Life Advice
Q1) I know a campus-wide problem in the past has been hazing. Are there any safe but entertaining dorm traditions to engage in? OhGeeSimpy: I know board games like Monopoly and Sorry are huge on campus, but you might be looking for something a little more entertaining. Personally, I think an easy way to have fun with your buddies is to sit down with a calzy on a Saturday night and watch a short film or waste a couple of hours watching YouTube. OhGeeYoosk: We had gym night in Ewald a couple of weeks ago and it was quite successful. Trying to get your proctors/dorm faculty involved in planning some events and possibly using some dorm funds can really be helpful to get a really successful and exciting event going. Q2) I’m obsessed with this boy, and we went to EP once but he still doesn’t notice me. His thick eyebrows and dreamy eyes make me swoon at him. He just knows me as a “nice girl,” but underneath I’m really a sassy exotic girl. What do I do? OhGeeSimpy: I think that showing more of the sassy side you tell us about in your question might help to catch his eye. Next time you see this special bushy-eyebrowed friend of yours, flash him a wink or maybe bat your eyes a bit. Snapchat might serve as a useful tool for your flirt game. OhGeeYoosk: You should really try to bring out the exotic side of your personality. There are plenty of nice girls at the Academy. Try to stand out. You say you’re exotic, so maybe rock a hula skirt on campus or wear an “I Love Guam” shirt to show that you’re not just an average girl. Q3) What do I do when I’ve sent out most of my clothes to E&R and I’m having trouble forming socially acceptable outfits with the remainder of my wardrobe? OhGeeSimpy: Switching up your wardrobe can be really beneficial for you if you’re trying to be among the fashion icons at Exeter. Maybe take a visit to a thrift shop if you want to be truly original. If your creative juices are really flowing, you might go far out with your fashion grind. Keep it classy but angsty by cutting off the sleeves of your dress shirt and poppin’ the colla. OhGeeYoosk: What can I say, you gotta improvise. This might be a time for you to explore some new fashion styles. Try out outfits that have been laying dormant at the bottom of your wardrobe, and you might just find your new favorite piece of clothing. If there’s that one shirt you can’t live without, hit up the laundry machines in your dorm. Q4) Recently within my dorm, there’s been a lot of friction, especially among the lowerclassmen. What can we do to help us all get along and just have fun? I hate to watch these yungins burn their bridges at such a valuable stage in their lives. OhGeeSimpy: Yusuke and I have dealt with this problem numerous times during our Exeter careers, and we know exactly what you’re talking about. To bring some structure into the disputation between two dorm members and really address the fundamental problems in the relationship, I know a helpful strategy can be to hold a debate. Even if it’s not the correct format for a real debate, have each student start out explaining what they feel is the root of the turmoil in the relationship. Then give each one a chance to explain or defend themselves. Have the council of judges help facilitate what each student can do to help grow closer to the other, and within no time, their relationship will be as smooth as butter. OhGeeYoosk: As an upperclassmen, your job is to facilitate the well-being of the lowerclassmen in your dorm. Remember, preps and lowers are oftentimes young and clueless like a herd of sheep. They need your guidance. As mentioned before, we’ve run into this problem in Ewald too (I assume this is a common occurrence in all dorms). We were able to settle the dispute by making the two preps in conflict apologize to each other and hug for a solid minute.