10/1/2025- IDK TBH
so there's this girl in my school.. shes an amazing "athlete and student". I wanted to be like her so I kind of made fun of her to get back on her well now i can tell the diffrence in her mood, her mental heath i feel like the worst person ever plus she "has mental health struggles" i feel like a frailer i was so inconsiderate my church, my family are very disapoted in me the other thing is she has the best personality too like shes ALWAYS talking about this girl she met on teentalk and i don't have anyone i feel stupid and horible about my actions i dont know how to fix this is i can even fix at this point what should i do guys? I've got people hating me becouse of what i did to a such amzing pretty person im fricken lost makes me want to cry she always says fliping I HATE WHAT I DID I REGREAT IT SOO MUCH PLEASE HELP ME
***10/1/2025-Some identifying information was removed from this message for privacy of the subject and the writer. from hazel
Hey, my name's Hazel! First of all, thank you for reaching out to us; it takes courage to be accountable and admit when you've made a mistake. I can tell that you feel a lot of regret and feel bad about what you did. This is a tricky situation to be in, but even though you can't truly guarantee that others will forgive you, you can still take actions to try and remedy (or at the very least improve) things. The best piece of advice I can give is to try and find a chance to speak to the girl and give her a sincere apology. Even if she doesn't choose to completely forgive you, you will at least have given your full effort to make things right. I may also help make your relationship with her a bit more amicable. Just to remember that you're a human who, like all other humans, is flawed in many ways. But we can always improve. Even with this situation it does NOT mean you are a failure. Things may be quite messy, but it really will serve as a learning experience for the future. So for now, just do your best to make things right with her. Allow yourself a little bit of kindness, and recognize that this will ultimately lead to growth. Feel free to reach out to us again if you ever need more support. Wishing you the best, Hazel from Flora
Hi! Thank you for reaching out, and I can tell that you feel regretful. It's good that you are accountable for your actions, and I understand it can feel frustrating, especially when people are mad at you. I will say, I think the best way is to apologize to the girl at your school, and if you can have a conversation with her. I understand that it may seem scary to apologize, but you can be sincere with how you feel. I understand that you admire this girl, and maybe you felt a little intimidated by her, but I will say maybe you can take some of her qualities and apply them to your life. Let's say she has good grades, then you can apply some of her studying habits to your life. It's good to feel motivated by others and to admire people for their qualities. I want to say not everyone is perfect in life, and that's okay. Since you acknowledged your mistake, take it as a lesson, and instead of making fun of people, choose to be kind to others. I understand that you may want a buddy from Teen Talk, so you can always choose to text or Dm for Teen Talk from Monday-Thursday 4-9 pm, and Fridays 4-7 pm! We are always here for you if you ever want to talk about anything! I hope this helped you, and I hope you can do what you think is best for your situation. Flora from Dylan
Hey there, thank you so much for reaching out! You're very strong to share what you're going through right now, and I can only begin to imagine how tough of a situation this is for you. I can tell that you truly feel bad about what you've said, and it's okay for you to feel bad. You're not alone in this. I think that there are a couple of different things you could do to help fix this situation. First off, I think that if this girl would be willing to talk to you, I think that it would be worth it to apologize to her. This could potentially help to ease the tension between you two and she may feel better. Secondly, I think that it could be beneficial for you to take a little while to think about why you said what you said. What you said is not a reflection of who you are as a person, but it is a behavior that may need to be addressed. Lastly, you may be able to find support groups that can assist you in dealing with your feelings and actions. I would feel the exact same as you feel in this instance, and I'm very sorry you're having to go through this. Sometimes we say things without fully thinking it through, and it's completely normal and we can always learn from it! You and your values are not defined by this slip-up, and you can always grow from this situation. I wish you the best of luck in fixing this! Thanks again for reaching out and please reach back out if you have further questions or would like to talk to someone. We're open from Monday through Thursday, 4-9pm, and Friday, 4-7pm. Dylan from Lina
Hii! I'm Lina, and I understand wanting to be like your friend, I also want to be like my friends, that's why I love being around them. Making jokes and playing around is okay, if you had no ill intentions, but I know from experience that you have to know the boundaries given to you. You knew she had mental health issues, and I'm unsure what those were, and I'm sure that you had little control over that. I don't know the full context, but I want to say that you overstepped a boundary. You may feel like everyone hates you, but I want you to know that it's going to be okay, I can't tell you when, but I can tell you that this isn't the end of the world. You are strong, and you are a kind person, never forget that you never meant to hurt her. For advice, I'd say that taking time for yourself, letting yourself sort your thoughts, take as much as you need till you are feeling better. Take it easy on yourself, it's good that accept that you feel bad for making fun of someone, but know this, you had no intention of hurting her. So, whenever you feel like the worlds against you, calm down. Take a deep breath. I do believe apologizing is the right thing to do, but that is entirely up to you. I'm on Mondays 6-9 if you ever want to talk, don't feel like you're alone in this. I hope to hear back from you! -Lina Bullying
