Hello DV students –  you’ve asked and we’ve answered! Thank you for submitting to the Wildcat Tribune’s advice column! We’ve tried our best to answer your questions for this week.

Disclaimer: The advice of the Wildcat Tribune Advice Column is provided by students, for students. While we have your best interests in mind, and we will try our best to help you, we are not expert sources for more serious topics. Our advice is intended to support you and help guide your decisions, but you are in no way obligated to take it. Please email the Tribune if you feel the need to reach out for any kind of help or follow-up for any inquiries. And remember that the form link will always be on our instagram account @wildcat.tribune and on the website!

The Tribune reserves the right to abstain from responding/publishing any submission. Please refrain from explicitly referencing other individuals in your submissions and/or using explicit language, as doing so may warrant the partial or total redaction of your question. We will not tolerate threats directed towards other students, and we will not respond to questions that we determine to be offensive or violent in nature.

Q: There’s this bully in my class that is blatantly very hurtful and offensive. They’ve made people cry and have laughed about it! I keep telling my teachers but nothing seems to change. What should I do? I am afraid they may target me next.

– King

A: Hello King!

Bullies can be difficult. What they say can be hurtful, but it is important to know that most bullies are just projecting their insecurities onto other people. While that is no excuse, knowing why they do what they do can help you put a stop to it. Bullies are trying to get a reaction out of their targets, so by giving them one, you are just fueling them. That being said, you don’t have to completely ignore their insults, but you can tell them that you don’t appreciate what they are doing and that you are there for them if they need someone to talk to. Good luck!

– Ariya

Q: How do I overcome college decision stress?

– Yo Mama

A: Hi Yo Mama (ha),

I can’t directly speak on this particular question because I have not personally gone through college decisions but from standing on the sidelines and watching, these are some tips that I think may help. College decision stress can be extremely overwhelming, but there are multiple ways to overcome it. Waiting in anticipation for results that are out of hand can be difficult but sometimes it’s important to:

1.  Take a step back and breathe: take a moment to clear your mind and gain a new perspective. Try new activities to take your mind off of the subject and ones that help you relax and destress. 
2. Focus on what you are able to control: It’s impossible to control all variables involved in the college admissions process. Once you hand in your application, the rest of the process is out of your hands. Instead, focus on new opportunities that may present itself in time.
3. Seek support: Talk to your family, friends, or guidance counselor about how you’re  feeling. They may offer you advice, support, and reassurance during this stressful time. 
4. Keep your options open: Remember that there are many colleges and universities out there, and you will find a good fit for you. Even if prospects are looking low currently, you may see new potential or opportunities if you learn to embrace it. Keep an open mind and consider a variety of options, including schools that you may not have initially considered. 
5. Practice self-care: Take care of yourself! Whether that be physically, mentally, and emotionally. Engage in hobbies that you enjoy. 

Remember that college decisions are just one part of your journey, and they do not define your worth or your future success. They are simply a step towards a door of new experiences and the beginning of a fresh chapter in your life. Keep a positive mindset and believe in yourself. You never know what will happen next, so keep an open mind and find new possibilities. 

Best wishes,

Renee

Q: Dealing with guilt

– Vi

A: Hello Vi,

Guilt is a difficult feeling to deal with. I root myself deep within you in a discomforting place. However, although cliché I genuinely think that the best advice I can give is to face the guilt directly. You should find the source of the guilt. You need to understand whether its roots come from another person or yourself. Only after discerning the source can you mend your mistakes. If another person is the cause of your guilt you should confront them, understand their perspective and cooperate with them to develop any reparations that need to be done. If the guilt stems from yourself, make a change that will spark self-improvement.

Good Luck!

Timothy

Q: Okay so this is gonna be kinda long. basically, a week ago my best friend told me that shes into my brother who’s in seventh grade and she’s a senior. And I was like bro wtf he’s literally not even gone through puberty and then she got like super mad at me and told me I was a bad friend and now I don’t know what to do. also my brother’s into her too so idk how to tell them not to date.

– Parrot

A: Parrot,

This is an interesting one. Well, according to all conventional metrics I seem to be decent at math. I’ve been stuck in school for the past decade learning about addition and subtraction and whatever else is expected of the average student. In fact, maybe I’ll aspire to be a mathematician one day, who knows? But for the first time in my mathematical career, it seems that the numbers do not add up??? Your little bro is literally a toddler and is probably 15 heads shorter than you and your friend. That 5-year age gap is no joke, tell your brother to go to his elementary school and check out some second graders (don’t actually). My best suggestion would be to look for new friends or a new brother. 

William