Dear Vickie,
I feel like my friends judge and look down upon me because I don’t like STEM. How can I deal with the pressure and judgment?
Sincerely,
Judged Student
Dear Judged Student,
I know it’s hard not to worry about what other people think, but sometimes you have to put what you want first, regardless of everyone else’s opinions and judgment. If you don’t want to do STEM, don’t do it! Do what makes you happy and fulfilled rather than picking what other people want just to appease them and regretting it down the line.
Sometimes you have to take a step back and wonder why they’re judging you in the first place, and if their criticisms are more important to you than your own goals. People tend to be their own worst enemies! Our desire to please other people often inhibits us from doing what is best for ourselves. It’s okay to be worried about judgment, but communication is always key, so ask those same friends why they might be looking at you in a different light, or explain to them how you might be feeling. It’s easy to get stuck in your head and overcomplicate a situation, but take a second to think about what the simplest solution might be! Sometimes the best ones are right in front of us.
XOXO,
Vickie
Dear Vickie,
I’ve been playing more Clash recently and I can’t seem to stop to do my homework. How do I fix this?
Sincerely,
67 god
Dear 67 god,
First off, what a name! Second of all, I think I have a few solutions for you! It’s important to know where your priorities are and to set some goals for yourself. This doesn’t mean you have to go from zero to a hundred and have your whole life figured out, but having a few long-term goals can help you see the bigger picture. Now, phone addictions run rampant in today’s day and age, and I can’t exempt myself from it, as much as I’d like to. I wish I could give you the simple advice to set a screen limit, but I think we all know how well that works. Some things that help me really are remembering those long-term goals. Beyond just finishing your work for the day, what does doing today’s homework benefit in the future? Better grades? Better chances at a dream school, maybe? You need to have an incentive to work, and sometimes it’s enough to make yourself proud, but other times you need an actual plan with an endpoint to meet.
XOXO,
Vickie