I’ve been dealing with this group of girls that seem kinda obsessed with me honestly, they made my middle school experience hell. I’m going into my freshman year of high school. Trying to figure out what to do, they won’t stop. I tried to tell my school last year, they didn’t care. Then she found out and made it really bad for me. I’ve kinda learned to not say anything. It’s kinda hard dealing with this, especially because my best friend was dealing with this before she took her life this month. It’s been 3 weeks today without her. I understand why she did it now. Bullying is no joke. The things people find and have the time to do, is insane. I never thought that people not even people, teenagers 14/15 yr olds could be so harsh. I’ve thought of ending my life because of bullying. I then realized I need to try my best, she would have wanted that. There’s only 3 people in my life (not family) that know everything that has gone on in my life. From the trama, drama, bullying,Family problems , CPS, ect. I’ve tried my best is all I can say. I know that she would be proud of me for trying, but sometimes it just gets really hard yk? Anyways, thanks for taking your time to read this ( if you do)
from Brooke
Hi there, thank you so much for reaching out and sharing something so vulnerable. First of all, I wanted to say that I am so sorry for your loss and experience with bullying. It is completely unfair and not okay for them to treat you or anyone else like that. I think you telling the high school what is happening is really important. I'm sorry that she found about it and made things even worse for you. Do you think there is a way you can tell an adult without the girls finding out? Dealing with bullying on your own is so heavy and stressful, and having someone there who can provide support is important. I agree your best friend would absolutely be proud of you for trying your best through this tough time. This situation is not your fault, and you are not alone. There are people who care about you and see how much you are worth, and know you deserve to feel safe. If they are leaving messages or any kind of proof, save it and bring it to the school, especially if it happens on campus. That way the school can see what is happening to you, and what happened to your friend, and hopefully find a way to help. Above everything else, please make sure to take care of yourself and know how amazing you are. You are worth so much more than what those bullies say or do. Don't be afraid to speak up or reach out to us at TeenTalk if you need support! I wish you luck, thank you again for sharing this with us! Brooke
from dahlia
Hello, I'm Dahlia from Teentalk. I'm proud of you for trying to move forward in life despite the difficulties you are going through. It is upsetting to hear that your school hasn't done much about the bullying. Although the school can't always stop bullies, they can at least bring attention to the issue and try to protect you. Is there perhaps someone else you can go to that can help you with this situation? Like a teacher? According to the website "STOMP Out Bullying," you can report your school to the US Department of Education if you've filed a complaint with them already and they still won't help you with the bullying. Also, keep records of the things the bullies say/do to you for proof to share with the school. I believe you, with or without proof though. Furthermore, you shouldn't be the only one trying to protect yourself from someone that is comfortable with causing harm to others. This is why I hope you can try to voice what the bullies are doing to you. Yes, the bullies might get angry if you report them, but it is painful for you to be the one having to put up with their actions. Please don't learn to stay silent when you are in pain. You matter; your voice, your concerns, your health, and your happiness matter. from eric
Hi, thank you so much for reaching out! I am so sorry to hear that you've been going through this, I can't even begin to imagine what it's like. I know you mentioned that at your middle school, you approached school about it and they didn't do anything. However, I would strongly encourage you to talk to your high school about it. If you stay silent, the bullying won't stop, and while it really really sucks about you middle school, it's definitely worth trying your new school. I know it gets really hard sometimes, and it definitely sounds like you have people you can talk to, but just in case you ever feel the need, you can call or text the crisis line at 988. I truly hope everything gets better, and your school will take the appropriate and safe steps to help you. -Eric from kit
Thank you for reaching out and opening up about your experience. I’m so sorry that things have been so very difficult and you do not deserve what is happening to you. You’re right, bullying is no joke. It’s really serious so I’m very disappointed that your school has not taken this seriously. You are so strong and I’m sure your friend is so proud of you. I’m not in this situation so I can’t fully understand it but know that you are not alone. All the volunteers at teen talk would be happy to chat whenever they are on shift. I’m Kit and I volunteer on Fridays 4-7 if you ever want to talk. You deserve to have joy and to feel safe. You deserve to be listened to and respected. 5/14/2025- Super anxious and depressed and need tips
I am homeschooled I am failing in math right now. due to my severe anxiety disorder and depression, it is hard to find motivation to get ahead, and since the end of the year is coming up i have a lot of anxiety about failing and having to repeat. My parents are confused and dont know the material, and when i tried reaching out to my school counselor and teacher they were no help. I really need some tips on how to find motivation to get through this.
