'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: I'm 12 and have been taking violin lessons since I was 6. I am now pretty good. I play in a city youth orchestra and have the honor of being first chair. My parents, who were born in Korea, are very proud of me. I like that, but whenever someone comes to visit our house, they insist that I perform for them on my violin.

This really bothers me. It's like they are getting me to show off. Besides, playing solo makes me feel uneasy. I don't really like to be put in this kind of situation. My parents say they're providing me with wonderful experience, but I don't see it that way. How do you see it? — Nameless, Anaheim, Calif.

NAMELESS: Of course your parents are proud of you, as well they should be, but having you perform at home in front of visitors against your wishes is, in my opinion, unwise. I understand it may be hard for parents to resist "showing off" a talented child, but if it makes the child feel uneasy, it will eventually take away her pleasure in what she's doing, which would be disastrous. This is called overkill. Often, children who are forced to perform on an instrument stop playing it as soon as they have the chance, even if they're good at it. Let us hope this doesn't happen to you.

MY NAME IS JACOB, DON'T CALL ME JAY

DR. WALLACE: My name is Jacob. The kids at school call me Jay, even though I've told them my name is Jacob. It all started in September when I was new at the school. My physical education teacher called roll, and when he came to me, he called out "Jay." Since then, everyone started calling me Jay. I despise that name. Sometimes when kids call me Jay, I totally ignore them.

I was thinking of getting a specially made T-shirt with the words, "Don't Call Me Jay, My Name is Jacob," printed loud and clear on the front and back, but my parents said wearing such a shirt would only make things worse.

I talked with our school counselor, who said the kids weren't making fun of me: Jay was just short for Jacob. Instead of helping, she only compounded my problem. Is there any hope for me, or will I be Jay forever in the eyes of my fellow students? I forgot to mention that I'm in the eighth grade. — Jacob, Burlington, Vt.

JACOB: First, make sure all your teachers, as well as school staff members, address you as Jacob. Next, when a student calls you Jay, simply smile and say, "Please call me Jacob," and nothing more! Don't make an outward show that you are bothered. Almost certainly, no offense was meant; the student didn't realize your name is Jacob.

Burlington is a wonderful community, and I'm positive that when your classmates read this column, they'll respond by calling you Jacob. Write to me in a few weeks and let me know how it's going.

THE LAST ONE STANDING

DR. WALLACE: Is it true that females get drunk faster than males on the same amount of alcohol? If so, why? — Jody, Detroit.

JODY: Yes, because males, on average, are bigger than females. Simply stated, a 100-pounder who matches a 200-pounder drink for drink will become intoxicated twice as fast. The less you weigh, the less alcohol your body can handle. It doesn't matter how tough you are; it only matters how big you are. Of course, if the 200-pounder in this example is the female, she'd be the one left standing at the end of the contest!

I sure hope that you just wanted this inane information and you had no intention of proving it to be true.

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. E-mail 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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