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Dear Eliana,

The people on my floor are really loud, and I have a hard time studying in my room. Where could I study without as many interruptions?

-Lots of Work

Dear Lots of Work,

There is a library here. You should definitely check that out. There are a lot of quiet places in there if you look around. Sometimes, it can be crowded, but I’ve found that if you’re patient and persistent, there are some really nice places to study there. Also, the SCC is a nice place to work. It has comfy areas, too. The great thing about the library and SCC is that both of them have places that sell coffee, so you can keep going for hours! If the weather is nice, and you like nature, there are places outside that can be nice and secluded if you need quiet.
If you just look around, there are a lot of places you can go. Just keep an eye out.

-Eliana

Dear Eliana

Since the year has started, I have not left campus. I have had classes, or studying, or something else to keep me here. I’m starting to get a little tired of the “Brandeis Bubble,” but I don’t seem to get the chance to go anywhere else. Any advice about how I can fix that?

-No Life

Dear No Life,

I know how hard it can be to find the time to get out of Brandeis with all that’s going on. If I were you, I would set aside a time in advance to take a break and just leave. For instance, if you don’t have any major assignments due, put aside a few hours this weekend to just go and explore Boston. The shuttle can take you there, and you can just go hang out with some friends off campus. If you just plan ahead, it shouldn’t be too hard to take some time out.

-Eliana

Dear Eliana,

I want to ask a professor a question, but he is super intimidating. I feel like I’m wasting his time by asking extra questions, and since this is college, I feel like I should just figure it out on my own. What should I do?

-Unsure

Dear Unsure,

Calm down. The professor expects questions from students. That is his job, so you aren’t wasting his time. Just be confident, go up to him, introduce yourself, and ask that question. If that is too much for you, you can also send him an email. That way there is no face-to-face contact. If he is just too scary to talk to directly, chances are, there is a TA you can ask, as well. TAs tend to be less frightening. Just relax, and go for it. I believe in you!

-Eliana

Dear Eliana,

I’m really good friends with this guy, but lately, he’s been acting kind of weird. My friends say it’s because he has feelings for me and wants to take our relationship to the next level. The main problem here is that I do not feel the same way. I do not like him in that way, and I want us to just remain friends. Does this make me a bad person? How can I make it clear to him that we are not in the same place, and I do not want to date him?

-Super Cliché Question

Dear Super Cliché Question,

As you seem to know, this situation is quite common. One member of a friendship wants to take the relationship to the dating level while the other does not. This can lead to heaps of awkwardness. My suggestion is to just tell him as soon as possible. The longer you wait to tell him, the more he’ll think he has a chance, so by not getting it out in the open, you are just hurting him more. This is definitely something that you guys need to talk about. By the way, it does not make you a bad person, just because you don’t like someone in the same way he likes you. If he really likes you as much as he seems to, he might be a little hurt, but he should understand.
I hope that helps!

-Eliana

Dear Eliana,

My roommate always has friends over to our room. I know it is shared space, but I’m not always in the mood for company, and I don’t actually know a lot of the people who are there. Whenever I try to bring it up, my roommate just kind of blows me off. It’s really starting to annoy me. What should I do?

-Need My Space

Dear Need My Space,

You should try talking to your roommate again, but this time be very insistent and clear about how you feel. Don’t be mean, but make sure you are taken seriously and listened to. You two should have a discussion about how things will work in the future. Try to reach some compromise. For example, your roommate can have people over while you’re in class or at other specified times, as long as nobody touches your stuff. If nothing at all works, you could always go to your CA, as they are there to handle this kind of stuff.

Dear Readers,

I would love to hear your questions. They can be about anything you want. I can’t promise that I will always know what I’m talking about, but I would love to try to help you with anything. You can reach me at elianasadvice@gmail.com

Thanks,
Eliana