Illustrations by Esme

Illustrations by Esme

You can easily find guides—here on Rookie and elsewhere—on how not to care about what other people think, how to use mascara without stabbing yourself in the eye, and how to calculate a fair tip when you go out for pizza with your friends, but we seem to gloss over how to deal with the always weird but never discussed awkward social interactions that everyone experiences. It’s like we’re expected to just know how to handle them without any pointers! Do you know how to brag about your accomplishments without driving away your friends, or how to take a compliment? This is important stuff, guys! Let me give you a few tips on how to handle life’s more awkward moments. —Emily