Contemplating the upcoming school year, I can’t help but draw the similarities between solving the elaborate challenges of a large puzzle. In the early stages of freshman year, the campus teems with newcomers, awestruck at the jumbled puzzle, without the slightest clue as to how to approach it. As we progress further through, we begin to get a sense of the labyrinth of corridors and cultivate connections and relationships with peers and teachers. This parallels the completion of a puzzle’s border, a foundation upon which we can synthesize into a successful academic year as we connect more pieces to the puzzle. With the grounds memorized and camaraderie forged, we find that the school year falls into a gentler, almost monotonous, rhythm, comparable to the ease of placing puzzle pieces into their rightful place. Yet, as we near the end of the puzzle, a sense of satisfaction creeps within, until a dark truth dawns; a missing piece, or a dreaded 89.9, without the hope of rounding up. In these moments, we find our anxiety building as we watch our hard work erode away. Despite the depths of the turmoil, a ray of hope shines through in the form of assistance. Turning to a teacher for guidance, you discover the missing piece. In these collaborative efforts, a path to an A is uncovered. As I write this story today, I find myself beginning to slip into the academic lull of the school year. But despite this, I will continue to push on, uncover missing pieces, and assemble the puzzle of my academic success.