Ask Jenna: Edition #1

Rising senior Jenna Shahid has been at Trevor for her entire school life. As someone who has gone through the school’s historic move to East 95th, seen friends come and go, and had her fair share of challenging classes, she has a ton of Trevor knowledge to share. In her new advice column, “Ask Jenna,” she answers students’ pressing questions relating to day-to-day school stitches. 

Q: The group of friends I had in middle school doesn’t hang out with me anymore. How can I make friends with new people without seeming awkward? 

A: Find people with similar interests and casually strike up a conversation. I know this seems terrifying, but once you stop thinking about being awkward, your conversation will feel more natural! Good luck! 

Q: What’s the best way to impress my teacher so my participation grade goes up?

A: Sometimes, the little things can go a long way with your teachers. Show that you are an active participant in the class. Stay engaged, ask questions, and help your peers when you can. By actively participating in the class, you are showing your teacher that you are eager to learn and you care about their class. You can even try setting up a meeting and asking clarifying questions. Engaging in dialogue with your teacher will help them know you better as a person and as a student. Also, keep in mind that you are not always going to impress everyone!  

Q: I always find myself leaving homework and projects to the last minute. Is there a better way to budget my time? 

A: Me too, sis! I find it helpful to make a list of all my current assignments along with their due dates. It helps me prioritize and budget my time more efficiently. It also helps if you think of long-term projects as smaller homeworks so you can work on them gradually and don’t leave it all to the last minute.