Hey, Cherie!

At some point, doesn't school just seem stupid and you should just be required to pass? I'm a 16-year-old guy in 10th grade that thinks school is incredibly dumb. I hate wasting my time in classes like gym and art that have nothing to do with the rest of my life, and I am bored in the rest of my classes.

We're reading "Beowulf" in English. I have to ask, what does "Beowulf" have to do with real life? I think we're reading it because the teacher loves it, not because it's a good story. In history we're learning about the Age of Enlightenment, which is boring. I have an anatomy/biology class where all I do is memorize.

I am serious — the idea of studying enough to get A's or B's feels like a total waste of time. When I graduate, I want to join the military, maybe the Army. Therefore, I feel like high school is a prison; I am counting the days until I get out.

If you have any ideas at all, I'll take them.

— Sentenced to School

Hey, Sentenced!

Ouch. Educators all over the country are wincing at your letter, including me. I just hope that you're considerate to the other students and don't poison the atmosphere of those classrooms.

Now, I don't want to give the impression that 10th grade is the equivalent of intellectual summer camp. I wasn't a big "Beowulf" fan either, and I didn't really understand the Greek plays until I saw them on stage, instead of reading them. The idea of memorizing body parts also leaves a lot to be desired. But it's called building an intellectual foundation, which is what your teachers are trying to do.

As for the armed services, bless you if you do decide to serve. But as the Army website will tell you, it's not all about shooting guns. There are many jobs that the Army will need you to do — the better your education and your brain, the better you can serve where you're most needed.

I can't make high school feel less like a prison, but I can give you this idea. Go to the public library and talk to the young adult librarian. Tell him or her about yourself and get some book recommendations. When reading, you might find yourself receiving the proper education.

Hey, Cherie!

This is really gross. I was down in the mosh pit at my town's Children of Bodom concert. There were two girls who took off their shirts, leaving only their bras underneath. Since I'm a guy that's OK, but I have to tell you that these two girls had the stinkiest body odor — I had to move away.

Keep your shirts on!

— Rocked Out

Hey, Rocked!

Umm, is there any chance that some of the guys in the crowd also had serious BO? Mosh pits are crowded, sweaty, and by definition moshing.

So if you're a girl, I think it's a place to proceed with caution under any circumstances. Ugh. As for taking your shirt off, here's one columnist who thinks it's asking for problems in a place where trouble can find you.

Cherie Bennett is a best-selling author of books for teens and young adults. Visit her website at www.cheriebennett.com. To find out more about Cherie Bennett and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.