How do I get over embarrassing moments that keep coming back to haunt me?
M: It’s like this question was made for me. If you spend at least 20 minutes a day in the shower reeling in your past self (def not speaking from experience!), the best remedy is to remember you’re no longer that person. Those embarrassing moments literally make up the mosaics of who we are, so a fall in front of your crush in sixie year or a snot bubble during your freshman year declamation is not the end of the world. Wipe off that mucus, pick yourself up off the ground and lock in with the most improved version of yourself! If that doesn’t work, scream. Really loudly.
I want to restart my entire wardrobe. Where do I begin and how do I maintain confidence when shifting styles?
I: Step 1: Go through your closet and take out all the clothes you have not worn in the past year. Find a home for them (give them to your siblings, donate them or throw them away if they’re in bad shape).
Step 2: On Pinterest, look for clothes that match your desired style and aesthetic. Use this inspiration to find items online or in-person that will help you embody it. Do not buy too many things at once — start slow in case you find you don’t like this new style. Consignment stores are a good option if you’re trying not to splurge.
Step 3: If people point out the fact that you’re dressing differently, gaslight them: “I’ve always worn these clothes, what are you talking about?”
On a serious note, we’re in high school. It’s a perfectly normal time to experiment with personal style and find out what you like, which is the only thing that matters. Unless what you like involves galaxy print…
M: And for the love of all that’s good … NO PATTERNS ON PATTERNS.
How do I cope with being alone on Valentine’s Day?
H: Best course of action: own it. Valentine’s Day isn’t about having someone to spend it with. It’s a day where you should be feeling nothing but love. Love yourself, your friends or your family. Love the heart-shaped box of chocolates you buy for yourself or the mediocre Sweethearts decorated with nice messages that kind teachers give. Treat it like a day of shameless indulgence: nap, watch your favorite movie, ransack the CVS candy aisle for all your favorite candies and eat them until there’s a mountain of wrappers. Just remind yourself that while couples are out there stressing about overpriced dinners and the perfect Instagram caption, you’re living your best, drama-free life, where your happiness isn’t dependent on another person. Being alone on Valentine’s day doesn’t mean you’re unloved — it means you get to have all the candy without interruption and the stress of someone else: a win-win.
How do you plot on someone for prom?
I: Materials needed: trifold poster, glitter gel pens, megaphone and flowers.
Instructions: Follow the person of interest around for a week so that you can get to know their schedule. Find out which lunch they have. Use your megaphone to get everyone’s attention and “prompose” as passionately as you can, in front of everyone, using your poster with big sparkly letters and your bouquet of their favorite flowers. Make sure everyone is looking at you and also taking videos. The worst they can say is no. If they do, remember: rejection is redirection!
How do I deal with “senioritis?”
M: Coming from someone who misses at least one day of school a week, there’s no getting out of “senioritis.” It’s an evident fact: You’re at the end, and nothing feels like it’s worth getting up for. But, that just means you need to make stuff to look forward to! Live for that person who you pass once a day on your way to R5, live for those days where your least favorite teacher is absent and most especially live for the sweet, sweet day that you can kiss these brown and rusted walls goodbye.
If I’m struggling in a class, how do I ask for more support without making a teacher hate me?
H: First off, I wouldn’t assume that there is a teacher in this building sitting around plotting on your demise because you need help. From my experience, teachers actually dislike know-it-alls. The simple act of asking for help shows that you care about your learning, a.k.a. the very reason they drag themselves out of bed five days a week. Show them that their efforts mean something to you: Catch them after class and say something like “I’m struggling on this, could you help me?” Be sure to acknowledge that you genuinely are struggling, bonus points if you mention some of what they already taught you. This way, they don’t think that you completely ignored them during class. The key is showing that you care not just about your grade, but about actually learning something. Insider secret: Teachers go crazy over the “love for learning” talk, a good tool to gain some quick brownie points. Never will they consider it a bother; you’re just giving them another chance to do what they signed up to do. Just don’t lead with “this is a stupid question” or “you might hate me for asking this” because then, they just might start to.
