We’ve all been there—from the time you didn’t know if your outfit matched to the time your significant other abruptly changed his mind about your relationship to the time your pet hamster died. Picture all those times you’ve needed sound advice but didn’t think your friends would understand. Well, the Collegian staff understands, and we’re here to help.
Our new advice column is completely anonymous and is designed with the student body in mind. If you’re seeking advice on anything ranging from birthday gifts to study tips to new technology to maneuvering around the dining common successfully, you’ve come to the right place!
Go to www.collegianonline.com/advice to submit your question(s). Because of the number of submissions, however, we can’t guarantee that all questions will be published.
I want to work out more this semester but I don’t have much time. What should I do?
There are 168 hours in a week. Subtract the time you spend weekly on personal hygiene, reading your Bible and praying, going to class and chapel, studying, eating, working, participating in an extension and sleeping—you should have about 15 hours left, and that’s being extremely generous. So you have enough time. Make a priority list and stick with it. Find an exercise buddy to keep you accountable. We make time for what’s important to us.
A girl just wants to be friends. How do I get out of the “friend zone”?
Relationships are tricky. What if you successfully inch your way out of the friend zone, and then something goes horribly wrong romantically? What if it damages your friendship irreversibly? There is so much pressure concerning relationships. First and foremost, it’s crucial that you remember that all women are your sisters in Christ, despite how they might feel toward you. So keep being a friend she can trust, but don’t push it. This might not be what you want to hear, but sometimes just being a friend is the best thing you can do for someone.
Sometimes my roommate paces back and forth in our room talking loudly on the phone to his girlfriend. What should I do to get some peace and quiet?
While you may dream about tearing his cell phone from his grasp and hurling it across the room, there are more effective ways to deal with the situation. First, ask him politely to tone it down. Then, if this doesn’t work, try a simple negotiation. If these tactics fail, you could head to your residence hall’s study lounge or to the library. As inconvenient as it is, your roommate is entitled to talk on the phone as much as you are entitled to peace and quiet and, unfortunately for him, he can’t talk in the study lounge or library.
Can I wear white shoes after Labor Day?
If you want to constrain yourself to the world of fashion, then no, you cannot wear white shoes after Labor Day. However, several fashionistas—including Charla Krupp, fashion expert and author of How to Never Look Fat Again—claim this rule is outdated, especially in sunny South Carolina where the temperature doesn’t drop until November. If you’re still uncomfortable with the idea of this fashion faux pas, nude-colored shoes are a widely accepted substitute.