It is not true that carbon has a strong tendency to either lose or gain electrons to attain noble gas configuration. Carbon is a member of group 14, it is the first member of the group and carbon is purely a non metal. Only metals metals can loose electrons to attain the noble gas configuration. Moreover, carbon does not participate in ionic bonding so it does not gain electrons to attain the noble gas configuration.
However, carbon participates in covalent bonding where it is covalently bonded to four other chemical species using its four outermost electrons. Carbon forms covalent bonds in which four electrons are shared with other chemical species.
I would he would try to enter as the tide is rising, and leave as the tide is falling. Those things happen at all different times of day during a month. Hope it helps!!
