1. Is it a good idea to ask a friend out on a date? I’m afraid she won’t get the true meaning of the date and treat it as an outing.

Do you feel strongly for this person? If you look into the next few years, will you regret not doing this? If you truly want to give it a try, go for it! If she won’t understand that it is a date, specify that beforehand! Good luck!

1. Does community college mean I’m going nowhere in life?

Not at all! There is a lot of stigma surrounding community college that may have led you to believing this. Community college is still college. It might not be an Ivy League, but it is still furthering your education. By furthering your education, you can do so many more things with your life that you couldn’t do without it!

1. What should I do to break the barrier between social classes? My best friend is considered to be a part of the “popular” group, but I’m not.  I don’t agree with cliques and separation of who is considered “popular” or not – but it would be nice to be a part of a bigger friend group.

In all honesty, I’ve experienced problems similar to this. I’ve never been considered “popular,” and it’s hard to maintain a relationship with someone who is. But to be frank, if the person and you want your friendship to prosper, then you both need to make efforts towards that. If they don’t want to leave the “popular” group, then maybe they aren’t a great friend to be trying to keep. But if they do care, which I’m sure they do, they will make the effort. And maybe you can try to befriend some of their other friends. I’m sure you can easily assimilate into a bigger friend group. But keep in mind, it’s very hard to find a best friend, and people come in and out of our lives, so don’t beat yourself up if close friends drift away. It’s just giving you a new chance to grow and branch out or reinvent yourself.

1. What should I do if I don’t want to go to college right away?

You should do what makes you happy, and if going to college doesn’t seem like the happiest thing for you at the moment, then that’s totally fine. Not everyone goes to secondary education right off the bat, and those people can still be very successful in their lives. But please don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t want to go right away; a lot of people need a break from schooling, and that’s totally normal.

1. More information on international schools: applying, requirements, etc.

Our high school doesn’t really promote going out of the country for college, so the Brush and Palette doesn’t have a lot of information on that topic. I would look on the school’s website, get in touch with their admissions department and talk to Mrs. Gregory in the College and Career Center.

1. What should I do if I don’t meet the requirements of the schools I want to go to?

If that is your dream school, I would recommend going to community college and gaining the credits and requirements needed to transfer. If it’s not your dream school, I would find a different school that still appeals to your needs and desires but meets the requirements for you personally. Good luck 🙂

1. What do I do if my girlfriend and my mom don’t get along?

Try to get to the root of the problem. Is there a specific reason that they don’t get along, such as jealousy? It would be smart to sit down with each of them by themselves and talk to them about the other to try and see if you can solve the problem. You can go from there and try to make them get along! Good luck!

1. What can help with senioritis?

One way to really help with senioritis is to look at senior year as just another step towards your future. If you realize the bigger picture, individual steps will seem more manageable and inevitably help with senioritis.

1. How do I deal with change?

Many people fear change. However, change is a natural part of life. You can’t run away from change, but you can learn how to accept and get used to it. Change occurs whether it is wanted or not, and it seems like a scary thing. Change is not always meant to be feared; sometimes it is for the better, like moving to a new school district to get a better education. Learn to think of change in a different light. Instead of seeing it as something negative, see it as a positive chance to make some new and exciting things happen!

1. What are some tips on studying for finals?
   1. Pick the final that will be the most challenging, and study that one the most. Review for the other ones, but focus most of your energy on the most difficult final/class.
   2. Get LOTS of sleep.
   3. Drink tea instead of coffee. Coffee will ramp up your nervous system, making it harder to concentrate. If you need a caffeine boost, drink a lightly caffeinated tea, like a green tea, chai or earl grey.
   4. Exercise. I like to study for an hour and then go to the batting cages or go for a run. The exercise helps release endorphins, and it will help relieve some of the stress you are feeling.
   5. Still do things you enjoy. Doing things that make you happy will relieve stress.
   6. REMEMBER: GRADES DO NOT DEFINE YOU!!!

1. What should I do when I like someone who will never like me back and I can’t seem to look past that and can’t stop thinking about them?

This situation is a very tough one. Do you know that they don’t like you back for sure? If you haven’t made it clear to them, then they might not know how you are feeling; communication is key! However, if you have made it known to them and they have reacted this way, then it would be smart to try to slowly wean off your thinking of them into thinking of things that you like to do! Try to distract yourself from it, and slowly the thoughts will go away. Good luck!

1. What college path do I take if I want to be in the FBI or CIA?

I would guess majoring in criminology or political science, but talk to Mrs. Gregory or your college counselor.