Dear Katie,

How do I get over someone who isn’t good enough for me?

From, S

Dear S,

Knowing your worth is a very important step in getting over somebody. If you already know that this person is not up to your standards, then you are making the right decision by wanting to get over them. Sometimes finding yourself is a critical piece of this journey. This will give you independent time to reflect on yourself and decide what you want. If you haven’t already, I would recommend cutting the communication between you and this person. This is a big step, but if you are being tempted to answer their texts and calls currently, this may be making it harder to get over them. After this step, you can venture into finding another person that fulfills your standards. This may take time and that’s ok! All that matters is you take the time you need to complete these steps.

Hi Katie,

I’m feeling really run down and I can tell I’m coming down with a cold, but I have a super busy and stressful week ahead of me. Do you have any advice on how to balance things and how to keep up without further burning myself out?

From, I

Dear I,

I think this is a rough part of the year for many of us. I myself have come face to face with the difficulties of the spring semester. Coming back from Spring Break especially may be challenging as it is such a stark transition back to classes, work, and the atmosphere of campus. In regards to feeling under the weather, you can drink lots of water, hot tea, and electrolytes to flush out your system. Staying hydrated is always important but especially when you’re sick. Fluids assist in regaining strength in your immune system as well as replenishing the body. Burning out is a common feeling among college students, especially during the spring. I recommend finding places and activities outside of your classes that bring you peace and serenity. It is often helpful to separate school work from your personal life in order to maintain the energy to do both. I find it helpful to also talk to a friend when you need a little inspiration. There’s a high likelihood that they may be going through the same thing and talking about it can lead to a release of negative energy that will allow you to move on. Keep pushing through and it will be summer before you know it!

Hey Katie,

I’m a big fan of your advice column and was wondering if you could help me out?! I really love my roommate as a person but I don’t think we live well together. She is one of my very close friends but we live super different lifestyles and I don’t think it’s good for us to room together again. How should I go about telling her?

From, L

Dear L,

Roommates can be a common barrier in many peoples’ college lives. It can be really difficult to find somebody that matches your lifestyles and that’s ok. Since you are already great friends, it sounds like the best way of telling her would just be honesty. You should explain to her what isn’t working in your rooming situation and what is working. You can offer her a chance to fix what isn’t working in the time remaining in the semester. By May, if nothing has changed, then you can feel comfortable in changing roommates because you gave her the chance to change. It’s important to remember just because you are living different lifestyles doesn’t mean there is something wrong in the friendship. Not all friends are meant to room together! Your friendship doesn’t need to change after you tell her. In fact, it may make your relationship stronger because you are being honest with her. Good luck!

Hi Katie,

As a new pet mother would it be preferable to adopt a cat, dog or bird as a starter pet?

From, M

Dear M,

I think this is first and foremost a preference question. If you are willing to commit to being the caregiver to any of these options, I would recommend the animal that calls to you. From a logistical standpoint, I think a dog would require the most effort from you, but would overall be worth the work in my opinion. Dogs are companion animals, so if you’re looking for a comforting friend, go with a dog! In regards to space, if you plan to adopt any animal in the Wellesley dorm setting, I would recommend a cat simply because of the confinement issues associated with the rooms. Many of the cats on campus currently seem to be living great lives. I don’t know anybody with a bird on campus, but that may be an interesting and practical option as well. The only issue would be the confinement of the cage as the bird may want to fly into larger areas. I hope this helps and I look forward to seeing your new pet on campus soon!