Advice Column 

Good evening and welcome to the Advice Column!!

We are your writers, Hana and Ilhan. We hope that our answers will help solve your problems and provide some solace. Now let’s get started!

May

Dear Writers,  

  I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUMMER!!! but... I have no clue what to do over the summer, some people are doing internships or dual or traveling but I'm not really planning on doing anything. I wanna relax,  but I don't want to waste my summer, I wanna study and be productive too.

Dear Reader, 

    We also can’t wait for summer! If you want to have a relaxing yet productive summer, here are a few things you should do:

• Create a list of everything you want to do over the summer. This could be anything as simple as drinking more water, or something more specific – like going surfing. 

•  Doing this will enable you to take stock of all you want to do, which will make it easier to create a schedule.

• Create a day-by-day or weekly schedule.

• Sticking to a schedule with a mix of entertaining and school-related activities will help you have fun while being productive. You can research different scheduling methods to determine what works better for you.

• Don’t spend the whole summer on your phone! Go outside, do physical activities; get your blood pumping!

• Going outside and spending time away from your phone is a good way to be productive. Even if you're not necessarily studying, you can enjoy the sunlight and give your brain a rest from technology. 

• Prioritize sleep.

• If you want to have a relaxing and productive summer, you MUST prioritize sleep. A major part of being productive is waking up early and getting a jumpstart on your day. Staying up late means sleeping in means fewer hours of daylight to be productive, so it’s best to keep a reasonable sleep schedule come summertime.

• Research summer programs! 

• You mentioned that you need to learn how to spend your summer; summer programs are a great way to stay productive! Many summer programs are still open to enrollment.

One quote states that “Summer is the perfect opportunity for what might be”. Summer is the perfect opportunity to do something for yourself, something that might lead you down a path you had never before considered or had time for. For example, maybe you’ll decide to start studying for the SAT this summer. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up with the highest SAT score in your school. We’re speaking optimistically, but anything can happen if you put in the work.

Summer is the perfect time to prioritize self-care, bring something new into your life, change your image, and more. Don’t stress yourself out over summer plans by focusing on others. Comparing yourself to someone else will always lead to disappointment, and summer is the season to focus on your well-being. You mentioned that you wanted to stay productive; embrace that, but don’t forget to leave time If you can, use the tips we’ve given you to bring your summer closer in line with your goals. We believe that you are perfectly capable of making your summer a fulfilling one! See you next school year, and have a wonderful summer! 

- Sincerely, The Writers

April

* DISCLAIMER: ALL OF THE PROS AND CONS LISTED HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE SOURCES LISTED BELOW! *

  Dear writers,

  Should I do IB or Dual? I was gonna do IB, but people are telling me to do Dual instead.

- Sincerely, Confused student

Hey Confused student! we understand that you’re conflicted on whether or not you should do IB or Dual Enrollment, but we can’t tell you which one you should do because ultimately that decision is based on who you are as a person. Instead, we’ll list the pros and cons of each program and hope that this will help you to decide which program is best for you. 

International Baccalaureate

Pros

• Prepares you for college and its workload

• You have the choice between 2 programs (Career Program & Diploma Program)

  • With the IB Diploma program, you can get a well-rounded education

  • With the IB Career program, you can get specific education catered to the career you want to pursue

• You’ll have smaller-sized classes that may benefit your learning.

Cons

• Heavy workload

• Less time for extracurriculars

• Less flexibility in the classes you can take

• You’ll have an exam at the end of the IB program that covers 2 years of classes that determines whether or not you get college credit

Dual Enrollment

Pros

• Lets you get college credit and potentially leave college earlier (can also result in paying less tuition) 

• Prepares you for college through experience

• Seniors might automatically qualify for attending the same college that they attended during their time as a dual enrollment student 

• Gives students freedom to explore what interests them and what does not all while staying in the comfort of high school 

Cons

• (If student is taking classes in-person) transportation might be an issue 

• Some dual class credit might not transfer to certain colleges 

• Dual classes will go on your college record regardless of how you perform

• Skipping freshman year classes might lead to them losing opportunities like connecting with others 

In conclusion, whether or not you should do the IB Program vs. Dual Enrollment depends on who you are as a student. How much of a workload can you manage? What do you value as a student? Do you prefer classes inside or outside of your school building? These are examples of some questions to ask yourself when determining which program you want to do.  There is no right way to learn; there is only the way that is most beneficial for you as a student. So consider these pros and cons, and determine what will be best for your future. We would also advise seeking the advice of an older relative or someone who is experienced with dual enrollment or IB. We hope that our answer helps lead you toward a decision! Until next time! 

