Before we reveal this week's new letters, it's time for a new teacher problem for you to solve! Here's Coach Mac:
Dear Mask,
I like cheese too much, and it makes me gassy and is not healthy. My mom says it’s psychological, but I think my brain is wired differently.
Sincerely,
I Like Cheese Too Much
Ohio
Dear I Like Cheese Too Much,
Despite the fact that you’re anonymous, I feel like I know you on a deeply emotional level. Being lactose intolerant is extremely common and quite annoying. Trust me, your brain is not wired differently; you are just part of the large portion of the population that can’t comfortably ingest lactose. Cheese is a magical, godly substance, and this is a horrible predicament to be in. The first thing I would do is research. For some people, eating cheese just makes them gassy, but for others it can really affect their health. If you just get gassy, plan your cheese feasting strategically. Eat cheese when you know you are going to spend the rest of the day in your room or alone around your house. I wish you the best of luck with your cheese dilemma.
Flatulently,
The Mask
Dear Mask,
I have a friend who shared a secret with me that he does not want me to share with anyone else. I'm close friends with his other really close friend, and this friend recently found out there is a secret and wants to know what it is. He won't stop asking about it. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Confused Friend
San Jose, CA
Dear Confused Friend,
The best thing to do in this situation is to keep the secret secret. Tell your prying friend to stop asking because you aren’t going to tell them. If a secret is shared, it can really hurt the feelings of whomever told you the secret, damaging your friendship and break the trust they have with you. It may be difficult to keep the secret, but the importance of keeping it is immense. Once you’ve made your decision clear, the best thing to do whenever your friend mentions it is change the topic. Try not to have your friend feeling like you don't trust them; just inform them that it is not your secret to share. After all, friendships are very fragile and should be cherished.
Ssshhh,
The Mask
Dear Mask,
My mom doesn’t let me wear makeup, but my friends can. Should I ask if I can wear a little at home? Or just mascara outside of home? Help!
Sincerely,
Mature Kid
San Jose, CA
Dear Mature Kid,
This seems like a difficult situation. The first thing you should do is ask yourself why you want to wear makeup. Are you doing it for yourself, because it makes you feel more confident? Are you doing it for your friends, because they think you should, or you want to fit in with them? If you’re doing it for your friends, you might want to consider why it matters what they think of you or why you want to fit in with them. You should do things because they make YOU happy, not for other people. If you want to wear makeup because you like it, then you should ask your mom about it. You can tell her that it would make you happy and more confident.
All made up,
The Mask
Dear Mask,
Two of my friends and I have been friends since first grade. But in the past few months, we haven't really been talking to each other. I want to be a good friend and have fun with them, but they both merged into two other friend groups. Plus, we aren't in the same class or the same enrichment group. Please help.
Sincerely,
Confused Person
Willow Glen, CA
Dear Confused Person,
I understand how it feels to have friends drift away. Why don’t you try talking to them, hang by their lunch table, or send them a random message to start a conversation? Communication is a really important thing if you want to start a friendship back up. Planning time to hang out outside of school is also a good option. Invite your friends to hang out at your house or a park, and plan an activity to give you something to do and talk about. Even so, it’s important to remember that throughout life, some friendships drift away and new ones form, and in the end this is okay.
Positively,
The Mask