Ask The Mask, Issue 10

Our bonus feature this week is Part 1 of a video interview our staff writers Nick and Mike conducted with three school administrators, to get their advice about the most frequently asked questions in our mailbag. Stay tuned for Part 2, coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who suggested songs for our letter-writer Gerald Gerald to blast at his mom! Your top ideas were: "Oh Potato Dog," songs from Julie and the Phantoms, "the muffin song from sixth grade," and of course this classic. Gerald Gerald, whoever you are, let us know if any of these work!

For those who are visiting for the first time: "The Mask" is a group of middle school students eager to help with your dilemmas related to the pandemic. If you're a middle school student and would like The Mask to give you advice, please fill out this anonymous form. If we don't get to yours right away, keep checking back because it might appear in a future issue.

Dear Mask,

My dad just got a Covid shot today, which means he has a small amount of Covid. Should I worry about it?

Sincerely,

Covid Crazy

San Jose, CA

Dear Covid Crazy,

I understand your concern. Soon lots of people will be getting the vaccine: parents, grandparents, and so many more people. Luckily, you don't have to worry. The Covid vaccine does not contain any live virus. This means that when you get the shot you don't have any of the virus itself. What you do get are the antibodies that build up in your immune system to prevent you from getting Covid-19. If you're worried about the side effects, they do occur occasionally, but most of the time they are minor, such as a headache or a sore arm. There is nothing you should worry about, but if your dad is in discomfort, according to the CDC he should talk to his doctor about taking ibuprofen or other pain killers. The CDC also provides more information on how the vaccine works, why it's safe, and just about everything else you could wonder. I hope this helps your confusion.

Congratulations!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

It's hard to pay attention during class with all the things around you. It's too easy to just start going on your phone and texting people. I'm starting to have trouble catching important info in classes. Any help or tips on how to focus during class?

Sincerely,

Struggling Listener

San Jose, CA

Dear Struggling Learner,

I know how it feels when it is hard to pay attention. It is good you are noticing that you are having trouble and want to fix it. You should remove your phone and any other distractions from the room. And fresh air and exercise can help. You can also try setting a goal for yourself to ask more questions or volunteer in class more so you can stay involved. For me, goals help me stay motivated to keep trying and doing my best.

Stay focused!   

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I never look forward to school days anymore. Before quarantine, I woke up early, ready for another exciting day with my friends, but now I sleep in, knowing that all that lies ahead of me is six hours of mindlessly sitting in front of a computer screen. I try to do other things during class while listening (like drawing, researching, and self-care), but it's still so boring. Do you have any tips on how I can make life worth looking forward to? 

Sincerely,

Depressed

San Jose, CA

Dear Depressed,

I know exactly what you mean. Quarantine is so hard, especially when we have to do school online and stare blankly at a screen for 5-7 hours, five days a week. No wonder you are so tired and can’t focus. I would suggest rearranging your sleep schedule. You could add 30 minutes to an hour more of sleep, so if you usually go to bed at 12:00, just go to bed at 11:00 or 11:30. But after that, if you see no difference at all, then I think you should talk to a parent. Maybe there’s a way for you to connect with your friends offline. I get that you aren’t having the best time during the pandemic and online learning. But soon you will be back in school. It may seem like a long time, but you will be back in no time.

Hang in there,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I barely ever get to see my best friend anymore since she isn't at in-person school. But now, whenever I see her, she is always telling me about what fun things she did with another close friend of hers. That friend of hers is always very rude to me, but my friend won’t hear a word against her. I have been close friends with my best friend for a long time and I don't want someone to come between us. How can I make sure that this relationship stays alive?

Sincerely,

Hurt and Trying BFF

[location unknown]

Dear Hurt and Trying BFF,

You can talk to her every day. It’s as easy as texting or emailing. You can talk to her about stuff you have in common and what’s going on in your lives. Remember also that your friend is going to have other friends, too, just like you are going to have other friends. It’s just how it works sometimes. But if your best friend refuses to hear the truth about her other friend, that may be a sign that she’s not the BFF you need right now.