From dahlia
Hello, I'm Dahlia! I am sorry you are dealing with the stress of school and other personal issues. Those two things can indeed cause overwhelming emotions. I also understand that math is a difficult subject, and being a homeschooled student means you are around more distractions and need to motivate yourself. I highly suggest you use an online tutor website called Upchieve. I have used it many times to receive feedback from tutors when doing my math homework and they have 99% of the time been very helpful. I also suggest you find Youtube videos on the math subject you are learning about and take a full-page of notes (or more) on important information you learned. As for your mental health, I suggest you surround yourself with people who will ask you about school and provide positive support when you are feeling exhausted. It is always good to have someone you can trust and talk with. In addition, it is important to meet with a therapist or other mental health professional that can help you with your depression and anxiety disorder. If your mental health is not well, then you will struggle with school. But there are ways to overcome these difficulties, and the first step in doing that is finding support. Furthermore, it is difficult to offer tips that can motivate you when you are dealing with depression and anxiety, all of which are capable of making you feel drained. However, you need to try your very best to do your school work every day to pass. After doing an assignment/homework, you can reward yourself with something, like a delicious sweet treat, watching a few minutes of your favorite show, or other tactics to reward yourself for your hard work. Don't give up on searching for help. There has to be a trusted adult that can offer support for you. I believe in you. from eric
Hi, thank you for reaching out! I'm really sorry to hear that you've been having so much anxiety and depression. That is completely understandable at this time of year when the school year is ending. Experiencing those things would majorly affect anyone's motivation, so you're not alone in that regard. For me what works to get motivated is listening to music and then getting rid of all possible distractions. Phone, unnecessary electronics, etc. That puts you with only you and your school work, and I find it more desirable to do that, than nothing at all. I highly advise you to not procrastinate. Giving yourself even a single day where you plan to do work, and then you put it off, that can easily snowball into doing everything on the very last day, and on that day, your anxiety will be through the roof if you procrastinated like this. I know from experience. I believe in you though, you got this! -Eric from hazel
Hey, my name’s Hazel! Thank you for reaching out and sharing what you’re going through. That takes a lot of strength, and I’m really sorry things feel so heavy right now. It makes total sense that you’re feeling overwhelmed, especially with the pressure of school and the end of the year coming up. I can relate to that stressed, burnt-out feeling; sometimes it feels like no matter how hard you try, it’s just hard to keep up. But please know you’re not alone in that, and you’re not failing. Dealing with anxiety and depression on top of everything else makes school so much harder, and it’s okay to struggle. One thing that sometimes helps me is breaking tasks down into really tiny steps. A lot of the time, I’ll overthink an assignment until it feels way too big to even start. But even doing one small thing, like opening the tab or writing one sentence, can help build some momentum. Progress is still progress, even if it’s small. I’ve also found that setting a short timer, like 5 or 10 minutes, and just focusing for that time can help me get started. Then I take a break or treat myself to a small snack or something rewarding after. It’s frustrating when the people around you don’t know how to help, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Khan Academy has been a lifesaver for me in math this year, it’s free and really easy to follow. And if you ever want support, mental health lines like TeenTalk are always an available resource. Reaching out here was already such a good step, please don’t hesitate to call or text if you ever want to talk more! Be kind with yourself. You’re doing your best in a tough situation, and that’s more than enough. Just one small step at a time; you’ve got this. I’m cheering you on! – Hazel from sage
Hey! It's Sage here from Teen Talk; I just want to say thank you for reaching out, it takes a lot of courage to do so but I'm so glad you did. I can see how it can be difficult to gain the motivation, especially since its almost summer, you shouldn't feel like you are behind and stuck by yourself without the resources and peer-support there to help you. I am a student enrolled in a public school, so I can't necessarily connect on the homeschool factor, but I can relate to feeling lost and behind on my academics due to personal mental health and anxiety roles. A lot of things that helped me when needing motivation to get my schoolwork done consisted of things like; rewarding myself when I got homework or tests done, taking 15-30 minute breaks in between studying for longer periods to break it up, using outside materials (such as khan academy, YouTube, and worksheets