Don't give in to peer pressure.
By NURSE PRACTITIONER ILA SHEBAR
With the new school year approaching and teens getting ready to head off to college, I have been asked to re-run this column. I added a 10th piece of advice, submitted by a reader after the 2011 column ran.
My daughter is off to college for her freshman year. What are the top 5 pieces of advice I should give her?
Good question. I have raised three sons, so I had to think hard about this based upon my own recollections of going away to school. I also asked my sons for their thoughts on the subject.
So here it goes:
1. Make a pact with your girlfriends to never leave a party without each other. In the end, you’re better off going home with the girls. But if you do decide to leave with someone else, make sure your friend has another friend to go home with. Watch out for each other to stay safe.
2. Always carry a condom, even if you’re on the birth control pill. The pill will protect you from pregnancy but not from sexually transmitted diseases. Don’t trust that the guy will have one and don’t do it without one.
3. Try to avoid gaining the “Freshmen 15” by making healthy food choices. There is always the salad bar instead of burger and fries. Be aware of portion sizes. Don’t partake in the midnight-to -2 a.m. pizza.
4. And if you do partake in the midnight-to 2-a.m. pizza (because, let’s face it, at one point, you probably will), then also stay active. At college there’s always someone around who will hit a tennis ball or throw a Frisbee.
5. Don’t give in to peer pressure. Don’t drink the drink put in your hand at the frat party, and don’t do drugs to fit in with the others. Don’t spend all of your freshmen year drunk or high. You’ll miss out on a lot of other experiences, and end up with a lot of embarrassing pictures on Facebook. Have a plan set in your mind before you go out of your limits, and stick to it. Remember you can’t drink as much as the guys do, so don’t even try.
6. Speaking of Facebook — make your settings private. Immediately. Not only are there creepy idiots you don’t want seeing those late-night party photos and updates that might go up, but it could hurt your chances down the road trying to get a job. I’ve seen it happen, so get on this one.
7. Download an app like Textalyzer
8. Don’t change your behavior to fit in with the “cool kids”, or the ones you think are cool. People concerned with being in the best social circle are usually insecure and looking for a way to validate themselves. Being in the “cool” group won’t make any difference in four years when college is over. Don’t try to be someone you’re not to fit in. Be yourself and you’ll attract others just like you — making your own social circle. When college is over you’ll be left with lasting friendships that are real.
9. Have fun, but don’t have too much fun. You know what I mean.
And No. 10 comes from a reader: Do not leave your drink unattended. If you’re headed for the rest room or the dance floor, ask a friend to watch your drink. It is easy for someone to drop something into your drink if no one is watching it. And you won’t know until it’s too late. If no one is available to keep an eye on, get yourself a fresh one.
Ila Shebar is a women’s health nurse practitioner specializing in women’s pelvic health and continence at Pioneer Valley Urology in Springfield. Her “Ask Ila” column appears every other Wednesday in the Health & Science section of The Republican and on MassLive.com. She can be reached at ilashebarnp.pvu@ gmail.com