SHE HATES HER NEW TOWN

Dear Jellybean,

So i recently moved to a different state and my family and i loved it. Now my family still loves it but im starting to hate it. I hate how small it is, i hate how i have 1 friend, and i hate hate how theres nothing to do. Im pretty miserable, the only problem is my family still thinks i love it here. If i tell my mom im miserable, she can only feel bad and know i hate it. Should i just keep pretending to like it or should i tell them how i dont like it? thanks for any help.

Dear Writer,

It's okay to be honest about your feelings. But before you announce the negative, make sure you've been doing everything you can to make things positive. You say you're bored, and there's nothing to do. Have you considered volunteer work? Don't click away just yet - volunteer work can actually be fun.

It's an excellent way to make friends, and get to know your new community. And reaching out to others who could use some help, is a sure-cure for boredom or loneliness. It's also a great way to make a true difference in people's lives!

Through volunteering, you learn responsibility and experience the joy of doing something worthwhile, while helping others in your community. Plus, many teens have service requirements for school, and volunteer opportunities are a great way to fulfill those hours.

If you are open to the idea of volunteer work, talk to your mom. Tell her you've been feeling bored and not so happy, and you think volunteering might be a good solution. Ask her to help you contact local charitable and/or community organizations (some volunteer activities may need adult guidance or supervision). Or, use the community service ideas from Myjellybean.com's "Make a Difference" section. You'll find them under the section "DO VOLUNTEER WORK" on this page.