By Makenzie Pridgen and Ms. King-Smith
Question #1: How do you deal with someone that you are supposed to be friends with but cannot stand? Like, your friends are friends, and they think you’re friends, but they make you want to rip your hair whenever they talk.
Peer Answer: You should never feel like you have to be friends with someone just because your friends are. Also, it is important to remember that you don’t have to like everyone – it’s not possible. That being said, even if you don’t like someone, do not be mean to them. Always follow the golden rule. For this instance, if you are in a friend group with this person, it can be a little tricky because you may feel like you’re stuck. I would advise you to try to be empathetic and maybe consider why they annoy you so much. After thinking this through, if you want to express how you feel to this person, in a private setting, kindly and respectfully convey to them some of the things that may be uncomfortable to you. For example, this could be things they say. Sometimes people do annoying things without realizing, and they might stop when it is brought to their attention
Counselor Answer: Friends should be people that, for the most part, you enjoy being around and bring out the best in you. If you are around someone and you want to rip your hair out whenever they talk, it’s worth assessing what this friendship brings to your life. Does this person enrich your life or that you dread being around? If it’s the latter, can the relationship be improved and how? If not, consider if this is a relationship worth continuing.
Question #2: How do you find a balance between school responsibilities with your personal life?
Peer Answer: Based on my experience, it is not healthy to sacrifice everything for school. It is important to always put your mental health first. High school is an important time in your life to discover your passions, make friends, and spend time with family before you move away. These activities and your extracurricular involvements are important to managing the stress of school work. The way that I make time for these activities is by completing my school work on Friday, so that I have the whole rest of the weekend to myself. You could also free up the weekend by spreading out and doing work little by little everyday, or wake up early to have the rest of the day off. If you are having trouble figuring out a strategy I would recommend talking to your friends about what works for them.
Counselor Answer: Finding harmony between school and your personal life is challenging and takes practice. Balance implies that you spend equal amounts of time on school and your personal life but that is unlikely. What is possible is to incorporate and schedule in time for your interests, passions, and relationships. There will always be more things to do than there is time. For that reason, you’ll need to make a consistent effort to make time for yourself and things you care about.
Question #3: How do you handle stress?
Peer Answer: I handle stress by making a schedule. This helps me stay on top of my responsibilities and deadlines. This also helps me plan ahead, and make sure I do not over-book my schedule. I also manage my stress by making to-do lists. Checking things off makes me feel accomplished and motivated to continue my productivity. Even checking off “make my bed” can be a great start to your day. It is important to remember to not overwork yourself. Allowing myself to take breaks helps me stay productive. Confiding in the support of my friends and family also helps me manage my stress. Spending quality time together or talking about how you feel are two ways I recommend destressing.
Counselor Answer: Stress is an inevitable part of life and learning to change your relationship to stress is key. Build a life that commits to the regular practice of self-care and letting go of the things that you can’t control. Shift your focus to acting even in the face of uncertainty of focusing on the things that ARE within your control.
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