing

Generative AI continues to reshape industries by automating creativity, enhancing productivity, and enabling personalized user experiences. Here’s a comprehensive look at the top generative AI tools of 2025, including their key features, use cases, and pricing.

1. ChatGPT 4o – by OpenAI

Features: Text, image, audio, and code generation; memory-enabled interactions; GPT-4 Omni model.

Use Cases: Writing content, programming, customer support, tutoring.

Pricing:

Free plan with GPT-3.5

ChatGPT Plus: $20/month (includes GPT-4o)

Pro (API/Enterprise): Custom pricing for large-scale use

2. Claude 3.5 Sonnet – by Anthropic

Features: Ethical AI with strong reasoning and long context handling (100K+ tokens).

Use Cases: Legal drafting, education, multilingual support, business writing.

Pricing:

Free access on claude.ai

API pricing: approx. $3/million input tokens, $15/million output tokens

3. Gemini 2.5 Pro – by Google

Features: Multimodal (text, image, audio, code), tightly integrated with Google Workspace.

Use Cases: Document summaries, coding, slides, Sheets automation.

Pricing:

Gemini Advanced: $19.99/month (with Google One AI Premium)

Workspace Enterprise: $30–36/user/month

4. DALL·E 3 – by OpenAI

Features: AI image generation from text, inpainting, editing via ChatGPT.

Use Cases: Ad banners, concept art, social media visuals.

Pricing:

Included in ChatGPT Plus ($20/month)

API usage: ~$0.04 per image

5. Midjourney

Features: Artistic image generation with stylized, high-resolution output.

Use Cases: Product design, NFTs, book covers, branding.

Pricing:

Basic: $10/month

Standard: $30/month

Pro: $60/month

Mega: $120/month

6. Sora – by OpenAI (Beta Phase)

Features: Text-to-video with realistic animations, scenes, and transitions.

Use Cases: Ad creation, video storytelling, explainer videos.

Pricing:

Early access with GPT-4o Pro plan ($20–$200/month)

API pricing TBD

7. ElevenLabs

Features: Hyper-realistic AI voice generation with emotional tone and multilingual support.

Use Cases: Audiobooks, dubbing, voiceovers, accessibility.

Pricing:

Starter: $5/month

Creator: $22/month

Professional: $99/month

Enterprise: Custom

8. GitHub Copilot – by GitHub (Microsoft)

Features: Code auto-completion, inline documentation, error suggestions.

Use Cases: Web & software development, learning to code.

Pricing:

Individuals: $10/month

Business: $19/month

Enterprise: $39/user/month

9. Microsoft Copilot 365

Features: AI embedded in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Use Cases: Document drafting, financial modeling, email writing, meetings.

Pricing:

Copilot Pro: $20/month

Microsoft 365 with Copilot: $30–$36/user/month

10. Cohere Command-R+

Features: Enterprise-focused LLMs for summarization, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and search.

Use Cases: CRM, customer service, enterprise data handling.

Pricing:

Free tier available

Pay-as-you-go for API usage (e.g., $0.4/million tokens)

🔚 Conclusion

In 2025, generative AI tools are not only more powerful but more accessible. Whether you're a creator, developer, business owner, or student, there's a tool designed to enhance your productivity, creativity, or automation goals.

Pro Tip: Choose based on your workflow needs — text (Chat GPT, Claude), visuals (Mid journey, DALL·E), video (Sora), code (GitHub Copilot), or enterprise AI (Microsoft, Cohere).

[techit-rp]

From Analyst to Managing Director: Inside the Investment Banking Hierarchy

Investment banking is one of the most competitive and rewarding fields in finance. It's fast-paced, intellectually demanding, and offers an accelerated career path for ambitious professionals. But what exactly does the journey look like from your first day as an Analyst to reaching the coveted title of Managing Director?

In this blog, we’ll break down the entire investment banking career ladder—what each role entails, how long it typically takes to progress, and what you can do to fast-track your rise to the top. Whether you're just starting out or already working in finance, this guide will help you visualize your future in the industry.

Step 1: Analyst (0 to 3 Years Experience)

What You’ll Do:

As an entry-level Analyst, you're the engine room of the bank. Expect long hours filled with financial modeling, pitchbook preparation, market research, and due diligence. This is where you build the foundational skills that will serve you throughout your career.