- Sincerely, The Writers 

Sources:

https://www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/pros-cons-ib/

https://intentionalarrows.com/2021/02/15/14-pros-and-cons-for-dual-enrollment-in-high-school

March

Dear writers, 

What’s the best way to get rid of a feeling? How do I move on from my past relationship? How can I stop myself from feeling this way?

- Reader

Hey reader, It seems like you have been experiencing some bad feelings that you are trying to get rid of, so we're going to try our best to help. 

First, you have to understand that you can’t get rid of a feeling quickly, it takes time. Feelings stick until you get over them. You seem to have had something happen to cause a certain feeling to stick with you. The only way to get rid of those feelings is to confront why you're feeling the way you're feeling and what caused these feelings to occur. After you do that, analyze the situation (like how we mentioned above about understanding why you feel that way and what caused it),  and then literally just forget about it. Try not to think or mention it. Consider removing anything from your life that reminds you of that feeling such as a teddy bear or a bracelet, and overtime, the feeling will hopefully fade. 

Similar to how we mentioned removing anything in your life that reminds you of that feeling, when it comes to a past relationship, the same can be applied. Try to remove anything from your life that reminds you of that relationship. Additionally, learn to accept that the relationship is over and try to think of that relationship ending as a new chapter in your life. 

We are unsure what you mean when you say “How can I stop myself from feeling this way.”, so feel free to send another advice request if we did not answer your question. If you are referring to stopping yourself from being stuck in your past relationship, you can try to envision the end of this relationship as a new chapter in your life, as we mentioned before. In this new chapter of your life, try to focus more on yourself and what lies ahead for you instead of what you’ve lost. Remember that time will heal all wounds, so forgive yourself for feeling the way you do and try these tips out! We hope they will help you! 

- Sincerely, The Writers

February

 Dear Writers, 

I may have unintentionally hurt my friend. How should I approach them and make sure this doesn’t happen again?

- Sincerely, Worried Friend

Hey reader, the first step to solving this problem is to not beat yourself up about it, accidents happen all the time. It's normal to accidentally say or do something you didn’t mean to. However, you should still take a moment and consider their perspective. Doing this will allow you to understand what you did wrong and (hopefully) avoid unintentionally hurting someone else the same way. 

Next, you should talk to your friend as soon as possible to prevent further misunderstanding. Now, doing this can be scary and difficult, but it's a lot better than allowing them to think you intentionally hurt them. The longer you wait to talk to them, the more this misunderstanding could harm your relationship. To approach them and apologize, try to find somewhere where you can be alone to talk to them. Then, explain your side of the story, the misunderstanding, and apologize. Make sure to allow the other person space to speak so they can express their feelings. 

To ensure that this situation does not happen again, I would recommend thinking before you speak. I am not suggesting that you have all of your future conservations mapped out, but if you feel like something may even have a 1% chance of coming off negatively, you should think twice about saying it. You could try rewording what you intend to say so misunderstandings are less likely. In the end, it all depends on what you are trying to say. If your statement is not necessary and can come off as rude, it may be better to not say it; this same principle can be applied to actions as well. Some good advice: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Another tip I would recommend is to always try to understand the conversations you have with friends. Communicate effectively. Make sure you and your friends both understand what the other person is saying before you react to them. Simple statements like “So, what you’re saying is …” can go a long way; explaining what you think the person meant paves the way for your friend to either acknowledge that you understood them or correct you. This also prevents future arguments from arising based on someone misunderstanding. 

- Sincerely, The Writers

January

Dear Writers, 

I was so close to having an A in one of my classes, but I ended up with a B. Now, I feel unmotivated to try for an A next semester. How do I get motivation to improve my grades?

- Sincerely, Stressed Student 

Dear Stressed Student, I know how difficult it can be when it feels as though you fell short of reaching your dream. Despite how unmotivated and upset you feel at the moment, there are things that you can do to make yourself feel better, as well as steps to take in order to ensure that you receive a higher grade next semester. 

