Q: I'm graduating this spring. Personally, I don't want to go sit through the ceremony. I don't want to sit through all the boring speeches and stuff. As far as I'm concerned, mailing me the diploma is A-O.K. The problem is my family. They all want to go, and they are upset I don't want to. Should I go to make them happy, or should I skip the ceremony — it is my graduation, after all. What do you kids think?
Can I return the cap and gown
J: Right, it is your graduation, but if your parents are the reason that you are having a graduation in the first place, suck it up and deal with it. A few hours is nothing in the grand scheme of things, I mean, come on — what's a few hours compared to what you went through to get the diploma? Get ready to toss that tassle, because I have a feeling you'll be walking down the aisle.
R: Well, who paid for college? If your parents shelled out the dough, the least you can do is sit through graduation. When it's all said and done, they paid close to $40,000 to see you walk down that aisle. Unless you can refund the money, practice your graduation march. But if you paid your own way, tell them how you feel. Maybe you can walk across the living room in your cap and gown, just so they get the idea.
Q: It's summer, and my girlfriend and I are going back to our respective hometowns. We live pretty far apart, so staying together over the summer would be pretty hard. Do you think it's worth it to stay in a long-distance relationship, or should we put our relationship 'on hold' until we get back to Athens?
Absence makes the heart grow—something
J: Putting a relationship 'on hold' usually never pans out in the end. You'll go home, see what else is out there, and then come back unsatisfied with one another. Your best bet is to break it off while vacationing. If feelings resurface with the arrival of fall, it will be your choice whether to go for it or not. But don't bank on absence making your heart grow anything.
R: You don't take classes in the summer, do you? It's called 'summer vacation' for a reason. It's a vacation from school and everything that goes along with it. The summer is a time for you to engage in a meaningless, three-month relationship. So my advice — put your Athens gal on hold and find a hometown hottie to spend the summer with. When the fall starts, you and the Athens gal can pick up where you left off.
Q: It's the end of the year. What are you two doing this summer? Will you be back next fall to give us more great advice?
Wishin' and hopin' Rob and Jen come back
J: This summer, Rob and I will be working for The Summer Post here in good old Athens. Feel free to continue sending us your problems. However, the great advice will stop appearing in The Post next year, I got promoted and I would never hire someone like Rob. We're living together, that's enough Rob to handle.
R: Don't hold your breath. This has been fun and all, but it's not going to happen next fall. See, Jen got promoted and she would be my boss. And there is no way I'd work for that slave-driver. So I'm high-tailing it out of here. Look for me dispensing advice on the street corners — I'll be battling for turf with the banjo players and the preachers. And sidebar: I love when Jen handles me.
Jen and Rob have enjoyed answering your questions, but this summer and next year they'll be dealing with their own problems. We have one question for you: Why didn't you write more? Send your answer and love for us to weknowbetter@hotmail.com.
17 Archives
Jennifer Lash and Rob Chalifoux
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Jennifer Lash and Rob Chalifoux
