Ask Suzanne: Our Advice Column for Readers – February 2018

Ask+Suzanne%3A+Our+Advice+Column+for+Readers+-+February+2018

Dear readers,
ASK SUZANNE is an advice column to advise people as to how to deal with their concerns and issues. I try to ensure that you will make the best decisions to help yourself 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. You can email me at [email protected]. Thanks! I look forward to reading your letters.
Sincerely,
Suzanne = ]

Suzanne,
My parents are really getting on my case about playing a Varsity sport in college. I don’t like playing sports that much, and I feel it would be a waste of my time to do it in college. They have been making me play sports since I was in 1st grade. Even when I was in 1st grade, I didn’t want to do sports, but my parents told me it was for my own good. I don’t know how to tell them that I don’t want to play anymore. I would feel crushed if they were disappointed in me. It’s my future and career, and I should be able to decide if I will or won’t play sports. But, they are helping me to pay for college, so I should take their wants for my future into consideration. I am confused about how I should go about this.
From,
5tar-Wa4s-l0v3r

Dear 5tar-Wa4s-l0v3r,
It’s alright if you don’t want to play sports anymore, it is perfectly normal. But, communication is the best way to resolve and prevent problems, especially between parents. I’m not much of a sports person myself, but I’ve been told that sports can help you get a scholarship for college.
I think your parents made a good decision to enroll you in sports at such a young age, but they should consider your feelings in all of this. If you don’t want to continue playing sports, then you should sit down with your parents and tell them straight up that you don’t want to play sports. They’ll understand and want to keep your best interests at heart. Your parents are trying to look out for your well-being. I hope this helped. Thanks for writing.
~ Suzanne 🙂

Hi Suzanne,
Lately, I haven’t been able to sleep at night. My teachers are giving me mountains of homework, and I can’t seem to be able to cope with all of it. I tried to do some homework during my free periods at school, but I still end up going to bed at 12 or even 3 am.
My parents always yell at me for staying up, but it’s only because I don’t want to fail any of my classes. And since I’m a senior, it’s important for me to try and do my best. I want to try and make it into the top 10. I won’t be able to do that if I don’t stay on top of my classes and that means less sleep. But, if I go to bed early, I might not understand what is being taught in some of my classes, because they move at a fast pace. I’m not sure how I can make my parents stop complaining about my lack of sleep and do well in my classes with less sleep.
From, Hallway-Hazard946

Dear Hallway-Hazard946,
I understand that it’s hard to get enough sleep during the school year, especially if you are trying to raise up your GPA when applying for college. But you can’t function if you don’t have enough sleep. You should be trying to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, regardless of how much work you have to do. It might be tempting to stay up late so you can get all your work done for the next day. But if you’re tired in class, you won’t be paying as much attention to the lesson as someone who had enough sleep the night before.
Also, talking to your teachers may help them get a better understanding of what you’re going through. They might give you an extension on an assignment so you’ll be able to get enough sleep. I hope this helped.
~ Suzanne : ]

Suzanne,
I know it’s early to start worrying about prom, but I’m worrying about who I should go with. None of my friends are going to prom, and even I don’t want to go, but my parents are making me. I don’t think I should be going to so much trouble just for a school dance, but my parents told me that I would regret it when I’m older if I didn’t go. Should I go to prom? Were my parents right about my regretting it if I decide not to go? And if I do decide to go, who should I go with?
Anxiouswarrior-4

Dear Anxiouswarrior-4,
It’s completely reasonable to start thinking about prom early; I know some people who are dress shopping. In my opinion, prom is an important part of a high school life, something that you may reminisce about when you are older. Like, when your are in college with your new friends, you can talk about your proms and all the crazy stuff that happened during it. I recommend going to prom. If you didn’t or don’t go to your junior prom then you should at least go to your senior prom.
I have some ideas about who to go to prom with, but it’s up to you to choose what you want to do. You can spend the next few months trying to convince your friends to go to prom with you. This might not work out if they are not definite in their minds about going to prom. Or you can try to meet new friends. I know this can be hard to do this late in the school year, but meeting new people can open a whole new door of opportunities. Lastly, you can fly solo. It might be awkward, but once again, you might start talking to people you wouldn’t have dreamed of talking to while you were in school. I really hope this helped you decide what to do.
~ Suzanne =)

P.S. Don’t ever be afraid to take a chance on anyone, even if you have to stop a random person in the hallway and ask them if they want to go to prom with you.