Though the neon green fertilizer which signals the true start of spring
on Harvard’s campus is still far away, at least one change at The
Crimson has signaled an earlier arrival of spring: Dear Molly has taken
the advice reins from Nikki. The faithful readers of the Crimson have
grown to know and trust Nikki, so it is only fitting that I tell you a
bit about me before I can ask you to send me your most puzzling
inquiries.
One of my most trusted sources of wisdom during the past three
and a half years of college has been my high school friend, Lindsey. I
do not turn to Lindsey simply because she has listened to my life’s
dramas for years, but mainly because she resides 3000 miles away from
the situations I get myself into in Massachusetts. Due to her distance,
she has a unique, objective perspective that is invaluable: she gives
me honest advice that I do not think I could get from someone who is
intimately connected to my social life. I aspire to act as this
impartial—and seemingly distant—voice of reason for all the dilemmas,
quandaries and awkward moments you can throw my way.
When my candid friend has no advice to offer, I have used pop
culture as my back-up well of wisdom. I can assure you that I have seen
an episode of Friends that is analogous to your issues (seriously, if
you watch enough episodes, almost anything can be related). This
semester, I will make use of the extensive hours I’ve wasted laughing
along with sitcoms, watching movies and listening to songs (I have
playlists based on what current situations I’m wrapped up in) to impart
upon you the wisdom I have gleaned from the “deep” media. If all else
fails, my grandmother has generously offered her assistance with the
column, for she has advertised that she’s experienced everything… or at
least thought about it.
Long story short, pitch me your fiercest curve ball and I will
try to hit it out of the park. Or at least I’ll sacrifice fly so that
you can make it home safely. Team before self.
Anyone who has seen the cinematic masterpiece, “Ace Ventura,
Pet Detective,” will agree that if Dan Marino had simply followed the
crucial advice of “laces out!” during his football game, the
two-hour-long saga would not have ensued. I may not be intimately
associated with all the particular details of your
dilemmas, but I will hopefully be able to give “laces out” on-the-ball
advice.
Or at least I tricked The Crimson into believing I could do
this, since they have given me space in their paper each Monday morning
for the next few months. Some say that free advice is only worth what
you pay for it. I don’t have all the answers, sadly. Certain times of
my life would be a whole lot less of a gong show if I did. I cannot
promise that I will give the “right” answer to every question or that I
will be able to solve every situation that comes through my inbox. I
think I have gotten far enough away from my perfectionist tendencies
that got me into Harvard to admit—with humility (gasp!)—that my
advice will not be perfect.
I promise to be a benevolent realist: we all need someone to
tell us the blunt truth in a caring manner, even when it is not what we
want to hear, and especially when we deny our acknowledgement of what
we really need to do. Even when we know what the best course of action
should be, it is amazing how much more effective it is to hear that
advice from another person—the role I hope to play.
Whether my advice is followed or not, I hope that the
questioner will be more confident in whatever decision he or she makes
after reading my column. Just remember to take all advice with a grain
of salt, preferably one gracing the rim of a margarita.
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