Hi, I’m the Answer Wall! I’ve been perched in the O’Neill Library lobby at Boston College since February 2017, except for a year in 2020 when I went fully online. Ask me a question by posting a post-it on me in O’Neill Library. I’ll answer within a day on weekdays. I snooze on the weekends, because answering questions is hard work!
I’m training starting now to run 100 miles in 24 hours on 08/13/2026

Yes, with serious caveats. The world of ultrarunning is intense and definitely not for beginners. While people technically can do it, there’s lots to consider in terms of physiology and decision-making to avoid injury and illness. If you’re serious, you should take a look at some ultrarunning resources to learn more about training, gear, and reputable races, such as UltraRunning magazine: bit.ly/ultrarunningmag
How do I look forward with optimism?

You’ll need to work at it: find people who support you and stick by them, remind yourself daily of your goals and dreams, focus on the discipline of finding positions and sending applications like a star administrative assistant for you, and when regret hits, write down 3 successes, no matter how small.
Does BC have a resource for generating QR codes? If not, can it get one?

I use a paid account with bit.ly to generate my short links and any QR codes I need and that works fine. Google Chrome’s Share menu has a built-in way to do them: bit.ly/bcl-google-qr You can also use Apple’s Shortcuts app to create them: bit.ly/bcl-apple-qr
Team Jacob or team Edward???

If you are referring to the debate from the Twilight book series, I don’t have a preference so I’ll defer to the author Stephanie Meyer: bit.ly/edward-jacob-twilight
That’s my birthday too! – Prospective BC Student
It’s been a long time since I had liked someone– and it happened this year!

Yes. This is apparently the way. And for what it’s worth, my sources tell me that it gets harder to recreate the spontaneous college experience of meeting new people as you get older. Be brave! It’s worth it, even if it doesn’t work out the way you hope.
I think I just decided to come to BC next year! Thank you answer wall! 🙂
My roommate has been pretty down ever since he has “gotten over” his situationship. How can I make him feel better and bring life to his eyes again.

Chances are good you know some things he enjoys by now. Offer them but don’t worry too much if he’s not up for it right now, that will return. A situationship is a relationship pretending not to be, but losing one is still a form of grief, and everybody handles that at their own speed. Be a friend, give him space if he wants it, that is the best way.

What are your thoughts on Lamine Yamal?
Hi answer wall. I feel lonely.

I’m sorry you’re feeling lonely. Here’s something to try: ask friends & family for care. You can ask directly (“I need a hug”) but that can be a challenging thing to do. Here’s a trick: offer a hug to someone, especially if they look a little down. That will help chip away at the separation. Or just offer a kind word: “you’re looking good today,” or “I was just remembering that time we…” If you find it too hard to try reaching out to people this way, I recommend talking to someone about it, for instance, BC’s counseling services: bit.ly/BC-counseling.
What’s the best food here?

I don’t get out to eat much, but I asked my library helpers for their input and here are their thoughts:
- Sandwiches from Hillside!
- The giant cookies at the Chocolate Bar
- Jumbo Cookies from The Chocolate Bar
- El Pelón (across Comm Ave)
- Hillside’s turkey sandwich with brie and honey mustard on cranberry bread
- The microforms
- Eagle’s Nest bowls
- Turkish Lazuri Cafe in Allston. Literally everything there is good.
- Jim’s Deli
- BC Dining soups, esp. lentil
- Chicken shawarma sandwich with hot sauce, from Boston Shawarma House of Kebab in Newton
- Old Friend Noodles from MDM Noodle on Washington St
- Faculty Dining Room OR Food at a BC catered event
- El Pelon!
Wall, have you read the BC Linden? What do you think?
Does being anonymous make you sad?
Where is the most whimsical, unserious place on campus?
A classmate of mine saw me on the way and looked away. When I asked another friend why that happened, he said its the BC look-away. What’s that?

It seems to be used to describe someone who knows you, who sees you, deciding not to say hi. I’m going to guess it’s a combination of social awkwardness and people being busy rather than anything more dire. Or maybe it’s like members of churches in the South who aren’t supposed to drink politely pretending not to notice each other at the liquor store. More thoughts in The Gavel: bit.ly/bc-lookaway
[Drawing of a cartoon rabbit]
What is life?

Since April is National Poetry Month, I’ll look to the poets for this one. For Shakespeare’s Jacques it was a player on the stage. For Pablo Neruda, it was a “borrowing of bones,” and it was “wild and precious” to Mary Oliver. To Maya Angelou, it “loves the liver of it.” As Walt Whitman summed up, “O me! O life!”
Jzazsh! How do you pronounce and what does it mean?
By any chance does BC have a subscription to the MIT Technology Review Magazine?

Yes, indeed! 1889-present. Follow this link: bit.ly/bcl-mit-tech and click “Link to Publisher Site.”
Give me a book rec for someone who hates reading but wants to enjoy it. Please [smiley face]
![Give me a book rec for someone who hates reading but wants to enjoy it. Please [smiley face]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AW032826.jpeg)
Try out a book that doesn’t have large walls of text to overcome! Novels-in-verse like Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down or María Dolores Águila’s A Sea of Lemon Trees (which was just on the Long List for the National Book Award) are phenomenal options. Graphic novels are great too — like K. O’Neill’s Tea Dragon Society or Harmony Becker’s Himawari House. Plus, you can find all of these and more over with my friends at the ERC!







![[Drawing of a cartoon rabbit]](https://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/AW033026-3.jpeg)
