Dear Auntie SparkNotes,
My problem, though compared to some of the stuff other people write to you about, this might seem kinda silly, but here goes. I was asked in class to read out the answer to a question. I was supposed to stand up and read it out. But I got incredibly nervous. As soon as I stood up, my knees started to shake. I started to read but my voice got all high-pitched and I stuttered a bit. I was sweating a lot. I couldn’t focus on what I was reading and all I could think of was how fast my heart was beating. I finished finally and sat down in a daze. I have always had stage fright but it has never hit me quite so hard, like this. Now, the big problem is that I have to present a project in the same class next month. This time I have to stand in front of the whole class and it won’t be just reading aloud from a book, I’ll have to face the other students and it will actually be a bit like teaching a lesson. I’m really worried about it. I’m afraid I’ll mess up again. I really wanna get rid of my stage fright. What do you think I should do about it?
You guys always leave great comments, and last week was no exception. Coffinmaker wrote: “Good advice, Auntie Sparknotes, but now I'm curious about YOUR internet history.”
Well, that's a kind of personal question...but okay, I'll bite. I am opening my browser, I am clicking on history, and I am pleased to inform you that my last google search was for...
Dear Auntie Sparknotes,
I was doing some homework on my dad's computer. I accidentally exited out of one of the browsers so I went into the history of the Internet to reopen it. In the history, I saw that there was a Google search for "site for cheaters." He had also been to a certain website. I researched it and it is a site that specifically caters to adulterers. My parents are still married. It doesn't seem like my dad goes on "business trips" or always "comes home late from work" as you would expect a cheater to do but I don't see what he does at the computer every night or even at work. I have no idea what to do. Should I tell my older sister? Should I confront my dad or tell my mom? I wish I could forget I ever saw it, but that seems impossible. Please help!
Sincerely,
The Girl with the (Cheating?) Dad
I know how upsetting this must be, but before you work yourself into a state, let's talk a little bit about the nature of internet searches. See, one of greatest things about the internet is that no matter what random question has popped into your head, you can google it.
Hey Sparklers! Because I love your letters so much, starting today, I'll be answering two of 'em per week. So if you've been sitting on a particularly juicy problem, now's the time to get brave and write in. And now, this week's letter:
Dear Auntie Sparknotes,
I have a problem. I have a really, really, really big problem. I was really worried about sending this to you, because I’m not sure you can help with my really, really, really big problem, but here it goes….A couple of years ago, when I was in something like grade 8, I met up with this group of people. We instantly connected, and have been friends ever since. However, last year, at the start of 9th grade, I came out to them. They were helpful and understanding and nice and loving and all that. The Problem is this: In the group, there is this guy I like, but he’s completely totally straight…
This week's letter-writer thinks she can read my mind.
Dear Auntie Sparknotes,
So I have a love problem (nothing new for you this time). I have been having this fling type of thing with this guy. We have been really close and I like him a lot. But that's all we are: just a fling type thing.
Now, suddenly, this guy that I have liked since my freshman year (I'm now a senior) is asking around about me. We sort of have a small history (not actually together at any point but just flirting and such) so I know him pretty well but I have no idea what to do. He could actually be a boyfriend type of person and I've liked him for a while.
I know most likely you'll say go for the boyfriend but I'm really not sure. Can you help me please?? Thanks in advance!
Well, obviously you should go for the boyf—wait, you knew I was going to say that? Are you in my head? Are you some kind of witch?! GET YOUR WITCH-TENTACLES OUT OF MY BRAIN.
This week's letter comes all the way from South Africa, land of awesome accents and lonely home-schoolers.
Dear Auntie Sparknotes:
Okay, I'm hoping you can help me out with some advice here, even though there probably is no hope. I'm originally from South Africa, but we lived in the States, in the same house/city, for ten years, and I went to most of high school there and all that jazz. Then, halfway through the first semester of my junior year, we moved back to SA.
Today's letter-writer has a Halloween dilemma. (So do we: our Balloon Boy costume is proving hard to assemble.) Enjoy! —SparkNotes editors
This halloween I am being pulled in three different directions. There are three different groups of friends that I have that are all doing different things having different parties and such. And none of them are really friends with each other so I don't have a chance of them all getting together. Especially my boyfriend.
Dear Auntie Sparknotes,
2 weeks ago I started talking to the guy I liked. He knew I liked him because several of my friends decided it was their business to tell him. Anyway, we started texting and heavily flirting and we decided that he'd come over one day and we'd hang out. Well, he ended up coming over and we made out. It was the first time I'd ever kissed a guy and afterwards I asked him if he wanted to go out sometime. He basically explained to me that he basically wasn't over his ex (who he hasn't been with for about a year). He seemed really upset with himself and kept calling himself a 'horrible person'.
I am a freshman who just started highschool and things are pretty weird. I am an in-the-closet-bisexual and not only do I find my friend hot and like her, but there is this guy who is a senior and has a girlfriend- but I don't even know his name! My friend is also bisexual but she is taken and doesn't like to date anyone younger than her. I have never had a boyfreind or a girlfriend or a kiss and I am freaking out about what to do! I think that I am just barely getting my hormones back because for about a year, I have not been intrested in anybody and worse yet, nobody has EVER been intrested in me. Can you help? Any advice will do, about becoming more appealing, becoming brave enough to come out, about admitting my crushes, anything. But, please, can you help?
First things first: There's no need to freak out. Just take a deep breath, order a pizza, and watch some cat videos until your heart rate returns to its normal resting state.
We're almost done with this week's advice-giving marathon! Today, a classic romantic conundrum:
Okay. So I have just started my freshmen year of high school, so there are a lot of new guys around. There's this one who I have taken a bit of a fancy to. He is really cute, and nice, and smart, and makes me write run on sentences. However, I am not the first girl to notice this, and he has a record for being "unattainable."
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