that can be found on google), I also found it helpful to work on a single unit of math that I felt like I didn't understand the most and would work on feeling comfortable in the topic before I moved on to the next Unit, (even if I was behind) It's okay even if you fail the math course, everyone's learning pace and styles are different, so having to retake the course shouldn't be viewed as something to be ashamed of but rather use it as something positive. Say you passed and only understood 35% of what was being taught, it would be difficult when you move up to the next level of math, and having to retake the course to understand 80% of the course taught would be a thousand times better and make your anxiety lessen in the end. I myself, took weeks off of school to prioritize my mental health and depression, and yes; I was behind in my courses (math included), and in the end I had to retake an Algebra course because I was not able to meet the requirements to pass the course in the required time, and I believe that was the best choice of action I could have taken and I completed the course after I prioritized my mental health. Even if any of the words I provided you does not assist in making you feel motivated, I want you to know that you are not alone in any of the feelings you are going through at this time. If you ever feel like you want to chat further on the topic and really deep dive into it then I'm here during the Tuesday shift, 5-8. :) Thank you for taking the time to write, "Believe you can, you're halfway there-" – Sage from emma
Hii I’m Emma! Thank you so much for reaching out to us! We really appreciate your courage of sharing your problem with us! Right now I’m in the same boat as you, as I’m also struggling to find motivation for my school work coming towards the end of the year. So you are not alone this situation at all! To be honest the only motivation I have is just getting all this done so I can reach to my summer breaks faster. I know it is not much of a good motivation but it helps me to push through it. So maybe try to think of the positive outcome you will have after school is over. Like a vacation with family, getting to sleep in, no more homework, or just have more time to yourself after school is over in a month. I’m sorry if this respond is not what you are looking for but I just want you to know that you are not alone trying to find motivation. I’m here with you and if you want someone to talk to, don’t be shy and reach out to teentalk, because we love to talk to you! Thank you so much for sharing your problem with us and we love to hear from you! Either text or call!! 2/4/2025 I feel like i'm trapped :/
School, stress, family
I'm a straight a student and I know that I place too much pressure on myself for grades, but I feel worthless without them. I feel like I'm not good enough without the grades. I feel like a burden to my family and they don't let me express myself. I'm just so tired all the time. I graduated therapy already and am not able to go back again because of insurance, but I really need help. It's all so paralysing and I don't know how but I manage to keep my grades up. from Heather
Hello there! I am so sorry that you are feeling trapped, but it's okay and valid to feel this way! It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now. And I understand what it's like to feel that your grades define you. But you are enough, with or without your grades. You matter in this world, and you are so much more than your grades. Your family and friends love you for your beautiful personality, not just for how well you succeed in school. But it is absolutely amazing that you care about your grades, I'm sure you will be successful in any career you choose with your motivation :). I am sorry to hear that your family doesn't let you express yourself. You aren't a burden to your family, and you deserve support from them. You deserve a safe space with people that allow you to express yourself judgement-free! Maybe you could go on a walk, text/call a friend, spend time with a pet, journal/draw/dance/etc if you find yourself needing an outlet to express yourself :). Please remember to take time to care/treat yourself, you deserve it! Even if it's just a sweet treat after dinner or spending 15 minutes with your pet or reading your favorite book. You deserve rest. You are so so strong for being able to handle all of this while keeping your grades up. But it wouldn't make you any less amazing if your grades slipped, you are so much more than that! I'm glad that you are wanting to start therapy again and am so sorry that insurance is getting in the way of that. I believe that you will get through this. Please reach out to Teentalk if you want to talk, need someone to listen, or are just bored. We care about you :) -Heather from eric
Hi, thank you so much for reaching out! I'm really sorry you're going through such a stressful experience. This is very important, grades do not define who you are. While having good grades is a great achievement that you should be proud of, that's only something you're doing, not who you are as a person. Now, I'm not at all saying that you should let your grades fall a bit. If it's important to you to have straight As, then that's great! However, you seem like a very smart person, so I would advise you to try your best to find at least a few hours on a day, or a whole day a week if possible, to have for yourself in order to relax, decompress, and destress. You can spend that time however you want, whether it be with friends or yourself, I would just highly recommend that you find to time for it. With your family, I would try to have a calm discussion with them, and tell them how you feel. Trust me, you are not a burden to them. I hope everything improves, you'll get through this! -Eric from sage
