Thanks so much for the kind words! I don't have a ton of advice on 3D modeling since I'm definitely still learning myself – but I do really like to start on paper. Every time I've tried to start out first in Blender, even with photo references, it doesn't turn out very well. But when I spend some time drawing it first, getting the personality right and all the little details and proportions, I usually end up happier with it. But definitely do what works for you, and don't be afraid to stray from class learnings! That's only one point of view and sometimes you gotta explore methods a bit to find something that hits your brain in that natural way