[35: Ahead of Ready]
Chemistry? Lambchops. Electron state configuration, valence bond theory, molecular orbital theory, chemical bonds, molecular and electron-state geometry, quantum numbers, Lewis-dot structures, gases, liquids, and solids, and all that stuff is easy. It's basic stuff, after all.
Physics? Juicy steak. I mean, I think I've already established how easy that stuff is. For me, at least. Algebra? Mac and cheese. Literal child's play.
Now, pre-calc and trigonometry. All I'll say is that the unit circle is a big S.O.B. Whatever, that was also easy. The algebra part can be done using calculus and simple derivative rules, and of course, a bit of algebra. Then there's trigonometry. Your classic sin, cosine, and tangent stuff, and the cosecant, cotangent, and secant functions, and the inverses as well. You know, graphing the functions, amplitude, period, phase shifts, and then the trigonometric identities like double-angle, sum/difference, and stuff. Oh, and can't forget about polar coordinates, and the actual tiny bit of calculus with limits. So, yeah, not bad.
Then there's calculus. I mean, not much to say here. Except for the formal definition of a derivative. I completely forgot about that, since no one actually uses that. I mean, even the teachers who taught me told me not to use it, since it's a waste of time. Let me clarify, in a classroom setting, it's a waste of time. If you're learning this stuff, your homework and assignments will not have you do the formal definition of a derivative unless it's the first time, and they have to give you a question with it because they're forced to, or if your teacher is evil. But everything was fine.
Next were the computer science exams. Some of the questions were so easy. Explain what this part of a computer does and how it does it. What is this part of the computer called? A bunch of stuff about history, bits, circuits, digital logic, Boolean algebra, logic gates, memory, and surprisingly, some stuff about quantum computing. Now, quantum computing is super awesome; it's classical computing, but quantum. Yeah, I know, a really in-depth explanation, but it's not entirely wrong. Instead of a logic gate, it's a quantum logic gate, or just a quantum gate. Instead of a bit, it's a quantum bit. Then you have quantum algorithms, quantum processors, and so on. So, as I said, it's not an entirely wrong way to describe quantum computing. Then there's the programming stuff. Just small programs in whatever language, or languages I knew, that did basic things. It certainly wasn't programming a drone, I'll say that.
There was the political science exam, which, uh, I'm sure people on Earth in my past like are…really crazy about. Just remembering the political situation of the World Cup was kind of crazy, and that's not even the tip of the iceberg. Yeah, I'll leave it at that. Also, since when did Japan change its constitution? I mean, I'm all for it, let Japan be able to declare war and let them militarize. They really needed it in my last life, but it's nice to see it actually happened here. It seems Sanae Takaichi and the Liberal Democratic Party got it done. Good for them. Oh, and though the word "liberal" is in the name, they're not "liberal" in the modern, social sense; they're more classical liberal. Think Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. You know, the ones that people in America and the UK universally respect and have no issues with. *Wink wink* In all seriousness, it was a long time overdue. And what's the worst a militarized Japan could do?
So…moving along now.
Then it was materials science. This is one of the classes the support department has to take. Now, in my opinion, this is perhaps the most important and crucial kind of science for any kind of technological innovation. For example, without this, the moon landings would never have happened; the Apollo and Artemis ones. Especially not the moon base from the Artemis missions. The cool fighter jets we have would also not be possible. The computers and phones people use also wouldn't be possible without advancements in materials science. You want faster chips? You gotta research materials science. I'd bet a lot of money that any advancement in technology had to wait for other advancements in materials science.
So, enough about that. Now it was economics. So, economics, or a special type of social science, is a fancy and over-complicated way of stating obvious and common-sense things. Like, you're saying that when things cost more, people buy less, and then things cost less, people buy more? What‽ No way! Who would've thought‽ That's just a simple example, but still. This is also what people use to seriously tell you that people starving and suffering is a good thing because it's good for the graphs. So, if you're starving, in poverty, or are in an otherwise bad situation, then that's a good thing; you serve as a threat to people above your class to work harder to avoid the situation you are in. You are needed to work the jobs people above your class don't want to do, and for a very cheap cost, because you're desperate enough to take the job no matter the condition, which means the cost of that service remains cheap. And you also serve as a way to get rid of second-hand goods or things nobody wants to buy. And all this while your government is on its knees and bowing to this thing called Keynesian economics, which is all about the short-term and making things worse, especially inflation.