Hi there! thank you so much for writing to Ask Peppy. I understand how hard it is being a student in today's generation, and how you feel that you need to have good grades to not feel like a burden. But just know that grades do not define the type of person you are, pressure is something that can be good but also really tiring for your mental health. I have been in situations before where I felt I needed to have B's or better and at least a 3.5 GPA to feel like I would get into college. To be honest my family has not pressured me about my grades before, but I do empathize with your situation and understand that it is draining. I's sorry to hear that you are not able to get further therapy sessions due to insurance, but I'll always recommend the school counselor or even our services of Teen Talk to help with letting out any suppressed emotions that you have been building up. I wish you luck on any further troubles or stress that you may face and I'm proud of you for maintaining that A' even throughout all the feelings that you expressed. If you ever need to talk to anyone, feel free to write back to Ask Peppy, text, or even call if you are able to. Much thanks, Sage.
from hailey
Hey I’m so grateful you reached out I can relate to your situation it was a similar experience to what I went through but not quite the same though things that helped me through it was I would type out what I was feeling in my notes app when I was feeling that thing in the moment wether I was feeling numb, tired, sad, angry, happy or scared I was never very good at journaling but typing it in the moment in my fun while the feelings were fresh helped me process my emotions, along with like showing me that I had these feelings even if I had trouble showing them and it’s something I highly recommend. Other wise if you have a close friend you want to reach to you should you wouldn’t be a burden and if they feel you are they aren’t a very good friend, and feeling like a burden to your family can be a very real and isolating feeling but expressing that to them can often help them understand how to better help you and how you are feeling. I really hope this helps and I’m so proud of you for your grades those are absolutely amazing thank you for reaching out and feel free to text in -Hailey :) from may
Hi! I'm May. That sounds really difficult and I'm sorry you feel that way. I can relate to that sometimes and I understand how you feel and why you feel that way. Something I often keep in mind is that it is not the end of the world if I get a bad grade. I'm still going to go to college and my life is going to go on, and it's not like I'm going to fail or anything. Ds get degrees. I'm proud of you for managing to keep your grades up while going through so much at once. That's hard but I'm glad you're able to push through and still do so well in school despite that. I do however think it is important to pace yourself so you don't get burnt out. One thing I think is really important is to is to prioritize self care over your grades. Ultimately, your happiness and health are WAY more important that your grades will ever be. Make sure you make time to take care of yourself and do things that make you happy. For example, find hobbies you like and make sure you make time for that. Or, spend time with friends and laugh with them (laughter is actually great for your physical and mental health!). It is really important that you spend your time doing things other than stressing about school and doing homework. I'm really glad you reached out and we're always here if you want to talk more! -May from dahlia
Hi there! I'm Dahlia from Teentalk. It indeed sounds like you have a lot of pressure and stress placed on you. However, I want you to know that you are someone even outside of school. Your grades, achievements, and other factors may seem important and may gain you a reputation, but you are still someone even without them. I believe that your health is what is most important. If you lose your health, you become unable to live your life to the fullest. Therefore, what matters is that you are happy and healthy. I know that prioritizing these two things can be difficult as a student, and even more when you are mentally and physically exhausted, but in situations like these you truly learn how important these two things are. I also want you to know that you are not alone though. I am a first generation student and I also try to maintain perfect grades and feel like a failure if I do bad at school, but you know, I still am someone outside of school. You and me both are individuals with hopes, dreams, and goals. We both have things we like to do, such as watching shows or reading books. Yes, what matters is that we stay true to ourselves. To feel comfortable with yourself you do need peace though, so I do think going back to therapy may help. However, therapy is like