I realize now most people don’t know this advice column exists in the first place, let alone who I am. Pretty big issue right there. I mean, there’s no reason to ask for advice if you don’t even know what this is or who I am. To fix this, I’m dedicating my first post to a quick introduction about the column and about myself.

Advice Column? What’s That?

So why have an advice column anyway? With friends, teachers, and guidance counselors at the ready, it might feel like a waste of space on the Unleashed website. To that I say no! And I promise it’s not only because I’m the writer for it.

For starters, it helps to have a space to anonymously scream your thoughts in. Quick comments, general rants, confessions—you name it, we can have it in the submission box. Just remember to stay school appropriate!

Even if you don’t feel comfortable asking for advice, there’s always a chance somebody asked the same thing you wanted to. Above all, this advice column is built on community. In other words? My work’s only possible and made easier with your work.

Really, though, the main selling point of advice columns are the unbiased opinions. Granted, the form to submit does collect your email due to school policy, but chances are I won’t (and really can’t) recognize who you are based on that alone. Even then, I swear to not snoop. Defeats the whole purpose of “unbiased opinions” anyhow.

Back to the point… I don’t know anything about anyone who asks for advice. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. It will only help me give you the fairest shot at moving forward. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes a little bias is wanted! But at the end of the day it helps to have multiple opinions, preferably one that won’t try to take a side.

And Why Me?

Who even am I, though? What gives me the right to claim I of all people deserve to give my (hopefully solicited) advice?

An official introduction: my name is Thara Sofia Dagoc and I’m currently a Junior! Everyone calls me Tifa, though. I moved from the Philippines to here during my Freshman year, am a proud bilingual (Filipino rep!), and love to write. I’m also an active member in our school’s Ethics Bowl Committee and debate club.

Otherwise, I’m pretty easygoing and described as “down to earth” by some of my friends. That’s part of why I believe I can give an unbiased opinion. The other part is simply because I do my best to stay uninvolved in any personal student-versus-student issue.

All this to say I’m not just some rando hanging out advice on a whim: I, to a degree, know what I’m talking about. My experiences with being a new student here, debating over ethics, and my nature should help with giving you people the best advice you deserve. If not that? Then anything close enough.

That’s all from me for now.

Tifa Out!

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