Dear Leo: Advice Column

Welcome to the second Dear Leo Lakeside Advice Column article of the school year! We got a lot of questions this month, which we’re so happy about. Once again, feel free to fill out this form if you have any questions or need advice, and we’ll try to answer as many as we can in the next article! Enjoy!

Dear Advice Column, 

Why does everyone seem to be wearing plaid pj pants? Did I miss a fashion trend or something? -Banana

Hi Banana! I personally have not worn plaid PJ pants to school before, but I have definitely seen a lot more people at school wear them regularly! I guess PJ pants are probably much more comfy to wear to school, especially considering how tired students are these days…

Of course, you don’t have to wear something just because it’s “trendy” or popular, but prioritizing comfort over style in everyday clothing could still be worth a shot! You could also wait until pajama day, which in that case makes total sense. 

Thanks for submitting a question!! :D 

-Grace 

Dear Advice Column,

How can I get more friends?

Hi!! First of all, to you (or anybody reading this); I would LOVE to be your friend. My email is gracel28@lakesideschool.org; feel free to reach out to me whenever about anything and everything! Anyways, back to your question. I completely get it: making friends can be hard sometimes, but here are some tips that helped me and hopefully help you too!

1. Don’t be afraid to be the one to start the conversation! I definitely used to struggle with this A LOT because I was so introverted, but even something as simple as saying hello to someone new or complimenting them is a great way to get to know each other! Chances are they probably want to get to know you better, too, but might be too shy, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! I know it can be challenging, especially if you’re anything like me, so here are some examples of things you could say if you need some ideas:

• I know it sounds basic, but “Hi! I’m [name]. What’s yours?”

• “I love your outfit/shirt/shoes etc.!”

• “I heard you like [hobby, sport, interest etc.], and so do I!”

Of course, you aren’t limited to these questions, so feel free to use other conversation starters too! :)

2. Join clubs or other activities you’re interested in! Being part of a large group of people with similar interests is a great way to find people with things you can bond over! For example, I met some of my closest friends from activities like the Lakeside Debate Club, orchestra, Lakeside summer camps, and of course, the Lakeside Leo. Extracurricular activities and clubs can also make finding friends easier because you have more time to socialize with other people, which can be hard during school.

3. Talk to people outside of your friend group or circle! People from your advisory can be a great start. From my experience, a lot of times the only thing stopping you from being besties with someone else is simply not knowing them well enough. For example, if you see someone eating lunch alone, or someone who doesn’t have a partner for a group project, take that opportunity to reach out, even if you don’t know them really well! They would definitely appreciate it. 

Also, take advantage of school activities such as group projects or outdoor trips! You probably won’t be with your closest friends every single time, so use this chance to get to befriend more people!

I hope these tips help! Remember: friendships can take time, so don’t worry if you aren’t getting close to someone as quickly as you hoped! There’s always going to be a small awkward phase at the beginning of a friendship, but just know that it’s completely normal and you WILL get past it! As long as you keep being your amazing self, the right people will eventually come to you. <33

-Grace 

Dear Advice Column,

What is the best brand of pencil?

This is such a good question! I’ve realized that the type of pencil I use affects my handwriting a lot, so the brand I use really matters to me. I will say, though, it really depends on the person, so I recommend trying a wide variety of pencils yourself to see which one YOU like best. However, here are some I really like:

1. Mechanical pencils! Mechanical pencils are great because you don’t have to worry about sharpening them or the pencil getting shorter over time! As for brands, I recommend the Pentel Twist-Erase Click 0.7 mm (I used this one for YEARS) and the Muji Polycarbonate Mechanical Pencil W 0.5mm (The one I’m currently using). 

2. Erasable pens are also a great alternative! I find myself reaching for pens more often than pencils because they appear more clearly on paper and don’t smudge as easily. In my personal experience, I have found that writing in pen is significantly faster than in pencil, which can be really useful too! My all-time favorite is the PILOT FriXion Clicker 0.5mm pen, which I use for basically everything. 

Once again, the type of writing utensil really depends on people’s personal preferences, so if these don’t work out for you, don’t be afraid to try something else! Hope this helps!

-Grace

Ok, I REALLY need to do my math homework now, so I’m gonna pass the rest of this month’s questions to my wonderful friend and productive debate team partner, Yuri! Bye!! 

