Welcome to our new weekly advice column published every Monday on the Swerve. Send us your questions and dilemmas at 187swerve@gmail.com .
Dear Mary,
I’m a 6th grader and I’m having some trouble with making new friends. Can you help me out?
Thanks, YdontWE
Dear YdontWE,
Thanks for contacting us for advice, and I’m so sorry you having some trouble with this!
To start out, I would say to get involved in clubs, and things you’re interested in. It would be a great way to find people with the same interests as you. There are so many cool NIA programs where you could meet people from all different academies and grades.
Also, remember to be kind, and reach out to new people. Maybe you could sit with new people at lunch and try to start some new conversations! Generally, if you are kind to someone, they will be kind back to you. It may feel embarrassing at first, but it will be very helpful in the long run.
Choose friends that you enjoy being around, and not people who might pressure you into doing things that you don’t want to do, or things that you know are not right. Making good, supportive friends will make your middle school experience so much easier!
Thank you again, and I hope you find this advice helpful!
Sincerely, Mary
Dear Mary,
I keep waiting until the last minute to do my homework. How can I procrastinate less?Thanks, concertinaThomasinaXO
Dear concertinaThomasinaXO,
Procrastination is something almost all of us deal with, and it is perfectly natural that you are struggling with it. It might take a while to work on, but over time it will get so much easier.
When dealing with procrastination, you should start by motivating yourself. Tell yourself that there will be a reward when you are finished. For example you can tell yourself, “When I finish my math project I can watch an episode of my favorite television show.” It is always easier to finish something when there is something to look forward to!
Think about your future self. Let’s say you have a 1,000 word essay due Friday, and today is Monday. You will be thanking yourself when you are relaxing on the couch instead of doing your essay at 1:00am Friday morning!
I hope this is a good start for you!
Sincerely, Mary
The Swerve 