David Borgenicht: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School

4 iChat, uChat.

Like they say in tennis, it’s “advantage” you if you e-mail or IM your crush. That way, you start the dialogue when you’re ready, and respond when you have the perfect answer. Plus, your crush can’t see if you’re nervous! To start the e-convo, use the questions-and-compliments strategy. “Hey, your art project was amazing,” or, “What are we supposed to bring for social studies tomorrow?”

BE AWARE• If your crush isn’t responding, whether online or in person, don’t freak: There are a million possible reasons for the silence. (Be patient!) besides, someone else might have a crush on you—anyone asking you a lot of questions lately?

Someone says something mean. You yell right back. The words start coming fast, hard, and hurtful. Before you know it, a full-scale fight is in full-swing. But wait! Back up. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here’s how to step away from a scuffle before fists fly.

1 Take the temperature.

Before a fight explodes, you’ll usually see sparks. Look for these warning signs:

• Angry stares

• Sudden movements, like books slamming down or lockers shutting noisily

• A gathering crowd

• A kick, shove, pinch, or other dis that goes over the top

• Someone shouting, “Oh, it is so on!”

2 Walk away (with honor).

Stop the fight before it begins. Say, “I don’t want to fight you.” Be firm, then walk away. Now focus on relaxing and breathing slowly, feeling confident that you’ve won because you didn’t give that hothead the “pleasure” of a fight.

3 Know yourself.

Pay attention to the way you feel before you blow your fuse. Is your heart racing, or is your voice getting louder? When those things start to happen—even for tiny reasons, like someone else getting the last slice of pizza in the cafeteria line—find a way to release steam.

How to Blow Off Some Steam

When you feel this close to a shouting match (or worse), here’s how to divert your anger.

• Breathe.Sounds easy, right? Try to inhale for five seconds, then exhale for five. These are called “cleansing breaths,” because they can vacuum out some anger.

• Keep a stress reliever in your locker,like a foam ball you can squeeze, and have at that baby till your hand hurts.

• During lunch,exorcise with exercise!

Still in a huff when you get home?

• Tunes to the rescue.Play some of the loudest , most obnoxious songs you can, and scream along!

• Write the day down.list every detail, from what got you mad to who said what, when. Later, see if the “older” you agrees with how the you of today dealt with things.

Everyone else has been doing some serious growing, but your body hasn’t gotten the message. Suddenly every boy in school towers over you—and so do some of the girls. Here are some tips to keep you from feeling shortchanged.

1 Learn some good short jokes.

Make up for what you lack in altitude with the right attitude. Even if it drives you crazy on the inside, never show that being short is a problem for you.

• “I’m short on purpose. If the teacher can’t see you, he can’t call on you!”

• “At least if I fall down, I don’t have far to go.”

• “I’m not short, I’m just unusually not tall.”

• “You just wait till the limbo contest, my friend… you just wait.”

2 Consider the advantages.

Take comfort in the good news from scientists: Short people live longer and break fewer bones. Plus, they’re less clumsy and have faster reaction times. So play point guard during basketball games or try out for soccer goalie, and show ’em what “that short dude” can do.

FAST FACT• Short people are often better at weight lifting because they don’t have to lift the weights as far!

Though short in stature, these guys stand tall in history:

• Roger Daltrey. Lead singer of The Who. Member of the Rock and Roll hall of fame. Five feet, seven inches tall.

• Napoleon Bonaparte. Ruled france. Conquered half of Europe. Five feet, six and a half inches tall.

• Salvador Dalí. Brilliant Spanish surrealist painter. Five feet, seven inches tall.

Gym class is the same every day: There are guys beating the school record in the 1,600-meter run, guys making perfect corner kicks, guys shooting hoops like they’re ready for the pros. And then there’s you: dropping every ball, doubled over to catch your breath. Before you throw in the towel, read on.

1 Practice makes perfect.

What makes most good athletes good isn’t a natural gift, it’s how much they practice. Find a buddy who’s more confident than you on the field and drill him about how he got that way. Does he play soccer in his neighborhood after school? Run around the track with his dad in the mornings? Do twenty push-ups before bed every night?

2 Incorporate sports into your daily life.

Run up the stairs instead of walking, and keep a record of your time so you can attempt to beat it tomorrow. When you have a milk carton to throw in the garbage, do it from across the room with a beat-the-buzzer jump shot. When you’re alone, make up goofy sports to practice, like Race the Dog or Hurdle the Patio Furniture.

3 Mix it up.

Playing sports doesn’t have to mean hitting a ball, so try something different. Hit the local pool on the weekend and swim some laps, dig your old bike out of the garage and zip around the neighborhood, or try out some new tricks at the local skateboard park. Finding one athletic activity that you’re good at—or at least not terrible at—will boost your confidence with sports in general.