Care Bear Cares: An Advice Column
“Care Bear” Caroline Rubin
If you’re dealing with a problem with classes, friends, or anything else on campus, odds are someone else at Gettysburg is having a similar problem. So rather than confide in your parents or reliable best friend, why not publish your personal problems for all the world to see!? It’s like when you go up to your professor with a question, and he or she insists that you ask so the entire class can hear in case other students have the same question. My name is Caroline, and, hey!—I care! If you have a problem relating to school, friends, relationships, etc., go ahead and over-share. I will keep your identity a secret, and I might even be able to help! Email me your questions at rubica01@gettysburg.edu and I will answer a different question every Monday! Help me to help you. Let’s start over-sharing.
Here’s a sample of how I might respond to someone who might have a problem not so different from yours:
Dear Care Bear:
In my group of friends, I’m known as “the responsible one.” I never had much desire to go crazy in high school, and I wasn’t too eager to do so once I got to college either. I made a group of friends here at Gettysburg who are great and we have a lot of fun together, but a few of them like to go hard on the weekends, and sometimes I’m the only sane one when we go out. Though I never minded being the mom of the group in high school, I’ve been thinking lately that it might be nice to have a little extra fun once in a while. This issue isn’t worth finding all new friends, but I don’t know what to do.
Sincerely,
Too Young To Be A Cool Mom
Dear Cool Mom,
First of all, anyone is lucky to have you as a friend. I also hear you saying that your friends are better people than they come across in this situation. That being said, if they are true friends, they will understand if you talk to them about your concern. I would sit them down and say, “Listen, I don’t want to tell you guys what to do, but sometimes when you all go overboard, I’m afraid that something bad could happen if I don’t take the mom role. I love hanging out with you guys, but could you maybe try to be more careful this time?” You are very right to be a worrier about this situation. Still, you have a right to do what you want too.
Your friend,
Care Bear.
