After photograms we practiced putting the film onto the metal(!) spools and had a tough time with mine for a good 3 or 4 minutes. It turns out I was placing it on the wrong way -- the sprockets hook such that they catch onto the metal pin before wrapping around, not just wrap around. I went into the darkroom and fiddled with it a few more times, quite uncertain, and got it mostly right on the third try, but I have to be extra careful next week. Will watch some more videos about steel reels.
"[Growing up] is hard and nobody understands." // https://www.homestuck.com/story/2391