Problem: Article: It’s best to give your professor ample time to prepare your letter since they’re likely very busy. You also need time to review your application materials and write a request for a letter of recommendation. If your first professor says no, you’ll need time to ask another professor. Your letter will be stronger if the professor has a personal relationship with you. Pick a professor who knows you well and seems to have a good opinion of you. Answer the following questions when choosing whom to ask:  Does this professor know me by name? Are they familiar with my work? Have I taken more than one class with this professor? Did I perform well in their class(es)? Have they worked with me outside of class? Has this professor seen my growth as a student? Did I act professionally and ethically while in this professor’s class? You’ll need to provide the due date in your request. Make sure you’re looking at the due date for your letter of recommendation, not for the application as a whole.  In some cases, all of the the due dates will be the same. If you’re submitting the letter along with your application, you might want the letter early so you can ensure you have all of your application materials to the program or job by the due date. Communicate this to your professor and give them a specific date when you need the letter. Your professor likely has a lot on their plate with teaching, grading, and handling requests from other students. You're more likely to get a positive response if you ask them well in advance of the due date.  Since you want a professor who knows you well, you might choose a professor who taught you in a prior semester. The application will tell you if the letter must be mailed in or submitted online. Some letters may be emailed to the school, while others must be uploaded with your application. It’s important to know ahead of time how your letter will be submitted so you can tell the professor. In most cases, your professor will want to send the letter directly to the program without you reading it. If you’re the one who will be submitting the letter, make that clear in your request. They may be able to give you a reference letter in a sealed envelope with their signature over the seal. This will prove that you haven't opened the letter.
Summary: Begin the process at least 2 months in advance, if possible. Choose a professor who will give you a good recommendation. Check the due date. Give your professor at least 5-6 weeks to write the letter, if possible. Review the application details to find out how to send in the letter.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In any relationship, it's important your wants and needs are met to some degree. When you're a narcissistic extension, however, your wants and needs will consistently fall to the wayside.  Think about what you need and want and whether it's consistently sacrificed. Do you feel like the other person is willing or able to meet certain needs, or allow you to pursue your own interests? A narcissist will only be able to see their needs and wants, and often expect them to be met even if it's unreasonable or interferes with your own needs and wants. They are good at manipulating others, so if you confront them with your feelings, they're likely to get hostile instead of apologizing and changing. For example, you're extroverted by nature and like to go out on the weekends. Your boyfriend gets nervous at big parties, and expects you to stay by his side the whole time, even when he refuses to socialize with others. When you express the fact your need for socialization isn't met, he insists you instead meet his need for attention and reassurance. Rather than working towards a compromise, a narcissistic boyfriend will instead continue to put his needs first, regardless of whether it's reasonable. Being a narcissistic extension is draining. If you're in a relationship with a narcissist, they will take up a lot of your time and energy. Consider whether you have time for yourself. Are you allowed to pursue your own hobbies and interests? Do you have separate relationships with family members and friends? If not, you may be a narcissistic extension. A narcissist will not see you as a separate entity, with your own ideas and opinions. They will only see you as a reflection of them and their values. Therefore, you will not have a lot of energy to focus on anything but them.  A narcissist will constantly pressure you to make them happy and content. You will find yourself trying to meet unreasonable needs a lot, and many of your daily decisions will revolve around keeping the narcissist happy. If you consider your own feelings, you may feel guilt and shame. Narcissists are very good at guilt-tripping, and you may feel like a bad person if you take time for yourself on occasion. For narcissists, feelings are a competition. If you experience an emotion, it must be filtered through the narcissist. You may eventually start to feel you don't have permission to have certain feelings or emotions.  Narcissists like to control everything, including your feelings. They tend to take pleasure over making another person feel shame. You may eventually internalize the narcissist's put downs, and begin to feel shame over your basic wants and needs. You may also be unable to express hurt. If you say something like, "The way you were behaving last night hurt my feelings," the narcissist will not apologize. Instead, they will chastise you for having felt that way or insist your feelings are invalid.

SUMMARY: Consider whether the person understands your needs and feelings. Evaluate how much time you have for yourself. Think about whether this person is the focus of your energy. Consider if you're allowed to experience and define your own feelings.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Always remember, measure twice, cut once. You only get one chance at cutting before you make a mistake and discover that you have to make another trip back to the hardware store. And they will immediately know why you are there. Cut the longer pieces first, then use remaining pieces for the shorter sides or to create braces. If you can apply a sealant or paint before final assembly, do so. The purpose is to coat the wood, and so why not make sure that it is properly covered before screwing all of these joints together forever? Though there are devices that will allow your to drill the screws directly into the lumber, doing so can stress the wood and cause splits near the end. It is also easier to maintain control when drilling guide holes than it is to screw directly into the wood, especially when using hard woods. Use a screwdriver bit with your drill to attach the ends of the window box to the bottom using rust-proof screws. Be sure to support the wood against something sturdy or have someone hold the lumber while you are screwing the pieces together. Place the front and back sections onto the bottom section to make sure that all of the pieces are cut to fit (the ends should all be flush with each other) before attaching the front and back pieces of the window box. Screw the front and back pieces to the bottom and sides of the window box. You'll need several holes in the bottom of the window box to allow water to drain out of the window box. Let the sealant or paint dry completely before final installation. This will prevent the soil from rotting the wood. Use them to cover the drainage holes to keep the soil from coming out of the bottom of the window box. Drill holes into the exterior wall where you're going to hang your window box. Additionally, if you have left lumber to serve as a separate brace, drill holes for that as well. Attach the brace first, then the  window box, screwing them in tightly but without damaging the wood. When screwing the window box to the brackets from the bottom of the window box, use screws that are slightly shorter than the thickness of the bottom of the window box. Your project is complete.
Summary:
Measure and mark the pieces of lumber for cutting. Use your saw to cut the lumber to desired lengths. Sand and, if applicable, seal or paint the lumber before assembly. Drill guide or pilot holes into the lumber where you plan to screw the pieces of lumber together. Assemble the box. Drill drainage holes. If appropriate, apply additional sealant or paint as needed. Insert a plastic window box liner. Cut small pieces of weed cloth. Install the window box. Add soil and flowers, plants, and/or herbs.