Ms. Gevorgyan, or Ms. G, has been an English teacher here at DePaul Prep for four years. She runs Ram Slam Poets and co-moderates the dance club. She loves “being able to teach creative writing” as well as watch her students grow as writers.

For the latest issue of the advice column, Ms. G is here to answer your questions and advice:

What inspired you to pursue your career? 

My family and I moved to the US when I was eight, so I had to take English as a Second Language classes. Just for that, my teacher made me fall in love with reading and writing, and ever since then, I wanted to be an English teacher.

How do I deal with having different political views from my friends? 

I think that’s going to happen naturally because as human beings, we all can’t agree. Not everyone’s going to agree on everything and I think that is a critical life skill – to be able to acknowledge another perspective and understand you don’t necessarily have to agree with their political beliefs. If it’s to the point where it’s causing you distress in your friendship, then try not talking about it as much and avoiding the topic in general.

What do you love most about being a teacher? What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?

If I wasn’t teaching, I would want to start a nonprofit writing center. It’s technically not teaching, but I would still be doing something creative writing related to young people. My retirement job would be to be a photographer. I used to do fashion photography in high school, and I had a little side business in college, then I just got really busy with teaching, so I didn’t have time to do it.

What do I do when everything in my life seems to be falling apart before graduation?

First of all, I’ve been there, and it’s going to be ok. The darkest hour is always before dawn, so sometimes when we’re really stressed, I believe that good things are coming just around the corner. Graduation is a really stressful time. It’s a transition and a change.  It’s totally normal to feel a lot of stress leading up to it. I would say to just focus on what’s ahead and take it one day at a time. Try to surround yourself with things that allow you little moments of relief. Things such as laughing with a friend, watching something funny, petting your dog, going on a walk – something to take you out of that stress as much as possible.

My friends went on a trip without me, what do I do?

Well as hurtful as that is, are they your true friends if they did that? If it’s worth it for you to get an answer, I would try to get an honest conversation and see the reasoning. Maybe there was a bigger reason that you don’t know about or a bigger misunderstanding. Don’t jump to conclusions right away, but I also would be cautious to see if these people are really your friends.

What can I do to help me procrastinate less?

Something that really helps me is to time myself. For example, if I keep putting off grading, I’m putting it off because I anticipate it’s going to take me forever. In my mind, I think it’s going to take me hours to grade, so I don’t do it, but once I actually start doing it, and I put a timer on every single time, I’ve noticed that it takes a lot less time than I thought.

In addition, Ms. G also asked her junior FRESH class to help out with some questions. 

How do I find a prom date? All my friends have one and I’m scared I’ll feel left out. 

Ms. G: See if there are any friends that also don’t have dates, and see if you can go with those friends, like a friend group. If that’s not the vibe you’re going for and you want a date, I would say to be brave and ask someone to prom. You only get this moment once, and sometimes you have to be bold to get what you want.

Juniors: A possible solution is to go with friends that don’t have dates either. If you are looking for an actual date, then find someone outside of school such as a guy friend from elementary school that doesn’t go to DePaul Prep. Whatever you do, do not ask for a date online, specifically on your Snapchat story.

My best friend and I applied to the same school. She was accepted, but it wasn’t her top choice. I got rejected, but it was my dream school. What should I do?

Juniors: I think just be happy for your friend because even though it’s hard for you, your friend should still be able to be happy. At the end of the day, you will also get into a school that you’ll like.

Ms. G: Maybe it happened for a reason. Try to maybe see it as a redirection in your life, which may lead you to your next dream school.