AI saved my access to college office hours

I was taking a heavy course load that included Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, Introduction to Proofs, and Chinese.

On top of that, I was working a job and competing as a ballroom dancer. My challenge wasn’t the material itself. It was that I was never available during office hours to get extra help when I needed it.

I started using AI as a substitute for office hours.

I asked it to act like a professor, not just give answers. I had it explain concepts, walk through similar problems, and create study guides and practice tests.

It became a way to learn the material more deeply, without relying on it during exams or real-world situations.

It worked.

I was able to learn the material effectively and ended up getting straight A’s that term. In one class, I had the highest score on the midterm.

More importantly, it reinforced that I wasn’t using AI as a shortcut. I was using it as a tool to actually understand the material.