Dear Shayna B,

My name is Lili, and one day, a teacher mistakenly called me Linda, even though Linda is not my real name. Ever since, people in school whom I once called my friends have been making fun of me and calling me Linda, which I do not appreciate. I need advice on how to get over this problem.

Thank you,

Lonely Lili

Dear Lonely Lili,

If everyone is making fun of you, join in. You might think, “Huh? What is she talking about?” but it’s actually quite simple. It’s called reverse psychology. What is reverse psychology?

Let me give you an example: A bully walks up to you and tells you you’re stupid. The bully probably wants you to say that he/she is stupid back so the bully can cause a fight. Reverse psychology would be saying, “I disagree, but you’re entitled to your opinion.” In your case, if someone says, “Hey Linda!” you say, “Oh hello, my name is Lili, but mistakes happen. Please call me Lili for future reference. Thank you!”

I’m almost positive nobody will know how to respond to that. If they do, there’s always hypnosis!

Best of luck,

Shayna B.

Last week’s word scramble was: Talk To Your Partner.

This week’s word scramble is: esrever yyoogchpls orksw!

Shayna is a fifth grader and understands what kids in elementary school are going through. She is happy to help others navigate this tricky time. She can be reached at [email protected]. She is looking forward to hearing from you soon.