Good luck,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

My friend is always making rude comments to me and putting me down. It's really getting on my nerves and it hurts, but they are the type of person to not care about my feelings. I can't not be friends with her because our school is small. What do I do?

Sincerely,

Sad

San Jose, CA

Dear Sad,

I am sure many people have or have had this problem. Losing a friend or having your friends turn against you is a common but terrible thing that happens. If your friend is putting you down, then I think you shouldn’t be friends with her. Even if your school is small, there must be at least one other person to hang out with. Try to make a new friend at your school. But I had a friend like this, and I just talked to her. I know it's going to be hard, but take some time in your day to talk to her and tell her what you have been thinking. If she doesn’t think much of it, then move on; you don’t need to waste your time on a friend who doesn’t care for you. Because if they don’t, then they aren’t much of a friend.

Hoping for the best,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

My best friend moved away to [another country] last year and I really miss her. I have her email; she just doesn't check her email a lot because in [her country], everything is back to normal. For example, I never would have gotten a phone to text friends if Covid hadn't hit. I don't know what to do. I really miss her.

Sincerely,

Worried Friend

San Jose, CA

Dear Worried Friend, 

That’s a sad story. There are some options you can explore. The first one would be having your parents contact her parents. You could get in touch with them. You could also try making new friends at home, just to not worry you as much, while you wait for your best friend to make contact.

Good luck,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I'm wondering how we can continue to include our at-home learners (I mean friends) in more social-type stuff. Some of our students (I mean kids) have been bringing out their laptops at lunch for them to hang out, but I wonder if there are other ways we could include them as well.

Sincerely,

Not Mr. Adams (but somebody else who kind of sounds like him but is still anonymous)

Yonkers, NY

Dear Not Mr. Adams,

You’re right: Now that some of us are back at school, we still want to include everyone in what we are doing at school. The idea of students bringing their friends with them virtually on the laptops is great. I also have a few more suggestions. Google Hangouts is a fun way to instantly message your friends who are at home; you shouldn't be using it during class, but it's great for after school. Some people I know have started online book clubs. It's a great way for everyone to stay busy and get to see friends even if it's just virtually. I hope this helps kids get some more ideas for how you can stay in contact with the at-home learners. 

Stay connected!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I was reading your column and grew very concerned about that laptop that fell from the window [in Issue 1]. Do you know if it's okay? Does the computer still work? 

Sincerely,

Concerned Reader

[location unknown]

Dear Concerned Reader,

I am glad that you're so empathetic, but Ask The Mask is not like texting. Our letters are submitted anonymously, so we don’t know how to get in touch with these people and cannot follow up with them. However, if that writer is reading this and wants to send us an update, we will publish it!

Just setting boundaries,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

The state of the nation is very upsetting to me. We have so many issues circulating right now, and the most distressing one is the national popcorn crisis. Like, sometimes my popcorn tastes fine with salt and butter, and sometimes it tastes like a dead bird. I can't keep track of all my popcorn brands because I need to go through as many popcorn brands as possible. It's my life's work. I need good popcorn and I need recommendations for good popcorn. This is serious and of great importance to my mental health.

Sincerely,

Fish

San Jose, CA

Dear Fish,

Popcorn is very tricky to understand. It's either the best food or the worst. We all know that movie theater popcorn is the best, but just about every movie theater is closed right now. I recommend just going onto Amazon and buying every brand of popcorn you see. Even better, just start your own popcorn company! In fact, I already have a name idea: The Popcorn That Doesn’t Taste Like Dead Bird. Pretty catchy, huh? After you have started your own popcorn company and tried all the popcorn in the world, you must write a book so that you can tell others what you found. To organize your popcorn, I recommend getting a binder and shoving each type of popcorn in the binder. If all fails, you still have dead bird popcorn waiting for you when you get home.

Please credit me in the book’s acknowledgements!

The Mask

Are you ready to write to The Mask? Here's the anonymous form. Check back soon for a new issue of Ask The Mask!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Almaden Country Day School. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to replace parental or professional advice. 

