I’m always delighted when I get to introduce a new column on APW, but today I’m doubly delighted, because our new feature involves Jareesa Tucker McClure, our writing intern from 2016 and one of our all-round favorite people on the internet. Jareesa is a long-standing member of our team, not just as a writer (though she’s a good one), but also shooting the shit with us on Slack, and even vacationing for us in Mexico (because someone’s gotta do it). So we’re delighted to introduce her into our fold of advice columnists. Because there is nothing Jareesa loves more than telling people what to do offering advice.
Starting tomorrow, here is what she’s going to be dishing up:
I’ve been an advice column lover for years. It started when I was kid—I’d grab our copy of the local newspaper, and devour the syndicated Dear Abby and Carolyn Hax columns. I’d pick up any magazine that had an advice column in it. As more media has transitioned online, I’ve continued to read advice columns avidly, everything from Dear Prudie to Ask A Manager. I think the medium appeals to me because of the problem solving nature, and I love to solve a good problem. Half the fun of reading advice columns is giving your own take on the problem and sharing your own knowledge and perspective.
So when Meg asked me if I’d be interested in writing an advice column for APW, my immediate response was an emphatic “absolutely”! Getting the chance to give someone else my two cents on their situation? Yes please! But after my initial excitement, I thought about what I could bring to the advice business. The short answer is that I’m bringing me—my past experiences, my world outlook, my feminism, and my intersectionality. And frankly, there’s a lot of questions out there that would be answered totally differently if answered from a woman of color, and that’s me. Do I have all the answers? Nope. But I hope to give the APW audience a different viewpoint and way of looking of situations, especially when they have a diversity or inclusion slant.
So welcome to the first of what will hopefully be many letters to the Ask Jareesa column! Got questions? I’ve got answers!
Join us in welcoming Jareesa, check out her first column tomorrow, and send her all your pressing questions. Because if there is one thing wedding planning always produces, it’s questions.
P.S. And for those of you missing Amy March and her burn-it-down brand of advice at Always A Bridesmaid, she is on leave for a family crisis, but she will be back. We’re sending her all our love. (If you’re just tuning in, this fall has not been a great one for our team.)
Got a question for Jareesa? Send it to nope [at] apracticalwedding [dot] com!