Key Skills:

Excel and PowerPoint proficiency

Financial modeling and valuation

Attention to detail

Time management under pressure

Pro Tip:

Consider enrolling in an investment banking course in Thane to gain hands-on training in these tools and techniques. Institutions like the Boston Institute of Analytics offer practical learning from real industry experts, giving you a major head start in landing Analyst roles at top banks.

Step 2: Associate (3 to 6 Years Experience)

What You’ll Do:

As an Associate, you’ll start managing Analysts while handling more complex tasks like client interactions, overseeing pitchbooks, and contributing to deal execution. This is your first real test of leadership and communication.

Key Skills:

Project management

Leadership and mentorship

Client communication

Strategic thinking

Career Tip:

If you're an MBA graduate or someone who’s completed a high-impact investment banking course, you might even skip the Analyst role and start as an Associate.

Step 3: Vice President (VP) (6 to 10 Years Experience)

What You’ll Do:

Now you're managing entire deal teams. VPs act as the bridge between junior staff and senior leadership. You'll focus on developing client relationships, winning mandates, and guiding Associates and Analysts.

Key Skills:

Deal structuring

Team leadership

Client development

Negotiation

Career Tip:

At this level, performance is not just about the work you do. It’s about how effectively you manage people and bring in business. Your network matters more than ever.

Step 4: Director / Executive Director (10 to 15 Years Experience)

What You’ll Do:

As a Director, you're one step away from the top. Your role centers around bringing in deals and nurturing long-term client relationships. You’ll also lead the most high-stakes transactions.

Key Skills:

Business development

Client retention

Strategic decision-making

Advanced financial acumen

Career Tip:

This is when your personal brand and industry reputation become critical. Many professionals supplement their experience with niche certifications or advanced courses in areas like M&A or capital markets.

Step 5: Managing Director (MD) (15+ Years Experience)

What You’ll Do:

You’ve made it to the top of the investment banking hierarchy. As a Managing Director, you're primarily responsible for bringing in deals, expanding client portfolios, and steering the bank’s strategic direction. Your compensation now includes profit-sharing and performance bonuses that can be life-changing.

Key Skills:

Visionary leadership

Industry expertise

High-level negotiation

Large-scale business development

Career Tip:

To make MD, it’s not just about doing the job well. It’s about being indispensable. You need to have a solid track record of revenue generation and a deep understanding of market trends.

How to Fast-Track Your Investment Banking Career

Breaking into and moving up in investment banking is no small feat, but it’s entirely possible with the right guidance, experience, and education.

If you're based in or around Mumbai and want to launch your career in investment banking, enrolling in a top-tier investment banking course in Thane could be your game changer. The Boston Institute of Analytics, located conveniently at Cadbury Junction in Thane, offers one of the most advanced and industry-aligned programs in India. With expert-led classes, real-time case studies, and placement support, it's designed to take you from classroom to boardroom.

Highlights of the BIA Investment Banking Course in Thane:

Training by 150+ industry experts

Real-world projects and deal simulations

Global certifications and placement assistance

Access to a network of 350+ hiring partners

Final Thoughts

A career in investment banking is a marathon, not a sprint. But with clear goals, relentless drive, and the right education, you can rise through the ranks from an entry-level Analyst all the way to Managing Director.

Every great journey starts with a single step. If you're ready to take yours, consider exploring the best investment banking course in Thane and give your career the launchpad it deserves.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Strengthen Basic Computer Skills for Beginners

Mastering basic computer skills is essential in today’s digital world. This step-by-step visual guide walks beginners through key computer fundamentals — from using operating systems and managing files to navigating the internet and understanding essential software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Whether you're a student, job seeker, or professional looking to refresh your digital literacy, these practical tips will build your confidence and improve your productivity. Start building a strong tech foundation today!

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How Executive Communication Coaching Transforms Leaders into Visionary Speakers

In today’s fast-paced, high-stakes world of business, leadership is no longer just about making decisions — it’s how well you can articulate vision, inspire teams, and influence outcomes. But even veterans frequently miss the mark on strong, effective communication. This is where executive communication coaching can be a game changer.

Beyond shoring up confidence, this kind of coaching helps mold how leaders express themselves, open up to others, and draw an audience. It transforms competent professionals into inspiring visionaries, able to galvanize action, uplift culture, and stimulate change through their words.

