Ask Blair is an advice column run by a GPHS student under the alias of Blair. Its purpose is to provide advice to students in search of it. Keep in mind that your responses will most likely be in the next issue of The Scroll. Scroll below to see the answers for last issue's questions.
Within the last three years, we launched the advice column Ask Blair! Everything is 100% anonymous, including my own identity. Though I go by Blair for the purpose of the column, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you know me outside of The Scroll. I’m a student at GPHS, just like all of you. My goal for the column is to reach out to you guys and do what I can to help you during your times of trouble. Don’t be afraid to send in questions for next month’s issue, and I look forward to writing for you guys in the months to come. Scroll down to enter your own questions for me, Blair!
*A Note from Blair: Since I reach such a wide audience and cater to people of so many different lifestyles and beliefs, it is my goal to remain as unbiased as possible when giving advice. It is for that reason that I ask you to refrain from asking for my personal opinions on politics and the like, as I don't want that to get in the way of being able to help as many people as possible. Thank you for helping me keep Ask Blair! a safe space for everyone!
*Editor's Note: The Scroll's Ask Blair! Column is solely to provide advice, care, and support to students in need. We want to hear from you, and we understand that some of the topics that will be discussed will be emotional and sometimes distressing, but this advice column is not meant to be used as an alternative to any sort of professional therapy or counseling.
Thank you 💜
Every relationship is different! There isn’t a blanket answer to this question because it truly depends on the couple. My advice is this: If you’re ever confused about what is deemed to be okay in your relationship or by your partner, you have to have a conversation with your partner. What you might think is okay might actually be a huge red flag for your partner, and vice versa. A healthy relationship requires clear, agreed upon boundaries set that each party can respect, so when it comes to questions like these, talk to your partner and decide together what the rules in your relationship are for that area.
Personally, I think it’s okay to be friends with the opposite gender, because the heteronormative idea that boys and girls have to be romantically involved to spend time together is outdated and inaccurate to where we stand as a society today. That said, as I mentioned before, it depends on the people involved, so I can’t tell you what the best route to go is.
I hope that explanation gave you something to think about, and good luck!
Love, Blair <3
First of all, don’t be nervous! I believe in you and I know you’ll be able to take everything in stride! That said, yes, the homework jump is pretty big, but that depends partially on the classes you take. If you take Advanced World Cultures with Frye (which is a great class that you’ll be glad you took later), the homework jump is going to feel enormous, because that man just loves assigning homework.
There’s kind of a homework jump across the board because teachers are going to assume that you are ready for that level of responsibility by now, but what they often fail to realize is that ALL of your other teachers have the exact same idea, and what you end up with is a pile of homework that feels really unnecessary. It’s a rite of passage. Here is how I have learned to manage it:
Firstly, make a study schedule. Get a planner or a calendar and take note of due dates, deadlines, etc, and block out time in your life to work on said homework. Staying organized is the first step toward success.
Second, make sure you know how to study. That sounds really silly, but those of you who are former gifted kids and never really had to do homework or study thus far will be caught off guard when you realize you need to make a change (trust me, I’ve been there). Talk to classmates or go online and find a study method that works for you.
Next, make a study group or group chat for all of your major classes. I’ve always used Instagram to skip the step of collecting phone numbers and such, and it’s compatible with all phones. It can be for just your period, or it can be for everyone, but if you include all class periods for that class, you’ll reach the group limit and eventually have to turn people away, so keep that in mind. This will serve as a way to contact people when you need help with the work for that class, or when you have questions about assignments and deadlines that you don’t want to wait for a teacher's response on. Also, it’s just nice to bond with people who are struggling just as much as you. You might even make a few friends!
Those are my biggest tips to get used to a bigger homework load. If at any point you find yourself deeply overwhelmed, or you feel like you’re sacrificing your mental health for your grades, there is no shame in taking a few things off your plate. Always put your mental health first!
I believe in you! Good luck!
Love, Blair <3
This depends on the person! Some people will find freshman year to be the most difficult, if they’re quick to learn and need a challenge, while others find junior and senior year to be the most stressful, with the bigger workload and rigid deadlines. It also depends on what classes you take and how busy you are, so I can’t really give you a solid answer. On the one hand, as you get older, your teachers will probably expect a little bit more from you, because they are assuming that you become more competent with age. On the other hand, the workload gets a lot easier as you get used to it, and you will find your groove and what methods work for you. So it just depends! For me, I might say sophomore year was the hardest, because of that jump in the homework load (see above for advice to deal with that!), and because the homework load grows much more gradually from there on. What is important is not to worry about how difficult each year is in comparison to others, and just do what you can to deal with it as each challenge presents itself. You got this!
Love, Blair <3
