DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and my older sister is 16. She is very bright and always gets excellent grades. My grades are always average or slightly above. This means that I'm put on restriction often and denied going to after-school functions because I "need more study time," according to mom and dad.

But no matter that I study a lot, I still wind up with C's and an occasional B. During the winter break my mother wouldn't let me attend my best friend's Christmas party because I'm getting a C in English instead of a B.

Because of her good grades, my sister can go anywhere and do anything she wants. She is active in school activities and all I'm interested in is sports. I'm a very good pitcher in softball and I start at guard for the basketball team.

I love my sister, but I don't think I'm being treated fairly. Please tell me what I can do to get my parents to treat me fairly.

NAMELESS: Not all siblings have the same capacity to get excellent grades. Mother Nature decides who will be A students and who will be C students. But as a former high school principal, I have observed students who graduated with average grades and yet accomplished above-average feats in a myriad of different areas.

Talk with your school counselor or administrator and share your dilemma. This professional educator will understand. Ask that your parents meet with this educator. They will be enlightened that punishing you for doing your very best in school is not the best way to encourage you to enjoy school and to enjoy being an important family member.

YOU ARE A GEM YOURSELF

DR. WALLACE: I consider myself an older teenager. I'll be 89 in three weeks. I might be a bit old to be writing to someone who addresses teens, but I do feel young at heart.

I married my teenage sweetheart when we were both 19, and in a month we will celebrate our 70th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, we couldn't have children, so I never had the pleasure of being a mother, but I do love children. That's why I enjoy reading your column. It keeps me in touch with our wonderful young people.

I'm responding to the young lady who wrote saying that ever since she broke up with her boyfriend all she does is go to school and stay in her room at home. You told her that she needed to get out and make new friends. I like to mention that a wonderful place to make new friends is to volunteer at a nearby senior center where she will meet many wonderful people who are bursting to share with her their wisdom, experience and love. — Martha, Santa Fe, N.M.

MARTHA: Please allow me to congratulate you and your husband on your fabulous 70th wedding anniversary! According to my local librarian, the 60th wedding anniversary and every fifth anniversary thereafter are called "diamond anniversaries." So this is your third glistening jewel of an anniversary.

How appropriate this is, because you are a gem yourself!

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 [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.