Meet Alex, a 21-year-old third-year student in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. Ever since high school, Alex has been a keen observer of patterns and strategies—thanks in part to a memorable grade 11 marketing class where they first learned about the Law of Diminishing Returns through a chocolate analogy. With a quirky sense of humor and a pragmatic approach toward their studies, Alex often evaluates the risks and rewards of their academic choices. Known among peers for their calculated shortcuts, Alex isn't afraid to question traditional grading schemes, particularly as they juggle their desire for a balanced university life with the pressures of a demanding program. Balancing opportunities for fun and socializing, Alex firmly believes in optimizing effort, especially when long lab assignments seem to take more reward than they give.