Ask The Mask, Issue 9

Our new issue this week begins with a series of serious Covid-related worries that we know many of you out there are dealing with. But by the time you're done reading the issue, you will be singing a happier tune (literally!). Don't forget to submit your own advice suggestion after reading the final letter!

For those who are visiting for the first time: "The Mask" is a group of middle school students eager to help with your dilemmas related to the pandemic. If you're a middle school student and would like The Mask to give you advice, please fill out this anonymous form. If we don't get to yours right away, keep checking back because it might appear in a future issue.

Dear Mask,

Covid feels like the end of the world. How long can people survive without human contact? It is killing me from the inside out. What can I do to make the torture of Covid quarantine less torturous? 

Sincerely,

Wanting Contact in the Classroom

[location unknown]

Dear Wanting Contact in the Classroom,

It feels like that for most of us, I think. With the vaccine being distributed, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In terms of dealing with it for now, I think still socializing is super important. There are a variety of ways to do this, like Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, or even something like a Ps4 or Xbox Chat (if you have access to one of these). You can talk with friends or watch a movie, but I would highly suggest playing video games. There are tons of fun mobile games that can help you get through this tough time. Another way you can deal with it is using the people you can spend time with, your family, to your advantage. Make sure to spend time with them. Not only does it help them, but it helps you.

Good luck!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

School is no fun right now. Why can’t we get vacations for teachers first?

Sincerely,

Kid

San Jose, CA

Dear Kid,

I understand where you are coming from. Even though you feel school is no longer as fun, you should still try to make the best of it. Most states are working to get teachers the vaccine early on in the process. If teachers can get the vaccine, it will make it much safer for schools across the nation. The only problem with that is there's only a certain number of vaccine doses they can make in a given amount of time. While this is hard to understand, basically they have to prioritize who can get it first. Luckily, there is a plan. In California at the moment there are two groups of prioritization. Phase 1A is health care workers, and they are still not fully vaccinated. In most parts of California they have now begun Phase 1B. Phase 1B includes people over the age of 65, school staff (teachers!), childcare workers, emergency services staff, and all employees and people working in the food and agriculture sector. This means that in the near future, some of your teachers will get the chance to get the vaccine. This will all hopefully result in students and staff returning to the classroom! I hope this not only answered your question but also made this whole situation look less scary than you think.

Go teachers!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

Before I begin, may I request that you address me by my full title? Thanks. Lately I have been having a lot of nightmares, especially about Covid. I can't stop being afraid that one of my friends might contract Covid. How do I deal with this?

Sincerely,

Overlord that rules over the land with a face of a thousand nightmares

San Jose, CA

Dear Overlord that rules over the land with a face of a thousand nightmares, 

Yes, for sure. There are a few things you can do. If you are scared, you can attend school from home. Also, you can try to inform all your friends about how to stay safe during the pandemic and try to stay as safe as possible by maintaining six feet of distance with masks on. You're not the only one going through this. Some of your friends could be just as concerned. Start a conversation with someone at home about your nightmares, since it’s good to have someone to talk to after they happen. 

Rest easy,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

There's a lot going on. It's pretty hectic. This sounds stupid, but I've been trying to take some time for myself and not overload myself with work, but it's pretty much impossible at this point. I'm just afraid of a lot of things and am very anxious. The only thing stopping me from becoming a complete mess is being a work addict to distract from all of this. It doesn't help that my family is overbearing either. What should I do?

Sincerely,

The Confused Human

San Jose, CA

Dear Confused Human,

I understand how this can seem like a lot to take in these days. Remember to not overwork yourself, since that can lead to more stress. Here are some things to try to see if they help. First, try picking up a new hobby. Over the past month, I have started getting really into reading, and I know for me that helps ease some of the nerves and anxiety I can get. You can try different things like drawing, or something relaxing that might help you get your mind off things.

Good luck!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I'm really unhappy. A friend of mine stopped talking to me during online school, and now she hates me! I heard from another friend the awful things she's saying about me, and I don't know what I did wrong. She's spreading these rumors and won't talk to me anymore. How am I supposed to stop her? Help!