Dear Advice Column,

What are some unique hobbies I can pick up?

When it comes to “unique hobbies” there are many different options to choose from. While I don’t have any cut-and-dry options, I can give you an outline to use when picking interesting hobbies.

1. Do something difficult. One of the main ways people can appreciate a hobby is when you demonstrate that you need a high level of skill to do it. This is not only cool for showing off to people, but also means you will learn a difficult skill, which is always good for yourself. Learning something new and difficult is a great teacher of discipline. A great thing to do is debate. This is a great opportunity to learn about topics, make new friends, and NOT write your debate speeches (sorry, Grace).

2. Do something special. Hobbies can only be unique if they are truly special. No offense if you are #basic and like drinking StarB’s, but that is not a unique hobby. Also, I saw that Grace gave y’all her email and said you could be her friend, so I’m here to tell you that a great hobby is to be my friend! Do you know why it’s a unique hobby? Because no one likes me! Here’s my email: Yuris28@lakesideschool.org. I’m lonely. Seriously though, doing something that not very many other people do is super cool and very unique. 

3. Some examples. I realize that these suggestions are still pretty vague, so here are some examples. As I said before, Debate Club is a great hobby to pick up. It makes you better at public speaking, thinking on the spot, and crafting brilliant arguments. Seriously, it makes you better at arguing–but respectfully. Additionally, you could pick up playing an instrument that is not offered for learning in the Middle School. This could include playing the guitar or other instruments. These are just a few of the epic things you could do!

In conclusion, I hope you learned a few tips when it comes to picking unique hobbies!

Thanks for your question!

-Yuri

Dear Advice Column,

How do you make a teacher like you more?

How do you make a teacher like you more? That is never an easy question to answer, and the answer can vary greatly between teachers. Most people have experience with – or knowledge of – a wide range of teacher personalities, from the kindest to the strictest. Luckily, Lakeside has amazing faculty, so “strict” isn’t a huge issue. Also, making a teacher like you shouldn’t be your top priority, as they’re supposed to be grading impartially. However, having good grace with a teacher could give your comments a boost or just make them have a more positive outlook towards you, or when recommending you for a role in something. Here are a few ways to make a teacher like you more:

1. Be respectful. It is always important to be respectful to teachers, no matter what. They put a lot more effort into your education than you could ever imagine. If you show teachers that you care about them and that you’re not just writing down the words that come out of their mouths, then they will show you more respect as well. This could manifest as saying “thank you” after class, greeting them in the hallways, paying attention in class, or turning your work in on time to make their lives just that little bit easier.

2. Succeed in their class. Now, this might seem easier said than done, but knowing the material can also give your instructor more respect for you. If they see that some of their teaching has gotten to you, they will feel good that you have succeeded, and they will look to you as a role model. Being seen as a good example could also lead to them pointing you out as a leader in your class, and guess what: colleges like leaders!!! As I have said, it might not always be easy to succeed in every class, but you can always reach out to your teacher for extra help, which brings me to my next point…

3. Show you care about learning. One of the most important things is to show them that you care about learning. If you can make sure a teacher knows that you appreciate the work they do and that you appreciate their commitment to your education, that will definitely make the teacher like you more. This can show up in multiple ways. One way is trying not to talk while the teacher is talking. This is admittedly very difficult, especially when your friend gives you that one mischievous look that always makes you crack up. On the other hand, it is important to engage in the class conversation when invited to do so by the teacher. Finally, as I said in the previous point, contact the teacher if you are struggling with a subject. We have many amazing resources at Lakeside that you should totally take advantage of. Showing that you are willing to take that extra step to expand your knowledge will make the teacher undoubtedly respect you more.

In conclusion, to gain a teacher’s respect you must give them the respect you wish to receive and work hard to succeed in their class. And always remember; teachers are all human beings and they all have their own personalities, so there will never be one way to be liked by all teachers ever. However, respect and dedication are the first steps to gaining respect from anyone, including teachers. 

Thanks for writing to the advice column!

Yuri

Thank you to everyone who submitted a question; these were so fun to answer! Please write again!

Love, 

The Lakeside Leo (Grace and Yuri)