Mr. Tony Powers has been working at DePaul Prep for five years as the school librarian. Originally, Powers went to law school, but didn’t end up liking it.

“I knew that there was a Graduate School of Library Science, and I always kind of enjoyed being in the world of books and literature and information, so I gave that a try, and here I am, 40 years later,” said Powers. In his 40 years of being a librarian, Powers’s favorite part is working with people and helping them get the information that they seek whether it’s from people or books.

For each issue of the Ram Page, there will be someone new to help answer your questions and concerns. To kick off the Ram Page’s latest advice column, Mr. Powers is here to help you out:

How do I balance 3 AP courses with sports?

You have to be very disciplined, and you have to have a to-do list, or some type of a tool that will help you list what you need to do and when you need to do it. I suggest something that you can refer to that helps you see progress, things that you can maybe check off, tasks that’ll make you feel better mentally as you check off tasks. Above all else, you have to build in some time to take care of yourself. So you have to make sure that you’re setting aside time for you, so that you’re getting proper rest. You’re giving yourself some brain breaks. It’s not going to be easy, but it’s doable.

I thought I was getting asked to homecoming by my crush but he asked my best friend instead. I know she’s liked him for a while but she told me that she wouldn’t do anything with him. I’m really upset that she did that to me and I can’t believe he asked her. I don’t really want to be friends with her anymore. What should I do?

The world of personal relationships is never easy, and I think that it’s very hard to have any kind of long term perspective at this particular point in your life. It helps to know that all those situations will pass, and I’m a great believer that time kind of takes care of all. That doesn’t mean that it’s not going to hurt in the interim, but I think if you just step back and give yourself some time, some perspective, usually things get better. So, try to throw yourself into other activities that bring you pleasure, whether it’s sports, an extracurricular or time with your friends. I think if you re-channel that energy, that’ll help.

What is your advice for finding the best pumpkin this Halloween?

You have to go to a pumpkin patch. I think you can buy them at Mariano’s and Jewel, but that certainly doesn’t take the place of a pumpkin patch. There’s plenty of them around, so find yourself a good pumpkin patch, maybe one that has a corn maze and hayrides. The scary pumpkins are great, but I also think that the humorous ones are equally great. That’s all about individual style.

Any advice on how to navigate a friendship break up?

It’s quite natural in life, whether you’re young or older, that certain people are going to come in and out of your life. I think it helps to realize that even if you lose touch with somebody, or you’re no longer spending as much time with people, that doesn’t mean that former relationship wasn’t valid or important. It’s just a fact that people kind of grow out of relationships, grow out of friendships and they move on. It helps to have that perspective and I don’t see any of that as a failure. It’s just part of growth.

Are there any easy or recommended ways to bring up grades that are starting to fall?

Ask for help. I think one of the biggest challenges is admitting that you’re having some difficulties, and it’s hard to ask for help. The good news is there’s lots of people here at school that can assist you, so if you find yourself struggling, ask for help. That almost always will lead to a better grade and doing better.

What is something you think everyone should do before they graduate high school?

Besides getting a library card? You have to be sure that you create memories for yourself. I think there’s a lot of emphasis on achievement, taking the proper courses, getting the proper grades, but it’s really important to set time aside to be with your friends and to create memories that are going to last you a long time, longer than the course work that you did. So take time to spend time with your friends.

First date suggestion?

I think it’s great when you’re going on a first date and you’re first getting to know somebody, to go to a place where you can talk and hear each other. Oftentimes we go to places that are kind of crowded, congested and noisy, but it really helps on the first date to be in a place where you can have a conversation with the other person.

What do I do if I’m scared my friends hate me? I know they don’t but I constantly feel pressure to please them which results in me neglecting myself?

As you’re getting older and more experienced, you naturally become more comfortable with who you are. I think I was always overly concerned with what people were thinking and I think the truth is, they’re not really thinking about you. You might feel like they are, but most people are concerned with what’s going on in their own lives. Try to realize that in all likelihood, your friends are your friends and they’re going to like you for who you are, so don’t try to overthink it.

Finally, Powers was asked if there was any advice if he would give the students.

He said to “take every opportunity that you can, whether it’s academically or extracurricular. You don’t know what you like or what you’re good at, so try it. I think a lot of times people are afraid of failing at something. If you never try it, then you have failed. Take advantage of all the experiences that you have. This is the stage of your life where you get to experiment, so try different things.”