'Tween 12 and 20 by Dr. Robert Wallace

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and dating a swell guy. My parents also think he's wonderful. They have a rule that every time I go on a date, the boy has to come into our house for a small chat with them. My parents are very nice. They ask Tyler where we're going and what time he'll bring me home (midnight on weekends), but most of the chitchat centers on current events and sports.

I have a 13-year-old sister who thinks she's a comedian. Whenever Tyler is over, she tells him riddles, plays the knock-knock game and tells jokes. I realize she's just showing off, but I still don't like it. I've asked my parents to tell her to cool it, but they just laugh and say she's having fun. This bothers me, but it doesn't bother Tyler, who thinks my sister is cute. What should I do? — Agitated, Moline, Ill.

AGITATED: The main thing is, Tyler isn't bothered by your sister's antics. She'd have no right to cause problems between you and him, but since she's not, I think you're blowing a minor matter out of proportion.

Lighten up and smile when your sister is performing. I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I hope you take my advice to heart. In this day and age, we all need to smile and laugh more often.

THEY ARE NORMAL TEENS

DR. WALLACE: Why are Asian students more intelligent than the rest of us? At our high school, about 5 percent of the student body is Asian, but almost all of them are on the honor roll, and this year's valedictorian and salutatorian are Asian. My dad thinks their intelligence is tied to their diets. — Lindsay, Newport Beach, Calif.

LINDSAY: Asian students are not more intelligent than other students, nor are their high grades the result of what they eat. It's simply that many Asian-American parents place a heavy emphasis on education. Schoolwork in some Asian-American families is so important that children never have part-time jobs or even household chores to do, because this could interfere with study time.

In some families, teens are not permitted to date or, in extreme cases, talk on the telephone.

Educational success brings honor and respect to families in Asian societies. This cultural attitude is the prime reason that Asian-American students get good grades. The upside of all of this is that, as a group, Asian-American students are very high achievers.

The downside is that guilt can result when students fall short of their parents' expectations. Asian-American students who do not excel academically may feel like failures when, in reality, they are normal teens.

OTHERS HAVE AGED, BUT I HAVEN'T

DR. WALLACE: I would like to respond to the girl from Payson, Ariz., who was seeking encouragement to attend a high-school reunion.

In high school, I was short, too smart and unpopular. My school years were not a happy time, but at the encouragement of a classmate, I went to my five-year high-school reunion and found it very enjoyable. I was a college graduate and the pressures of being in high school had diminished. The 10-year reunion was great and the 15-year reunion was fabulous. I'm anxiously looking forward to the 20-year party.

When I look at it now, it appears that the less popular kids are the ones who are now excelling in life. I didn't have a heyday in high school, but my heyday is now, and how sweet it is. I recommend reunions. It's wonderful to talk with and enjoy the company of former classmates. — Graduate, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

GRADUATE: I, too, enjoy reunions and highly recommend them — if for no other reason than to allow me to wonder why all the others there have aged, but I haven't!

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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