Dear readers,
ASK SUZANNE is an advice column to advise people as to how to best deal with their concerns and issues. I try my best to ensure that you will make the best decisions to help you move forward in positive ways. 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. Thank you! I look forward to reading your letters.

Sincerely,
Suzanne 🙂

Dear Suzanne,
I am a good student, I have great friends and supportive parents. But sometimes I wish I was a different person. I want to meet new people and experience new things. This thought is overwhelming me. Last weekend, when I was home alone, I raided my parents’ liquor cabinet and drank some of their vodka. Ever since, I have been drinking everyday. I find myself making excuses to be alone so that I can drink. My friends have noticed that I do less with them. They don’t talk to me as much and I’m becoming very isolated. How do I stop? Should I tell my parents?

Buh_buh_bacon

Dear buh_buh_bacon,
Funny username btw. I understand how it feels to think your life is too routine, or feeling dull. Maybe you can suggest to your friends that you include some different friends in your activities, or maybe you could try incorporating new activities into your weekend routines with them. Try a healthy activity none of you have done before.

You should tell your parents about the vodka and what led up to drinking. They can help you. You said they were supportive parents; they will be understanding if you tell them the truth and share your desire to stop. Loving parents will do just about anything to help their kids feel better. Be prepared for their reaction – perhaps they will be surprised or even a little angry and they might not trust you, initially. But their goal will be your health and happiness.

My advice to you is to keep talking to people – consider reaching out to a trusted adult in your life or to the trained faculty in your guidance department. And think about joining a club, trying a new sport (you will meet new people) or volunteering somewhere local. Perhaps you could start a journal or a new exercise regimen. Listen to music that makes you feel good.

At first it might be uncomfortable to try something new, but perhaps it will turn out to be just what you’ve been craving in your life.

I hope you find the strength to change your routine.

~ Suzanne 🙂

Dear Suzanne,
I am in 9th grade and I have a crush on this girl in the 11th grade. I tried talking to her, but I didn’t know what to say so it ended up being awkward. I want to ask her out but I’m afraid if I ask her out she will reject me because I am younger than she is. What should I do?

Real-name-hidden2

Dear Real-name-hidden2
This is a more common problem than you might think. Dealing with fears is difficult because we often tend to think about the worst case scenarios. Think about how you would feel if you didn’t take the risk of asking her; you might regret it for a long time. The worst case scenario is that she will turn you down, but you will have risked only a dent to the ego and that can be recovered with time. You are in the first year of high school. You will experience disappointment, but each experience adds to your character and to the strength you store up. Plus, if she doesn’t accept your invitation, maybe she isn’t the right girl for you. Good luck. I hope this helped!

~ Suzanne 😉

Dear Suzanne,
Sophomore year has been really stressful so far, even though it has been only a little over three months. I am in 2 AP classes and they are very demanding. Over the summer I thought I would be able to handle it and study hard for each subject. My goal is to get my GPA over 95. But lately I have been procrastinating a lot. I want to spend my time watching TV and playing video games. I’ve fallen into a pattern of procrastinating and believing that my problems will take care of themselves. But I know the reality is that if I continue doing this, my grades will suffer I will be facing a difficult road to 95. But, I don’t know how to get over this. HELP ME!!!
Squishy-sponges21

Dear, Squishy-Sponges21
High school can be very difficult and stressful: there are daily assignments, standardized tests, college applications…and that’s not to mention daily practices or play rehearsal or outside jobs. It’s a full plate for many high school students.

Sometimes we think we can handle more than we actually can. You’re overdoing it when you start procrastinating because you feel like you’ve worked hard and you deserve a break from the work. Consider joining a club that a friend attends. Ask your friends to motivate you by inviting you to do things other than watching TV or playing video games.

Everyone needs some down time to restore, but too much can lead to indulgent behavior. Perhaps you could write down your goals and come up with a plan to attain them. Consider a simple “to do” list every day. Put the list on your phone and check off each item. This will show you your progress. Be sure to balance your time between fun and work. I hope this helped!

~ Suzanne =)

Do you have a question that you would like to ask Suzanne? You may submit them via email to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!