Highpoint Dr. Ask - Home, School, and Everything in Between

By: Mary Wilkinson and Grace Sullivan

I’m stuck in a cycle of doom scrolling, how can I be more productive? - Couch Potato

Hi Couch Potato,

I’ve been in your position more times than I would like to admit, and I understand the feeling of being trapped in your screen and 10 second videos. However, the most important thing to fix your issue is the first step. Try counting to three and getting off of the couch or your bed and moving to a spot where you can actually get work done. Afterwards, remove distractions such as your phone by putting them out of arms reach (even if this means a different room). I promise you, doing these two things will help a whole lot, but feel free to try other methods! Find things that work for you and you’ll become so much better at managing your productivity. Best of luck to you!

I feel really left out in my group of friends and I see them hanging out without me all the time. How do I make new friends who actually like me? - Friendless Freshman

Hey Friendless Freshman,

I’m sorry to hear you’ve been feeling this way! It’s never nice to find out your friends hang out without you, let alone feel left out in general. It sounds like it’s time to branch out, and while this might be scary, it’s necessary in order to find people that will appreciate you and your friendship! Try talking to the person you sit next to in class or the person in the same club or sports team as you. This guarantees you will have shared experiences, providing a perfect base for a new friendship or even just an entertaining conversation. Asking to sit at a new table during lunch works well too. While it may feel impossible, I promise it’s never too late to talk to new people! I hope you find who or what you’re looking for!

I’m always behind on homework and I’m tired of using the same old excuses. What else can I say when I forget homework rather than “my dog ate it”?- D1 Procrastinator

Hi Procrastinator!

Fun fact I’ve actually lived the “my dog ate my homework” nightmare. Picture this, ten year old me wiping the sweat off my face, eyes blurring, as I try to salvage what was left of my long division homework with a roll of scotch tape- definitely not my proudest moment. But here's the truth, most teachers can see through lies and will appreciate a thoughtful, honest email rather than some elaborate excuse. So I recommend if you forget your homework talk, or email your teacher respectfully telling them why rather than a complex excuse. Nine times out ten you can do it later for partial credit and your teacher will respect you for your honesty!

I don't do any sports or activities outside of school, how do I find what I'm passionate about or what I’ll enjoy doing? - Extremely Bored and Tired of Life Freshman

Hello Extremely Bored and Tired of Life Freshman!

I totally understand how you’re feeling- there's so many activities and sports it's overwhelming! My biggest tip to you is to be curious! Try new things and join lots of clubs that spark your interest- or is something unlike anything you’ve done before, and if it ends up not being your thing you don't keep doing it. Clubs and sports are a great chance to make new friends and find a group of people you share interests with, passions don’t just come out of nowhere- you find them by trying new things!