Dear Readers, this is the first issue of our Advice Column for Vol 62.  Before jumping into the advice, I wanted to take a moment to explain what this space is meant to be and how you can all participate and contribute. 

An advice column is simply a place where students can share situations or questions they are dealing with and receive a thoughtful, supportive response. The purpose of this column is not to judge anyone or act like there’s one perfect solution to every problem. Instead, the goal is to offer perspective and ideas that may help you see things in a way you had not thought of before, or insight that can help you figure out your next step. 

The topics can be about anything: friendships, school stress, misunderstandings, decisions you’re unsure about, or something that has just been on your mind. It can be a big issue that has been on your mind for a while, or a smaller situation that keeps bothering you. If it matters to you, then it is worth talking about.

Submissions will be collected through a Google Form posted on Schoology. They will be anonymous, so you can feel comfortable being honest. For each issue, one or two submissions will be selected and answered. While not every question may be featured right away, every submission is valued and appreciated, and seeing what other people are asking about can also be helpful in itself. 

If you decide to submit, please explain the situation clearly and share what kind of advice you are hoping for. A little context–what happened, how you are feeling, and what you’re unsure about–makes it easier for us to give a thoughtful response. You don’t need to share everything, just what you’re comfortable with. 

This column is meant to be supportive, but it is not a replacement for speaking with a trusted adult or counselor if something feels serious or urgent. In those situations, reaching out directly is always an important step. 

The hope is that this column becomes a space where students feel heard, understood, and encouraged, whether you submit a question or just read along. Over time, it is meant to be a place where students can share experiences, learn from different perspectives, and maybe even find a little reassurance that they are not alone in what they’re dealing with.