Do you have questions about what classes you should take next year?  Are you looking for some Valentine’s day advice? Lucky for you, The Herd welcomes back its former advice columnist, Bunky.  “Ask Bunky” is run by everyone’s favorite ram who wishes to grant the KHS student body with the best advice around.  Whether it be academic, extracurricular, or just life related, Bunky is ready to answer any questions you may have.  If you have a question for Bunky, you can email him at [email protected].  

“Hey Bunky, I really need your advice. A lot of people have been saying that playing chess in class is bad, but I am struggling to stop. Am I addicted to chess?”

Hello there Rambunctious Ram, 

While chess can be a fun way to exercise the muscles of the mind, there is a time and place for this game.  Though addiction can be a very complex issue to identify, there are some classic tell-tale signs.  Addiction can be demonstrated through a person’s inability to control their actions, lack of attention for day-to-day tasks, and even desocialization.  If you find yourself in a position where you are unable to focus on your schoolwork because you feel a compulsion to play chess, you may have an addiction of some sort.  However, addiction is a social disorder meaning that it is heavily impacted by a person’s environment.  If you find yourself in an environment where playing chess in class is somewhat normalized, for instance, if you are surrounded by friends who also play chess in class, it will be much harder for you to prevent yourself from these compulsions.  If this is the case for you, I would suggest that you change your learning environment.  This could include switching seats to a different part of the classroom and changing who you sit next to.  

I hope this allows you to gain some perspective of your chess challenge.

Best of luck!

-Bunky

“Hi Bunky, I’m looking for your advice on how I should ask out the girl I’ve been talking to recently. I think that I’m going to ask her out, but I don’t know how I should do it. Do you have any advice?”

Greetings Shy Shepherd!

The best way to ask a girl out is in person with a small gesture of your affection.  I would stray from the idea of asking someone out over the phone, for it is not as genuine or heartfelt as doing it in person.  A gesture of affection does not have to be anything crazy, but something small like flowers can make all the difference.  Be aware of your timing and surroundings when deciding to ask someone out.  This can be an intimate moment of sorts, so asking a question like this in the middle of class or lunch is probably not ideal.  I would ask her when she is not in a big group of people, or better yet, when she is by herself. This will prevent any awkwardness or influence of other people when you ask her.  I would also have a date idea in mind when you ask her out, so you don’t have to figure out a plan later.  This shouldn’t be anything extravagant, but something fun you’ll both enjoy.  This being said, I would refrain from watching a movie for your first date, for then you will not be able to talk and get to know one another.  Aside from that, I would say confidence and common courtesy go a long way.

I hope this helps you transition from a Shy Shepherd to a Ram Rizzler.

Good luck!

-Bunky