Here are seven ways executive communication coaching can take your leadership to a new level, freeing you to reach your greatest potential as a communicator.

Clarity of Your Message and Leadership Voice

The hallmark of visionary communication is clarity. While many leaders possess a compelling message, they often fail to present it with clarity and concision. Executive communication coaching focuses on polishing your messaging to ensure it’s in line with your underlying principles, aspirations, and objectives.

With guidance and feedback from experts, you’ll find your voice as a leader, understand what you want to say, and practice saying it confidently. Whether you’re speaking in a boardroom, to a team, or the world, your message will land because it will be consistent with you as a leader.

Builds Confidence and Executive Presence

Great leaders are not only heard — they’re felt. Executive communication coaching provides more than simple tips and tricks. It allows you to discover and develop an executive presence with confidence, empathy, and poise.

Your tone, posture, eye contact, and pacing all influence how a message is received. With coaching, you’ll understand how to make an impression before you even open your mouth. You will enter meetings, presentations, and conversations with the kind of presence that turns heads and opens minds.

Strengthens Emotional Intelligence in Communication

One of the most underrated yet crucial tools in a leader’s communication toolbox is emotional intelligence. The ability to understand your audience’s emotions — and manage your own — is the key to influence.

Executive communication coaching can provide you with a deeper understanding of how your words, tone , and delivery impact people. You’ll practice reading nonverbal cues, changing the delivery of your message in real time, and responding with compassion during difficult conversations. These skills don’t just make you a stronger speaker — they make you a more trusted leader.

Transforms Presentations into Memorable Experiences

PowerPoint slides do not inspire people — presenters do. That’s why many coaching programs include tailored executive presentation training — to ensure you perform your best when it matters most.

Whether it’s during a shareholder meeting, major client pitch, or keynote, your presence and the message you convey matters. Executive presentation training provides you with the tools to organize your content, draw in your listeners, and speak with dynamic credibility — both in-person and virtually.

You’ll go from just delivering presentations to creating experiences that drive people to action.

Enhances Storytelling and Strategic Messaging

Data and numbers inform, but stories connect. Visionary speakers don’t describe strategy; they tell stories. They make concepts personal, immediate, and memorable.

Executive communication coaching can help you translate boring facts into compelling narratives. You’ll master how to employ metaphor, personal experience, and structure to convey complex concepts in straightforward, human terms. The result? Messaging that resonates, stories that prompt action.

Equips You for High-Stakes Conversations

Executive life is filled with high-stakes conversations, whether it is about managing crises, giving difficult feedback, or addressing conflict. The way you communicate at these times can create — or destroy — trust.

Coaching in executive communication helps you prepare for the toughest situations and provides you with frameworks and plans on how to respond under pressure with clarity and calm. You’ll discover how to keep your feet on the ground, navigate your feelings, and communicate clearly but compassionately. While others are reactive, you’ll respond with poise and purpose.

Drives Long-Term Career Growth and Influence

As one of the most visible — and valuable — skills in leadership, communication is implicit in every transaction. It shapes perception, unlocks doors, and creates opportunity. Leaders who invest in executive communication coaching often begin a virtuous cycle in their careers: greater visibility, greater influence, and better alignment across teams and stakeholders.

Add to that targeted executive presentation training, and you’re not merely learning how to communicate — you’re learning how to lead through communication. Over time, that transforms your leadership brand and magnifies your impact throughout the organization and beyond.”

Why Executive Communication Coaching Matters Now

In this hybrid world of real Zoom fatigue and short attention spans, leaders need to be as intentional — and impactful — as ever with every word. Whether managing a global workforce or going through some complex change, your ability to communicate can be the difference between resistance and momentum.

Executive communication coaching does not only help you sound better; it helps you become better. Better at connecting. Better at inspiring. Better at leading.

Step into Your Voice as a Visionary Leader

The next step for you on the path from good to great as an ambitious professional may not be a new degree or a better title but rather unlocking the full power of your voice.

Working with a coach or an organization like Moxie Institute can provide you with the individual guidance and expert perspective to master your message and elevate your presence. Because the most powerful leaders don’t just speak — they move people with their words.

And that transformation? It all begins with executive communication coaching.

Ref: https://medium.com/@moxieinstituteinc/how-executive-communication-coaching-transforms-leaders-into-visionary-speakers-d37733de2105