Sincerely,

Un-Happy Holidays

San Jose, CA

Dear Un-Happy Holidays,

I can relate to this. During Covid and online school, I have had some friends who have stopped talking to me. It is very hard dealing with friends when you can’t see them. During the stay-at-home order or quarantine, people have changed a lot. But your friend spreading rumors is a different story. Since she isn’t talking to you, maybe try asking one of her other friends to tell her something. You could also ask a parent or guardian for help in this situation. But it seems as though she isn’t such a nice person. Maybe, if you're ready, you could move on and find new friends who actually will talk to you and won’t cut you off. Just make sure you are being nice toward her even if she isn’t toward you.

With sympathy,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I am kind of friends with this girl, but she is kind of iffy. She is either my bestie or my enemy. Also she will get mad at you for something, then hold a grudge for like three weeks. She is also really close with my other bestie, so if I stop hanging out with her, then I lose my bestie.

Sincerely,

Confused Frenemy

San Jose, CA

Dear Confused Frenemy,

You're in a tough situation. When we couldn't see our friends during quarantine, it was hard to tell what was going on with them, and it was even harder to know if you were still the friends you were before. If this whole frenemy thing is something new, try talking to her to see if something’s going on that's making her upset. If this is the way she has always been, then either you have to deal with the times when she's upset, or you have to look for someone who's not going to hold every little thing against you. If you don’t feel comfortable with either of these options, try talking to your bestie to see if she feels the same way you do. If she does, then you could both talk to your other friend and come up with a solution. I hope this works for you. Just remember that you both have feelings, so you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. 

Good luck,

The Mask

[Editor's note: Our next letter appears to be a response to an earlier letter that we published in Issue 6.]

Dear Mask,

Our friend is taking things too personally. We have asked him about coming to school in person once or twice, and he said that he doesn't know if he will yet. Since then, we have stopped asking. We would still like for him to come, but if he doesn't want to, that's totally fine. We just want to see him in person since it's been so long. What should we do?

Sincerely,

The Bumbuhbum Sisters

San Jose, CA

Dear Bumbuhbum Sisters,

Okay, so what you should do is not ask him that often because it seems that you might be bothering him. If you want him to come in person to school, then you should wait for him because if you beg him too often and too much, your friendship might falter and he might not come at all. So think about waiting for a while because he might be asking his parents for permission. If he can’t come to school, I’m sure it’s nothing personal. His parents probably just want him safe.

Hopeful,

The Mask

Dear Mask,

How do I go to sleep if I don't want to go to sleep? I am short and tired.

Sincerely,

Sleepy the Dwarf

San Jose, CA

Dear Sleepy the Dwarf,

That sounds hard. You could think of random stuff, which will get you tired pretty quickly. Don’t try to do other stuff to keep you occupied. Trust me, I know: I stayed up till midnight because I wasn’t tired, and I regretted it later. Just think about tomorrow, and try not to get up or do other things.

Sweet dreams!

The Mask

Dear Mask,

I'm annoyed that my mom blasts her horrible music and sings. She refuses to use headphones and goes on a rampage when I tell her that her singing is horrible.

Sincerely,

Gerald Gerard Sebastian Kalluvahsonn

San Jose, CA

Dear Gerald Gerard Sebastian Kalluvahsonn, 

I feel you. Maybe ask her to lower the volume to a tone that’s more comfortable for you and her. If she sings, just keep your opinion to yourself so she does not go on a rampage. To be honest, if it gets too out of hand, just put some headphones on. Of course, you could also try blasting some of your own annoying songs at your mom. I suggest earworms like “Let It Go,” “It’s Raining Tacos,” or that Gummy Bear song.

Stuck in your head now,

The Mask

***** What song do YOU think Gerald Gerald should blast at his mom?! Submit your answer here!

Are you ready to write to The Mask? Here's the anonymous form. Check back soon for a new issue of Ask The Mask!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Almaden Country Day School. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to replace parental or professional advice.