Aunt Agatha

Hello my dears! My name is Aunt Agatha and I’m here to help you all through tough times in your adolescence! I have done everything there is to be done and experienced many issues that still trouble people today. From troubled friendships to relationship troubles, I can offer you some advice to help make your life that much easier. We already have some questions from readers who we will share with you today:

1. I recently found out that my group of friends regularly hang out together during the weekend but they never invite me along with them. I’m really upset and wonder if I should still be friends with them. What should I do?

Oh deary! That would be very upsetting! Maybe if you want to spend more time with them, you should organise to do some activities together in the weekend. Maybe invite them around to your house or to a movie or something all of you would enjoy doing together. Your friends might have a lot of fun with you and start inviting you along to more events they do. However if they’re not interested in spending time together, it might not be worth it. Remember your group of school friends don’t have to be your close friends you see on the weekend!

2. My parents just told me they’re getting a divorce and my dad moved out three days ago and I haven’t seen him since. I’m really angry at my parents and just don’t want to go home. What should I do?

Oh my! I am so sorry my child! You must be feeling very horrible, but just remember that you shouldn’t be angry at your parents. Just because they don’t love each other as much as they used too, doesn’t mean they don’t love you. They will want you in their lives right now and you should be with them too. But if you really don’t want to talk to them about it right now, maybe you should talk to an adult that you trust, or a friend who has gone through the same experience. Not going home would not solve the problem but make it worse and make you and your family more upset through this tough time.

3. My best friend has recently got a girlfriend and now spends all his time texting her and every weekend with her. We hardly talk now or spend any time together and when we do he’s always texting her. I’m sick of it and feel like we’re losing our friendship. What should I do?

Oh pumpkin! Teenage relationships are tough, especially since they seem to get in the way of friendships! I think the best thing for you to do is talk to you friend. If you’re best friends like you say you are, you should be able to communicate with each other. Just voice your feelings and say you want to spend more time together and maybe just tell him to not text her every time you two are together. You don’t want to lose your friendship over it, as relationships come and go, but you need to let him know that you are missing him.

4. I do everything right, behave properly, do all my chores and homework, but my parents still don’t trust me. What should I do?

A good idea for this, my dear, is to get some more responsibility. Try getting a job, or taking on a role outside of home which shows commitment and responsibility. Trust doesn’t grow overnight, but by showing to your parents that you are a responsible child, you can gain more freedom from them.

5. Even though it’s still only the start of term, I feel very tired and overworked from all my homework. How can I fix this?

This is very common for teenagers! The answer is you need more sleep! Try going to bed earlier and get around 8 hours sleep a night. Maybe you should make a timetable of your day so that you can have as much sleep as possible! Also eating a good, balanced diet will help you get through the day easier. If this doesn’t seem to help, you should see a doctor and see if he could help you out.

That’s all for this week! If you would like me to help you out with some problems, contact the MAGS Roar and I’ll offer my best advice.

Getting a Job

So I’m writing this article, curled up in my bed with sore feet and a headache, chowing down on a piece of chocolate cake – a reward for my tiring day. Why was my day so strenuous that it warranted cake therapy? Well, today I officially joined the ranks of the working, and let me tell you, it was no mean feat. First of all, getting a job as an unqualified, unlicensed high school student these days is akin to winning at one of those games at a carnival – it does happen but it’s pretty rare and when you get your prize, you realise it’s nowhere near as cool as you thought it would be.

The main obstacle for students seeking part time work is that most positions require previous experience in their field. The obvious question so few people ask is; “But if you won’t give them a job, how can they get work experience?”

In my opinion, the best way for students to acquire part time work is not to apply for a specific position but go for the broader approach of handing out your CV to a wide range of employers. Just like casting a net into the ocean is more likely to get you a tasty dinner, than waiting around with just one rod; you’re more likely to be offered a position by one of several employers than get one specific job.

Then comes the interview. For me, it was a pretty nerve-wracking process but in all honesty, interviews aren’t something to be nervous about. The employer wants to know if you’re the right person to hire, so it’s important to display the qualities they’re looking for. If you’re going to be interacting directly with customers, make sure you come off as friendly and approachable. If you’ll need to be speaking a lot, make sure you’re clear and articulate. For the kinds of jobs students will be applying for, the questions asked are likely to be general and won’t require any previous knowledge, but it’s probably a good idea to do a little research about the place you’re hoping to work, to avoid any embarrassing situations.

If you’ve made it this far in the process, I congratulate you – Welcome to the work force, you are now earning your own money (minus what the government steals from you), of course your social life is now severely diminished, and I’m pretty sure that within a few weeks you’ll loathe your job and possibly your workmates (depending on how lucky you are). Like I said, it’s nowhere near as cool as you thought it would be, but hey – as adults will tell you, and they certainly tell me: Welcome to life.

Laura J Garforth

Dream Whisper



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