a tool; it can only do so much to help. You need to find tools that will help you in times of stress and sadness, and apply them to your life situations. But there are times where these tools are not enough. I suggest you reach out to your insurance again. Mental health is like a rollercoaster, so it is odd to hear that you cannot go back. Also, as someone who had very bad anxiety a few years ago, I understand the stress of navigating school when you just can't keep up anymore. Make sure to try and meet people who will love you for who you are, and make sure to do the things you like. This way, you do not forget that you are worthy even without your grades or your title as a student. Also, I recommend you reach out to your insurance, and try to check to see if your school can provide resources for completing schoolwork. They may offer accommodations. Also, you are not a burden. If people around you are making you feel this way then that is not your fault. People who make others feel bad are projecting their negative emotions, which is not your fault. You have worked very hard, but you now need to find ways to prioritize your mental and physical health. from stella
I can completely understand feeling overwhelmed by feeling like you have to live up to these expectations you set for yourself, but it's important to remember that things like grades don't define you as a person. The people in your life will not look down on you if you don't achieve everything you set out to. If anything, it affirms your humanity. You can't do everything, and that's okay. It's important to listen to yourself, and to understand your limits. Remember to take time for yourself, and do things you like to do, simply because you want to. Personally, I like to listen to music, read, and play with my dog. It can really be anything that brings you joy. 11/22/2024 why don't the kids talk to us
I am in high school and am in sped classes for special learning. I am asking why the kids who aren't in sped are not mean to us but dont talk to us. We are in the same school and we should be talking all to each other I think. I want them to talk to me.
from sarah
Hi! I’m Sarah, Thank you so much for taking the time to ask Teen Talk about this topic, I know that must have taken a lot of courage. I would encourage introducing yourself to those that you would like to make conversation with. In my experience, I have had to reach out to people in my school in order to talk to them. Many people in my school keep to themselves, but I’m sure they would be open to being friends with you. In making regular conversation, a connection can be made, and gradually you guys can become closer and closer to each other! Especially if you guys share class periods such as lunch, a connection will be fostered between you guys. Just make sure to not stress about what to say too much, and let it flow naturally. Thank you again for reaching out to us! We are so happy to answer. from emma
Hii, I’m Emma! Thank you so much for reaching out to us, we really appreciate it and you are so brave to talk about your problem. It is hard to make conversation sometimes so don’t overthink it. Other people may think that you don’t like making conversations or scared to make you uncomfortable. But don’t worry about it. You mentions that you have class with them, you can start off with small talk. Nothing specials, just of how the class doing for you or for them, ask about things you'd guys learn in that class and how they are feeling about it. “What do you think about the assignment or the test?” “Did you understand the material or how you feel about the topic today?” Just be casual about it, and don’t stress out about the conversation not being long because the first conversation is always awkward so just follow the flow. Slowly but surely you guys will be able to have casual conversation. Overall do what you think is best and comfortable for you! But I think you will do great! Again thank you for reaching out to us and I hope you will have a great time making conversation! from marley
Hey! Thank you for out, it can be difficult sometimes so I really appreciate you contacting us! I can see why it might be frustrating to not have the same communication you would with other people in your special education classes, and I definitely agree, it’s important to make friends with new people regardless of what classes you take—-talking with new people can always be nerve wracking but if you’re open to starting new conversations with people outside of your classes i’m sure they’d love to meet/get to know you! You seem like a very incredible person, and I think it’s very brave of you to want to reach out to new people at your school! I hope everything finds you well and i’d love to chat with you! — Marley :) from hailey
