What an amazing post jelliott -- lots of great insight. Physics C is all about that logical process, and building your "arsenal" of problem-solving tools. And as strange as it may sound, don't let the calculus scare you. You have an amazing calculus teacher, and by the end of the year, you're going to actually prefer the problems that have calculus in them, you'll be so good at it. Calculus is just slopes and areas, things you've been doing for years -- the only real difference is the symbology looks a little different, kind of like reading a different language. Once you learn the language, though, you're golden!