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I don’t know what I’m feeling…I’ve been so stressed now I seem detached from myself.

I don't know what I'm feeling...I've been so stressed now I seem detached from myself.
I don’t know what I’m feeling…I’ve been so stressed now I seem detached from myself.

Stress is tough, and fall semester is for sure the season for it. Try doing some things to take care of yourself physically. Are you hungry? Tired? Feeling cold or hot? If so, try fixing them and see if you feel a little less detached. I’m a wall, so I don’t need exercise, but I hear it’s good for humans. If it’s deeper than that, or if that feeling continues for a while, it’s a good idea to check in with BC Health Services (bit.ly/BostonCollegeHealth) to make sure everything’s OK, or to chat with Counseling Services (bit.ly/BC-counseling), because stress is a common trigger for depression and other mental health issues which are super-common among students and faculty both.

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How does Paddington 2 compare to the original Paddington?

How does Paddington 2 compare to the original Paddington?
How does Paddington 2 compare to the original Paddington?

One of my helpers, who very much enjoyed Michael Bond’s books, was seriously disappointed by the first film’s action focus, and did not watch the sequel. By the numbers, Paddington 2 beats the earlier film. On IMDB it’s 7.9 vs. 7.2; on Metacritic 88 vs. 77 – all very good scores, so maybe you will enjoy them more than my helper!

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Can’t focus on what I supposed to be focused on? how to fix?

Can't focus on what I supposed to be focused on? how to fix?
Can’t focus on what I supposed to be focused on? how to fix?

Physical and mental health issues can have a negative effect on your ability to concentrate. But there are other reasons as well. You may be tired, stressed, bored, inundated. (All very typical for busy students.) Things that can help: Step away for a little bit. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and good food and just generally take care of yourself. If it’s something big you need to focus on, try breaking it down into smaller bits; a feeling of accomplishment as you go through different steps can truly help. Try eliminating some of the distractions; e.g., turn off your cell! These things can help reduce stress too … not to mention a visit with Joe the therapy dog on Friday. If you think this is a serious problem, please contact Counseling Services at bit.ly/BC-counseling.

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Why didn’t BC finish redoing the second half of Iggy? <3, B63

Why didn't BC finish redoing the second half of Iggy?
Why didn’t BC finish redoing the second half of Iggy? <3, B63

According to Facilities Management, the project “was a pedestrian access project more than a landscape improvement project.” The landscape improvements were incidental to the project of creating a connecting sidewalk to Voute so that students were out of the street. IOW, the “second half” was never part of the project.

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It’s so hard to keep on top of things.

It's so hard to keep on top of things. I just discovered I have my theatre run lab throughout the next 2 weeks. Bye, Fall break!
It’s so hard to keep on top of things. I just discovered I have my theatre run lab throughout the next 2 weeks. Bye, Fall break!

You students are so busy; honestly, I don’t know how you handle everything, though you all seem to do a good job at it. I am sorry you will be missing out on Fall Break because of your theatre lab. I hope you find that experience enjoyable and I hope you find at least some time to get off campus and do something fun, be it a walk around the reservoir, or a visit to a museum, or shopping and eating–whatever is good for you. And of course, I will be here if you need to vent or talk!

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Why can’t I steal BC’s computers if I pay for a high tuition?

Why can't I steal BC's computers if I pay for a high tuition?
Why can’t I steal BC’s computers if I pay for a high tuition?

Tuition is high, for sure. But let’s think this through. Practically, tuition pays for lots of things, including resources BC makes available for students to share. If enough students did this, BC would have to raise tuition to cover replacement costs, or stop offering those kinds of resources. Legally, grand larceny is a felony in Massachusetts and is defined as stealing something worth more than $250. bit.ly/bc-larceny. Morally, if you’re looking for a justification for doing something, you already kinda know it’s wrong, don’t you?

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Why use more words

Why use more words
Why use more words

I wasn’t sure you had finished your thought, but I can certainly say this: you might as well use more words. They’re free! Although if you use too many, the cost might be that someone stops listening.

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Why is Overwatch better than league?

Why is Overwatch better than league?
Why is Overwatch better than league?

It sounds to me like a matter of preference & taste. Though Overwatch has won more awards, League has more players & draws a bigger audience for competitions. Do you prefer a multiplayer battle arena game, or a multiplayer FPS? Do you like medieval/fantasy style or futuristic, post-apocalypse style? A gamer has told me it’s easy to understand game play as a newbie in Overwatch, though challenging, skill-wise; conversely, they said of League, “I was basically just pressing buttons fast & winning, and I didn’t know what was going on.” As to why Overwatch has won so many awards, it sounds like the development team was small, nimble, and had an unusual degree of creative freedom.

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What happens if I never want to graduate?

What happens if I never want to graduate?
What happens if I never want to graduate?

You could take the lightest possible course load and keep changing majors so that you never quite satisfy the requirements of graduation & yet remain in good standing… but that could get really, really expensive. I recommend instead that you focus on enjoying the present moment. Right now, that’s your social and intellectual world at BC. Later, it will be other things, and if you focus on the present moment then, you’ll enjoy those things, too. And you’ll be able to come back to BC as an alum and enjoy a present moment of reminiscing with old friends, and maybe even meet new ones.

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いま、なんじですか。(What time is it now?)

いま、なんじですか。(What time is it now?)
いま、なんじですか。(What time is it now?) [Response: 안녕하세요 잘 가 (Hi, how are you? Good bye.)]

“Now” just keeps moving, so answering “What time is it now?” is a challenge for me. Now that I’m finally providing an answer, “Now” has already turned to “then.” I think the response of your Korean friend (“Hi, how are you? Goodbye.”) sums up the concept nicely: What time is it now? Time to say hi, time to say goodbye. “Now” behaves that way all the time: “Hi! Bye!” Now and then I just want Now to slow down and sit in those comfy chairs right over there and pass the time with me.