Summer Friend/Social Section:

Dear Lib,

My friend group is going through some strange stuff right now. My friend (who goes to a different school) sent out a message to a sub-group chat (we have multiple group chats) saying that she’s going to cut ties with everyone because she believes that our friendships aren’t what she needs at the moment. I also heard from another friend that she had been ghosting everyone in our friend group for a while. This confused me because I had been chatting with her for a long time, and she hadn’t ghosted me! She had sent out the ‘cutting ties’ message on a Wednesday, and she had just responded to a message that I had sent her two days after that! Also, I have good reason to believe (because my other friend told me) that she may or may not have a crush on me. Coincidentally, I also have a crush on her, but I still have no idea what’s going on. What do you think I should do here? – A Very Confused Friend/Crush

Dear A Very Confused Friend/Crush, 

First of all, wow. That’s a lot to process, and it makes sense that you’re feeling stuck and unsure. Friendships tangled with feelings can be complicated on their own, and especially now that you’ve got this group dynamic with unclear signals in the mix! I think that you should reach out to her privately with a kind, honest message to let her know you care and are there if she wants to talk; don’t pressure her, just offer support. Since she messaged you after saying she was cutting ties, it sounds like she sees you differently from the rest of the group. Be mindful of her boundaries and give her space if she needs it. If you have a crush on her, take things slow and focus on rebuilding trust and clarity first. Most importantly, take care of your feelings too; it’s okay to feel confused! Good luck! – Lib

Summer Glow Up Section: 

Dear Lib,

Should I get a low taper fade? I’ve been thinking about getting a low taper fade for a while now. I saw a few people at school with it, and it looks really good, but I’m not sure if it’ll look right on me. Do you think it’s a good haircut? I don’t wanna do too much, but I kinda wanna switch it up too. But then I’ll get memed. What should I do? – Coolboy in Cooltown

Dear Coolboy in Cooltown,

First off- love the name. Second, the low taper fade is actually a super clean cut, and it’s great if you want to switch things up without doing something super dramatic. It frames most face shapes well, grows out nicely, and still gives you that fresh, sharp look. If you’re nervous about getting memed (which let’s be real, every friend group does no matter what you do), just own it. Confidence makes any haircut 10x better. Worst case? Hair grows back. Best case? You walk in on Monday looking like a whole upgrade. Rooting for you! – Lib

Summer Bucket List:

Dear Lib,

Where can a 15-year-old find a job this summer? What are some good first jobs with no experience? – Clueless Freshman

Dear Clueless Freshman,

15 year olds aren’t typically hired because most jobs are 16+, but it could happen. The first thing you want to do is create a resume. Make it professional: list your achievements both in school and out. It’s okay if it isn’t super padded, just be authentic. Get feedback on it from your parents and tailor it so that it suits the type of jobs you want to apply for. You can look on Indeed, ZipRecruiter, LinkedIn, and autofill all of your information and apply to as many jobs as possible. If this doesn’t work, whenever you’re running errands with your family, you can ask to speak to a manager and politely ask if they’re hiring. It can be a tedious process, but it’s so worth it in the end!  – Lib