Dear Leo: Advice Column

Welcome to the final Lakeside advice column of the school year! Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a question over these past few months; I’ve had so much fun answering them! Unfortunately, I was unable to answer all of your questions due to how many I got this month, but I tried to reply to as many as I could. Enjoy!

Dear Advice Column,

How are you doing (are you ok)? Everyone always asks WHAT the advice columnist is doing but not HOW the advice columnist is doing :))  

AWW this has to be one of the sweetest responses I’ve gotten! I’ve been doing pretty well lately (besides the occasional stress that simply comes with being a middle school student). Thank you so much for asking!! I don’t know who you are, but ily <33.

I hope you have the best day ever. I mean it. 

Dear Advice Column,

I have a crush on someone and just don't know how to tell them. I think they might like me back but I don't want our current relationship as friends to change. What should I do?

That sounds really difficult, and I’m sure many of us have been in a similar situation as well. From my personal experience, as hard as it may seem, the best thing to do would be to just tell them. Whether they reciprocate those feelings (or they don’t), if they’re a good friend who cares about your current relationship as friends just as much as you do—chances are your friendship won’t change as much as you think! In my opinion, it seems like a better idea to move on if you get rejected rather than bottling up the complex feelings you might have about them. 

If they do like you back (yay!), it’s also completely your choice if you want to stay as friends or as something more. Of course, you shouldn’t feel pressured to tell them if you don’t feel ready yet, so don’t forget to take things at a pace that feels comfortable for YOU and only you. If you do decide to confess, however, I’d definitely recommend doing it when it’s just the two of you, whether that means in-person or through text. This way, neither of you will feel pressured, and you can be totally real and honest with each other. 

Hope this helps! I’ll be rooting for you :)

Dear Advice Column,

Sixth grade is coming up fast and I'm not sure what it's like. Any pointers? -Current Fifth Grader

Hi!! First of all, you should totally be excited about sixth grade; it’s seriously so much fun. Here’s some tips I came up with as someone who was once a sixth grader:

1. Be open to making new friends! One of the biggest transitions from fifth to sixth grade is how many new people your grade gets, which is a great opportunity to meet new people. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself on the first day of the school year and ask them about their interests, hobbies, etc. Don’t forget that your friend circle will probably expand or change, and that’s completely okay! 

2. This applies to any grade, really, but make sure to get enough sleep. One of my biggest regrets from sixth grade was staying up to absurdly late hours to work on something instead of asking for an extension, so please LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES!! Every teacher is super kind and understanding, and I’m sure they’d be more than happy to give you an extension! Trust me, sixth grade will be so much better without dark circles under your eyes and with enough energy to experience how great sixth grade truly is. 

3. This is also something that applies to everyone, but try not to procrastinate! From my experience, the workload in sixth grade is pretty manageable, but only if you know how to manage your time well. Try prioritizing homework or whatever else needs to be done while also making sure to give yourself some well-deserved breaks in between!

Enjoy your sixth-grade year! I’ve made so many unforgettable memories in sixth grade that I’ll cherish forever, and I’m sure you will too. Hope you’ll find these pointers helpful!

What are some popular, effective study strategies I can use?

This is such a great question! While this question largely depends on one’s personal preferences, here are some studying tips that work for me:

1. If I’m feeling especially unproductive or unmotivated, one strategy that really helps me is the Pomodoro technique. I’ll set a 25-minute timer and try to work during that time without distractions or interruptions. Once the timer goes off, I’ll take a quick 5-minute break, and repeat this process until I finally finish my work! This helps me a lot because it makes sure I’m staying (mostly) on task, while also giving myself breaks in between!

2. Sounds around me, such as people talking, can often be distracting for me, so I like listening to music to block out these noises while I work! Typically, I’ll put on a pair of noise-canceling headphones and play some slower, non-lyrical music, which I find really useful! The instrumental versions of my favorite songs work great. 

3. Find a study buddy! Working around someone else who also wants to get work done works super well because you can hold each other accountable while also having fun! Having a friend around is also great for quizzing each other before a test, correcting each other’s homework, or peer-reviewing an essay!

Once again, the “best” study strategy depends on the person, so feel free to experiment with a wide range of methods to see which one works best for you! 

Thank you so much to everyone who submitted a question!

Love, 

The Dear Leo Advice Column (Grace L.) <3