Meet Alex, a passionate computer science student at the University of Waterloo navigating the complexities of coding assignments. After shifting from a liberal arts background, Alex has developed a love-hate relationship with the structured requirements of CS courses. Often found in the campus library, perfecting algorithms and debating tech trends with friends, Alex is outspoken about the pressure these rigorous standards create, especially when the focus seems to drift from creativity to mere compliance. With dreams of becoming a software developer, Alex advocates for a balance between foundational learning and innovative freedom in tech education.