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a purely red devil advice column to address your most pressing questions by Nadia Burt designed by Nadia Burt graphics by Mara Severts
As it is c ollege season, is ther e any advice current seniors can g ive to upcoming underclassmen and juniors for the following years?
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ollege season is upon us and seniors are STRESSED. ἀ ere are a few of us who were proactive over the summer and got that crucial CommonApp personal statement done, but the vast majority were a little more “behind”, starting essays and filling out the activities section as senior year got underway. I think the most important advice seniors can give to all of our underclassmen is to give themselves TIME. You don’t have to get everything done in the summer before senior year, but make sure you start researching the questions each college asks, and maybe start drafting some responses. You want to make sure that you mention something specific from each school and that research takes time, so breaking it up into reasonable chunks helps immensely. Another thing that is especially important for juniors is asking teachers for recommendation letters. Typically, it is best to ask (politely) around March but each teacher has a different process and timeline. Make sure that you are asking teachers in classes you have participated in and put in a real effort - teachers write much better letters for students they got to know. In general, the college application process is difficult, but Hinsdale Central has some amazing guidance counselors and resources, so don’t be afraid to reach out if you are unsure how to prepare. My friend just got asked out by a guy she likes, but I like her - what should I do?
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t truly does hurt seeing your crush go out with someone else, but the biggest thing to consider in this situation is your friend’s feelings. For example, if she genuinely likes this guy and you are good friends, then perhaps the best thing to do is what makes her happy and doesn’t break your friendship. However, you have to do some introspective thinking too . Will telling her your feelings break the friendship? Will you be more hurt if she starts dating someone else and you never shared that you like her? If seeing them with another person will hurt your friendship regardless, then you may as well tell her that you like her! ἀ ere is a thin line between being an advocate for your feelings and malicious intent to break up a relationship, and you want to make sure that your friend realizes it is the former. Just remember, whether you tell her your feelings or not, you will be OK. However, make an effort to distance yourself from the friendship if it becomes too much for you emotionally - prioritizing your mental health should come first. ἀ ere comes a point in which you have to recognize what you can and can’t control - you have time to make dozens of friends and have dozens of crushes, so don’t limit your high school experience to one person.
Do you think tha t people should talk about men tal health? Or should they deal with it themselves? Personally, I f eel like the str ong and silen t type and being able t o deal with y our own emotions is something I ’ve been able t o do all m y life. But ther e’s all this messag ing nowadays about talk ing about stuff. What ’s your take?
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insdale Central has had a lot of messaging a bout mental health lately, such as Red Devil Reflections, working to ensure that students feel that they are able to talk to others about their mental health. Dec 6-10 was our Spirit/Coping week, which we used to learn and talk about our emotions, as well as checking in with those around us. ἀ ese programs are timely to our society’s current situation as according to the World Health Organization, one in seven teens experiences anxiety, depression, or behavioral disorders. I think the idea of a strong and silent type is one that has been supported by the societal norm of internalizing our feelings - despite this, it is important to ensure these feelings don’t overwhelm us. I think that people should ABSOLUTELY talk about mental health, but we also need to be aware of who we are talking to. Talking to your friends is certainly a great way to open up the conversation about mental health with people you trust and are comfortable with. Still, you must remember that your friends are not professionals with the resources to help you navigate emotions, which is why reaching out to social workers at Central and therapists outside of school is a g reat idea. Being honest with mental health professionals and owning your issues is important as their help will only work to the extent that you let them in. ἀi s advice column is simply how I chose to answer the question - if you or someone you know needs guidance on other issues, reach out to your social worker. If you are unsure who your social worker is you can find information online at the Hinsdale Central Social Work page or through the guidance office.
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