Hey thank you for reaching out this is a really big thing in lots of high schools and it made me sad to read this. A big reason kids would do that is cause yes they acknowledge bullying is wrong so they won’t be mean, but there is still a really big stigma around special needs kids, and that creates a barrier for some kids to want to talk to kids with special needs. A lot of people acknowledge the difference between them and others, not just sped kids and neurotypical people but just all teenagers, because of that teenagers don’t interact with people who aren’t like them. Then again not all teenagers are like that some kids don’t care about differences and will interact with everyone, but it’s definitely not everyone and it’s hard to find people who are willing to talk with everyone. I wish it was more people so you would be able to identify them easier but there’s not. The best way to find those people who will reach out to you is to find something about yourself that you really love and enjoy then join a club or sport that is centered around that thing, or even if it’s not necessarily a hobby but a personality trait make that something people can see about you right away it will make other people want to reach out to you. I hope I was able to help and I really wish I knew you so I could be a person to talk to you. -Hailey :) from chloe
Hi there, I'm Chloe. Thanks for reaching out, this made me sad thinking about how so many people are treated so differently whether it be from how they act,look or even talk. A lot of people don't really talk to people they don't know that well, especially if they are scared they might say the wrong thing. We can't change how people are but we can make a difference. I really wish I knew you because I would talk to you in a heartbeat. There are so many people out there that could have so many same interests and hobbies as you but are scared. In high school people slowly move away from bullying and move to the "silent" treatment and act like the person isn't there especially if they aren't in the "standards" of today's society. from kit
Thank you for reaching out to teen talk, I’m Kit. I agree with you that everyone should be talking to each other. I have been a TA in SPED before. It was my favorite class I ever took. Some of my best friends I met in the SPED program! But I really wish people would talk to kids in the program more. It makes me sad that people don’t take the time to get to know the kids in the SPED program or ignore them. I don’t know why they don’t, I think maybe they don’t want to get out of their comfort zone. Sometimes I think people also don’t know what to do and instead of doing something they decide to do nothing. I wish I had a better answer than this and I wish people were more open minded and wanting to get to know people and talk to them more. 10/20/24-school work
i am stressed out about school. i don't understand some of the assignments and i am getting far behind. i feel too embarrassed to ask my friends. what would you do?
from Danielle
Hello, I’m Danielle from TeenTalk! School in general is stressful especially when work piles up. I am grateful that you reached out to us. It is really brave of you! I understand your situation since I’m going through it as well. It is embarrassing to ask friends and family when this happens. You could talk with a person like a teacher, or someone close to you about it. It is helpful to reach out to whom you trust if you feel comfortable. What works for me is having a planner or a virtual calendar to keep track of assignments. You can decorate it as well and cross of as you go! It’s really exciting when you see what you have finished. If you need a break then you can take a 5-10 minute break. Go on a walk, eat or do a relaxing activity when you get tired of catching up. Another thing I would recommend is to know the office hours of your teachers. They can help with homework and give guidance. If you do not understand the assignments, study groups are also useful. Sometimes working with others helps you have more ideas and thoughts that may be distinct to yours. Or watch videos about the topic and taking notes. Tutoring is also a useful resource in school. I hope this helps! TeenTalk is here to offer you support. Thank you for contacting us :) - Danielle from Emma
Hey there! I’m Emma, thank you for reaching out to us, I really appreciate that you reached out to us. Currently I’m also going through the same with you and I totally understand your situation. It is hard to keep up with school and daily life, so take a deep breath before starting things. First of all, to keep track of all your assignments, I think you should make a planner for your events and assignments. It would help you a lot to see what things you have that day. It is alright not to understand your classwork or assignment, your teacher would love to help you to understand it. You can always come to them during office hours and they would definitely help you out. And there is nothing to be embarrassed about asking for your friends help, we are going through the same things, they would love to give you a hand when you need it. So don’t worry about being judged because you are so brave to know your issue and you are trying to face it. I hope you find this helpful and please don’t be shy to reach out again with any of your issues. Teentalk and I would love to hear from you and we will definitely be there and support you. Again thank you so much for reaching out and I hope you have an amazing day! -Emma- from Chloe
