'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and will graduate from high school in June. My given name is Tillie Juanita, and all of my family, friends and even teachers call me "T.J.," because I despise the names Tillie and Juanita. The day after my 18th birthday, I'm going to legally change my given names to Tiffany Jennifer. (I can still be T.J.)

I talked with my principal, and he said that if I legally changed my name, my diploma would read Tiffany Jennifer. He also said that my records would have my new names with a notation that it was changed from Tillie Juanita on April 9, 2012, or the exact date of my legal change. When I enter the University of Minnesota, I'll be known as Tiffany. That will bring me great joy!

As a young child, I suffered when my classmates called me "Silly Tillie." I wanted to be called T.J. when I started junior high. I was named after my mother's mother (Tillie) and my father's mother (Juanita). My parents and my grandmother Juanita are all in favor of changing my name, but Grandma Tillie is protesting. To complicate things, Grandma Tillie lives with our family. What is the best way to appease her? I have to be tender with her because she is a wonderful and beautiful lady, and I love her very, very much. - T.J., St. Paul, Minn.

T.J.: When Grandmother Tillie reads your letter in the newspaper, she will be thrilled that you have told the world that she is a wonderful and beautiful lady and that you love her very, very much. She will also realize that the name Tillie is just that — a name. Then tell her that when she calls you T.J., for her, the "T" stands for Tillie!

YOU SHOULD BECOME A COLUMNIST

DR.

WALLACE: I'm responding to the letter from a woman who didn't want her father to "give her away" on her wedding day because she was not a possession. I had similar reservations when I married 35 years ago, so my father "presented" me. The minister simply asked, "Who presenteth this woman to be married to this man?" and my father responded with the customary answer, "Her mother and I." Perhaps the bride-to-be could consider this suggestion.

P.S. I also requested that the word "obey" not be used in the vows because I felt that would be a hard one for me to keep. My vows said to "love, honor and cherish," and 35 years later, my husband and I still laugh about that. - NAMELESS, Michigan City, Ind.

NAMELESS: Excellent advice. You should write a "Soon to be a Bride" column!

MOST TEENS ARE MOTIVATED YOUNG ADULTS

DR. WALLACE: Please give me your honest opinion. What do you think about today's teens? You, more than most adults, should have a pretty good assessment. - Ryan, Tupelo, Miss.

RYAN: I do a lot of traveling throughout the United States and Canada talking with teens at high schools and colleges, and I'm thoroughly convinced that most of today's teens are intelligent, energetic, honest and highly motivated young adults. I'm well aware that some teens have severe problems maturing, but the majority of teens are just like you.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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