So, what is Keynesian economics? It's simple: the government steps in and spends a bunch of money during a recession or a downturn, and cuts taxes to increase consumption. Then, when things get good again, the government spends less and raises taxes to cool inflation, and it pays down its debt. Now, one of the bad things is that this is supposed to be a short-term thing, not long-term, but governments don't really care, do they? Especially politicians; they think the most short-term out of everyone, since they only care about getting re-elected every few years and don't care what happens even 10 years from now. Here's where things go wrong as well: if there's too much stimulus, demand exceeds supply, and inflation rises; there's excessive money printing, which accelerates inflation and devalues currency, and since governments usually avoid cutting back during good times, the debt rises long-term. And we all know inflation cuts purchasing power and erodes savings.
Now, let's think about this for a minute. What is an event worldwide that you can think of when spending collapsed, businesses shut down, and unemployment spiked rapidly, which is a kind of textbook problem of a demand shock that Keynesian economics is meant to solve? Now, let's keep thinking. What happened in response to this...event? Well, direct payment to people in the form of stimulus checks, expanded unemployment benefits, loans and grants to businesses, a central bank cutting interest rates to almost zero, and printing and injecting a lot of money into the system. This is classic Keynesian economics, and it worked. The short-term thinking worked, the economy recovered…but then came the years after. With all the money people had, demand spiked, but the supply couldn't keep up because factories were still disrupted, and global supply chains were strained and still recovering, which led to inflation not seen in decades. And to combat this, the central bank had to aggressively raise interest rates, make borrowing more expensive, and slow spending, which is monetary policy, and not the reduced government spending that Keynesian economics advocates.
Now, what could I possibly be talking about? It's the COVID-19 pandemic. Like, come on, it's kind of obvious. So, there you have it. A tiny, and oversimplified, real-world explanation of how economics works.
And those were the exams I took for a whole bunch of credits. Let's see…12 credits total. I just completed half of high school in terms of credits alone if this were America. So, not bad at all.
"Well, Eleanor, you would technically be classified as a third-year student now," Nezu said to me as he reviewed all the exams. "It's nice to see such a brilliant mind at our school, but it seems we really need to find ways to further apply your knowledge."
"Does this mean I have a lot more free time? Like, does my day now technically start later?"
"Yes, that's what it means. Your first class would be late in the morning, so you essentially have free slots in your schedule."
Hell yeah! I can sleep in! I only take W's around this place!
"That's great! So, what now?"
"You need to prepare for the summer camp."
I sighed. "Yeah, the summer camp. Come on, Nezu, do I really have to go? Can't I spend summer in a place that isn't…how do I put this nicely? In a place where I won't melt into a puddle? I checked how hot summers get here, and I cannot fathom how anyone enjoys weather like that, and how they willingly go outside in it."
"Yes, it would make sense, since your from Alaska. I imagine the heat in this city would feel a lot hotter for you."
"Nezu, I need this! I can just do the same thing in America! Whatever summer training you have planned, I could probably do in America. Or some kind of equivalent to it. It wouldn't be hard, I mean, I am kind of famous after I won the sports festival and got the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
"Yes, that is true, but it's policy."
"But you make the policy, Nezu! You're the principal!"
"Oh, yes, you're right, I am. You're going to the summer camp."
I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling. I ran my hands over my face in frustration. "Alright, fine, but I'm going to complain and be annoying all the time because of the heat."
"Well, I won't have to deal with it. Do enjoy your time at the camp."
"Yeah, whatever." I got up from the chair and left his office.
The summer camp. Now, I wonder what'll happen there. I know for sure the League of Villains won't have as many people as they should, because Stain didn't get his moment in the media, because of a good ol' fashion battelship strike, which means his ideology didn't spread around, which means low recruitment.
However, if I see that attention-seeking fraud and bum, it's on sight. I don't care in the slightest if he's Todoroki or Endeavor's family. What'll they do about it anyway?