School can be very stressful at times especially when ur getting behind and not getting some assignments is totally normal. I struggle with this a lot in school and I also get embarrassed to ask for help from my friends because I feel like they are going to judge me but they never do. What i do to help me catch up is I pick a class I'm behind in and I write the topics i'm strong in and ones i dont get and take about 20 minutes on the topics i don't understand and sorta teach myself the topic in a way I understand. After the 20 minutes take a small 5/10 minute break like go for a walk. After the break move on to the next topic. But don't be afraid to ask for help tutoring is an amazing support to if you're still struggling to catch back up. Teen talk is always here for you and to support you thank for reaching out xoxo chloe<3 from Marley
Heyyy!! Thank you so much for reaching out, it can be hard/awkward sometimes, so it’s very appreciated! I can definitely see what you mean though, school can be super stressful sometimes, and it’s totally normal to feel like you’re just not getting it or falling behind. I feel similarly for sure, and I can definitely see why it might be a little nerve racking to ask for help from friends. Sometimes, when I feel like I’m falling behind or I’m not at the pace the rest of my friends are, I try to collect myself and see how I learn best. I really like to take notes, but sometimes I may not feel like I have enough time in class, so I spend a little time every day focusing on whatever I might be struggling with. It tends to really help me, but if that doesn’t sound appealing to you, that’s totally fine too! Everyone has things that work better for them! (Pro tip from a good teacher of mine, - don't try to cram work in all at once! Learning/studying a little bit every day for maybe a week or so helps a lot more than a four hour study session in one day!) Another thing that might help is asking someone you might feel more comfortable with about material that you’re struggling with. For me, sometimes I struggle with math and feel like I’m not going at the pace I should be, so something I tend to do a lot is ask my parents if they can help me with whatever I may not be getting. Similarly, that might not sound too great, but another alternative that might sound more enticing could be walk-through videos online (or on youtube)!! Anyways, I hope this finds you well! More than anything, I hope you know you’re more than capable and beyond smart! :) -Marley from alex
Hi, thank you for reaching out! I am really sorry to hear that you're going through that. Those periods in school can be extremely tough, but don't feel like you're alone, because I promise you, there are a ton of other students experiencing the same thing! I would encourage you to try asking your teacher if you would be able to have a 1-on-1 chat with them to let them know what you're not understanding, and ask for some help. I would also maybe ask your counselor to try and set that up if possible. For me, when I get into these positions, I dedicate 1 day a week to working on missing/close to due assignments, so maybe try something similar. I really hope everything starts improving! -Eric 7/02/2024 Advice for a mom?
I am a mom and want to know what teens think about my situation with my daughter. Delete my question if you only talk to teens. My daughter is 15. She is a really good kid and I am proud of her. But this fall she wants to go to school online through an alternative school. I want her to go the regular public school. I want her to at least try it and see if she likes it. I know she wants friends and I don’t think she will make friends if she is always home and online. She gets lonely and sad a lot and I want her to be having fun at her age. I am curious about what other kids think.
From May
Hi! I'm May. Thank you so much for reaching out. I personally think it's really cool of you as a mom to seek advice from youth. I do think you're right that it's worth a try, but ultimately if she feels like it would be best for her to do online school, she knows herself more than anyone. I understand you're also worried about her making friends. The social aspect of school is very important, but it's also good to take into consideration that there are other ways to make friends that aren't during school. One example of this is the library (https://www.fvrl.org/), which has events all the time. They even have events that are geared specifically towards youth. Another example is the Boys and Girls club (https://mybgc.org/). There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities you could encourage her to participate in to meet people (including TeenTalk!). I love that you reached out to us, and it sounds like you care a lot about your daughter! Don't hesitate to reach out again if you want to talk further. From Emma
As a teen myself I feel like she is scared of interacting with people her age. I been through this once and I feel you should talk to her first. Talk about why and what is happening thay stoping her from going to a regular school. If she is scared of interacting, give her sometimes to do baby step of talking to other. You can ask her to call teen-talk as a way to help her talk to people around her age. Slowly talk about what she would be benefiting from going to a regular school. There are some school that have a student shadowing a current student at that school, helping to see how the school and classes are like. This is also an opportunity to help her get out there. The key here is not to rush her, she may be overwhelmed. Constantly talk to her about what she likes and what she don’t like. I hope this help and thank you for reaching out to us! -Emma- |
