Ask Luna – Our Advice Column for Readers: Future, Social Distance, and College Costs

Ask Luna - Our Advice Column for Readers: Future, Social Distance, and College Costs

Dear Luna,
I’m already scared about my future. I know that I want to go to college for creative writing, but then what? How do I even get my work out there? What if I’m not good enough, or people don’t read what I write? I don’t want to be in a position where I’m working a crappy job just to pay the bills. I want to do something that makes me happy, or else what’s the point?
S.O.S,
Withering Writer

Dear Withering Writer,
I know the feeling. The best advice I can give you is to find a way to do both. In the writing industry, it is hard to succeed and make enough money to live off of. However, there are a ton of other jobs in related fields that you can make a living wage in: journalism, teaching, publishing, copywriting, ghostwriting, speechwriting, and the list goes on. This is actually true for a lot of fields in the arts– for as difficult as it is to become a successful artist, there are a lot of jobs that intrinsically involve art that need workers! Even the back of a cereal box needs someone to write it.
I would encourage you to find something in the field that’s considered a more “stable” job and to pursue that in terms of your education and your “practical” jobs. In the same breath, though, don’t give up on that dream. Submit to journals, to magazines, to publishing companies. Enter competitions, read at poetry slams, explore the world of writing in every way that you can. Even if it’s not your main profession at any given time, you’re allowed to enjoy it and do it and continue to pursue that world that really interests you. There’s a way to do both things: follow your passion, and find a more traditionally successful job that suits your interests until your passions come to fruition. You never have to settle for a job you hate; there’s a job out there that you will be passionate about. It might be a journey to find it, but it’ll be a journey well-worth it.
Love,
Luna

 

Dear Luna,
As the summer approaches, I’m super paranoid about losing my friends. School has been such a great way for me to reconnect with them after becoming so distant during digital school and lockdown, and I’m petrified that once we don’t have school to keep us together, we’ll separate again because of COVID. What do I do?
From,
Paranoid Pal

Dear Paranoid Pal,
I think that we’ve all had to learn a lot about long-distance relationships over this past year, and that they’re very, very hard to maintain. Furthermore, I think that this summer it’s going to be difficult to gauge what the “right” thing to do is: can you see friends? Should you wear a mask if you’re vaccinated? What are the rules on touching? What’s safe? What isn’t?
I’m a huge advocate for communication. I would try to sit down with your friends and let them know that you want to continue the friendship through the summer but want to know all of their comfort levels! I’m sure the group as a whole can come to a conclusion about what feels safe, right, and make plans to get together and keep going strong. Remember, too, that you can always FaceTime if you don’t want to meet up in person. Plan movie nights over Zoom or get-togethers where you stay in the car like car picnics! I think that open communication is the best way to know what to do– a lot of your friends probably feel just the same as you do, and want to figure it out, too.
Love,
Luna

 

Dear Luna,
I’m super worried about the cost of college. While my family is well-off, college is a really big financial burden to take on. I feel like it’s a lot to ask of my parents to pay so much money, especially for more prestigious private schools. I know I could go to a cheaper state school and still get a really good education, should I do that instead? How do I know what the right choice is?
From,
Financial Freak-out

Dear Financial Freak-out,
I know the feeling! I worried a lot about asking my parents to pay for college because it is so much money. One thing that they told me was that they were preparing for a long time for this, and they have a good amount of money set aside for this purpose. There are also so many scholarships available for the most random things; even if you can’t get a massive scholarship, applying to a bunch of small ones can really add up! The school also makes a point of showcasing as many as possible.
In the same breath, don’t rule out state schools either! While I can’t tell you what’s right for you or your family, state schools offer a lot of money for in-state students, and a lot of scholarships are available through state schools as well. The education at state schools is really great, and there’s an advantage in being close to home as well.
No matter what you want, there’s a way to make it work, either through scholarships or lower tuition. This is a conversation to have with your parents: they’ll know more about what’s manageable for your family and what’s feasible for you! Sending you love and light.
Love,
Luna

Ask Luna (a pseudonym for this columnist) is an advice column to advise people on how to deal with their concerns and issues in the most positive way possible. I try my best to ensure that they will make decisions that will help them move forward on the right path. I hope you will write to me, in confidence, seeking my guidance. Just a reminder: I will not disclose any information sent to me. What you write will always remain anonymous. I encourage you to be creative with your usernames and send feedback so that this column will be successful in helping those who seek advice. You can email me at [email protected] or drop a note in our standing metal mailbox outside of the English office. I look forward to reading your letters.

PEDIR Luna es una columna de consejos para asesorar a las personas sobre cómo tratar mejor sus preocupaciones y problemas.​ Yo hago mi mejor esfuerzo para asegurarme que tu tomes la decicion correcta, ayudarte a avanzar de manera positiva. Yo espero que tu me escribas con confidencia, pidiendo mi ayuda. Un recordatorio, yo no voy a revelar ninguna información que me envies. Lo que tu escribas siempre va a ser anónimo. Te animo a que seas creativo con tus nombres de usuario y envíes comentarios para que esta columna sea exitosa para ayudar a quienes buscan consejos. Correo electrónico a [email protected].
Espero sus cartas.