• Acceptance & Reflection: 

• The first step to improving your grades is accepting what they are currently. After getting a disappointing grade, you might feel upset or even angry. It can be discouraging for you if you think the work you put in was your best. Take some time to reflect on everything you did in your studies and find areas that need improvement. By recognizing and targeting specific areas that need work, you’ll end up being less upset and more motivated to improve.

•  Incentives: 

• Perhaps the reason you were not able to receive the A that you desired was due to your study habits. Going back to step #1, make sure to think about how effective your studying was overall. If your problem was a lack of motivation, one simple way to help encourage yourself to study is to provide yourself with an incentive. Your incentive can be anything that acts as a reward for completing a specific task. For example, if you study math for 15 minutes, you could reward yourself with your favorite snack. This can help encourage you by giving you something to look forward to after studying. 

• Accountability Groups:

• The last tip that we would recommend is accountability groups. Accountability groups are groups of classmates that help each other complete assignments by keeping each other on task and encouraging each other to finish. Company, camaraderie, and friendly competition are great motivators. According to kqed.org, “Studies were conducted by universities regardless of how friendships impact learning and they showed that friendships can positively impact your academic life while being friendless can lead to bad grades and behavior.” This study proves that the people around you influence the way you behave, whether you like it or not. If you have friends that encourage you to study, have high grades, and display exemplary behavior, you will eventually begin to emulate that same type of behavior. 

Remember that it is going to take some time before you are able to build your motivation back again. Be patient with yourself and remember to enjoy the journey as you travel on the path to self improvement. 

“You are essentially who you create yourself to be, and all that occurs in your life results from your own making.” 

- Stephen Richards 

Take this quote to heart and shape yourself into someone you are proud of. Achieve that A that you have been dreaming of and build habits that will ensure success in your studies from here on out!

- Sincerely, The Writers

December

Dear Writers,

   I have a terrible sleep schedule. I can't seem to get to bed any sooner than midnight. I only get 5 hours of sleep a night. What can I do to catch up on my beauty sleep? If I don't fix this soon, I'll never get a prom date.

- Sincerely, Sleep Deprived Reader 

Dear Sleep Deprived Reader, 

I would like to start off by saying that it is perfectly normal to be experiencing a lack of sleep. Sometimes with school work and other activities going on in our lives, it can be difficult to head to bed on time. Despite this fact, remember that it is very important to prioritize your sleep. Your well being should always come first, so I recommend trying to figure out what is blocking you from sleeping. Once you have identified what the problem is, you can take the necessary steps to break this cycle. 

One of the tips that I would recommend to help fix your sleep schedule is limiting your screen time. Limiting your screen time can allow you to focus more on the tasks you need to get done, as well make sleeping easier for you. Studies have shown that using your cellphone before going to sleep can have a negative effect on your sleep pattern. There are various apps that can help limit your screen time: for example, Opal is an app that allows you to block certain apps for a set amount of time. This app also allows you to take breaks from your phone, but after a couple of minutes have passed, you can resume your usage. Since you want to go to sleep earlier, you could try blocking certain apps during specific times like 7 pm- 11pm. This may help you focus on any work you have and be better prepared for sleep.

Another tip that I would recommend is to work on setting consistent bedtime and wake up time for yourself. You mentioned that you have a terrible sleep schedule, so this may, on top of the lack of sleep itself, be contributing to your exhaustion. I would recommend trying to make changes in your bedtime and wake-up time slowly. Set a goal for yourself to get to sleep 5 minutes earlier every day. Eventually after a week, you will be sleeping 35 minutes earlier than your original bed time! You can do the same thing with your morning alarm to help you wake up earlier as well. If 5 minutes is too much, try lowering it to maybe a 2 minute change every night. 

The point is, no matter how small the change is, change is still change! By implementing this habit, you can help yourself go to sleep and wake up earlier every day until you feel content. Once you have created a schedule that suits you, try sticking with those times for a week. If you can do it for a week, try doing it for two and then keep going until you are consistently holding to your sleep schedule. Having a consistent sleep/wake-up time can improve your quality of sleep. Quality sleep has countless health benefits; it’s called beauty sleep for a reason! Once you stick with a consistent sleep/wake-up time, your body will naturally begin to get accustomed to that time, making it easier for you to wake up and sleep earlier. 

As we’ve mentioned before, sleep is a very important thing. Getting enough sleep can be hard, but it's necessary to look good and have enough energy throughout the day to get through school. So make sure to implement these tips and hopefully you will see an improvement in your sleep pattern! 

Until next time! 

