DR. WALLACE: I attend a middle school of seventh, eighth and ninth grade students. I'm in the seventh grade, but I totally ignore all the boys because they are so immature. I'd like to have a boyfriend, but I guess I'll just have to wait until I'm in high school. All of my girlfriends feel the same way. I want an intelligent boyfriend.

Most of the boys in our school run in the halls, yell at each other, eat like pigs in the cafeteria, rarely take a shower and try to dress cool and mod but actually look stupid. Also, most of them don't appear to do much homework. Ugh! I can't wait until we have a female president. —Nameless, Louisville, Ky.

NAMELESS: It's true that girls mature both mentally and physically before boys, but Mother Nature is fair and allows boys to catch up with girls by about age 15. But there are always exceptions. I'm sure some of the boys who are your age are capable of meeting your high standards. You just haven't been looking hard enough. Start by joining clubs and spending some time in the school library.

LOW-TAR CIGARETTES WON'T HELP

DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and attending Orange Coast College. When I finish my formal education, I plan to be an elementary teacher. I consider myself a good person with only a few minor flaws and one major one — I smoke! I've been smoking regularly for more than three years. I've tried quitting, but I just can't seem to shake the nicotine habit. I know that I have to eventually quit smoking for two reasons — my health and smelling like a fireplace when I teach.

I've been told that if I switch to a low-tar cigarette, it would be less dangerous and easier to stop smoking altogether. Is this true? —Nameless, Costa Mesa, Calif.

NAMELESS: The American Lung Association says that low-tar cigarettes often produce higher levels of harmful chemicals. Furthermore, smokers, in order to get a full ration of nicotine, simply inhale low-tar cigarettes more frequently and more deeply, or smoke more of them.

Your best bet is to draw upon your own strong will. Visualize yourself as a healthy non-smoker who looks good, feels good, and smells good! If you stay strong, it won't take long to reach your goal, and you'll be glad you did. You'll also have more cash in your wallet!

YOU DON'T NEED HER

DR. WALLACE: I am friends with a girl at school, but it's getting difficult to be her friend because she is devious and is always telling lies. I want to remain her friend, but I'm not so sure that I will. If I like a certain boy, she automatically starts flirting with him. It's like she was born to make my life miserable. What can I do to get her to stop hurting me? —Nameless, Galesburg, Ill.

NAMELESS: The best way to get this false friend to stop hurting you is to stop hanging around with her. She probably is incapable of acting like a real friend, and instead, twists friendship until it feels more like having an enemy. She needs you, but, believe me, you do not need her!

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 [email protected] 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.