- Sincerely, The Writers

November

Dear writers, 

How can I manage all my activities? I do multiple sports and extracurricular activities, but I’m having a hard time managing everything while keeping good grades. 

- Sincerely, Overstressed reader

Dear Overstressed reader, 

Managing various activities in high school can be very difficult and stressful, but it can become manageable if you take certain steps to self-manage. Before I get into these, we would first like to share an important quote. 

“The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you’ve lost it.”  - Anonymous

This quote sums up the first and most important step in finding balance when doing various things: understanding when you’ve lost the ability to balance all the things you're doing. This is important because you can’t start to find balance until you understand what you're struggling with and why. After that, you just need to follow these tips to succeed. 

First of all, you MUST understand that you don’t have to do everything. It may appear that participating in a bunch of extracurricular activities will look good on your college applications, but it's better to have a few extracurriculars and good grades rather than a lot of extracurriculars and bad grades. Additionally, it is important to do things that you are actually interested in. There is no point in doing a bunch of extracurriculars that you have absolutely no interest in. Think about everything you're doing and decide what's most important to you. Consider making a list of those things. Then, stick with the few things you actually enjoy and try to be more involved with those activities. 

The second tip we would recommend is to always remember you're a student first and foremost. Kids who do sports in high school are called student athletes for a reason. Grades should always be your first priority and if you feel that your sport is severely affecting your grades, it may be time to consider quitting. Lastly, if, after reasonable consideration, you do want to stay in your sport/extracurricular activity, yet feel as though you are struggling with balance, talk to your coach or club advisor about this. Explain to your coach or club advisor your situation and try to figure out what to do next. This can help you a lot by making you feel less stressed trying to manage things on your own. Additionally, getting an outside perspective on your unique situation could help you to come to a conclusion you would have never realized before. 

To conclude, it is important to find balance between your life and school by participating in activities that you enjoy and focusing on your grades. It is also important to always seek outside help if you need it.

- Sincerely, the writers

October

How can I stop overstressing and crying from a failed friendship?

- Unknown Student

Dear reader, I want you to first acknowledge the fact that this friendship is over. As harsh as it may sound, your tears are not going to bring back your friend. You have to realize that accepting what happened is always the first step to healing. 

Secondly, I want you to remember that whatever happened was not your fault. Even if you did make a mistake, if the friendship failed for whatever reason, that means that it was simply not meant to be. There is a line from a poem by Brian A. “Drew” Chalker that begins as, “People come into your life for a reason, season, or lifetime.” This line basically says not everyone that you meet is someone that will stay with you forever. Perhaps your friend was only meant to be there for a reason or possibly a season. The point is your friend just was not someone who was meant to be with you for a lifetime. 

I think it would benefit your mental state if you surround yourself with people and things that make you happy. I want you to try to avoid things that remind you of your failed friendship; if you can’t do that, then try to attach a positive memory to those things instead. For example, if a bracelet reminds you of your friend and you don’t want to get rid of it, maybe try to remember that one time someone complimented your bracelet instead of remembering your friend. If you change your mindset about something, it will gradually become easier to accept it. 

The last piece of advice that I want to leave you with is that if you feel like it is absolutely necessary, maybe you should try to get closure. Talk with your friend and figure out where the friendship went wrong. This could help you get some answers to questions you might have, accept the situation better, and change any past behaviors that could have affected the friendship negatively. Even if your friendship is still in shambles, you can finally feel the comfort of moving on with your life by having closure.

- Sincerely, Hana and Ilhan 

Since today is a special occasion, we will be including a new, exciting feature in this advice column, the Student Voice! This week's secret student has a lot to say about the new changes to the vending machine. 

Tragedy in Tucker

While everyone is worried mostly about problems that are actually important, I am focused on how last week an absolute tragedy happened in Tucker. Every unhealthy snack was removed and replaced by BAKED chips with 50% less fat. If you haven’t noticed, we are kids, we basically live off unhealthy snacks. Growing up we are taught that unhealthy food is bad and we choose to spend money on these foods that will definitely decrease our life span. I refuse to eat school lunch and spend twice the money I spend on chips on Italian ice when I could buy a whole jug of it for the same price. How can I make a change to the vending machine options to options more kids would like to purchase? This would benefit both parties, a win-win situation. Please bring my unhealthy food choices back Mr. Principal.

- Anonymous Student

Thanks for reading!