DR. WALLACE: I feel hopeless at times, because I view myself as very average. I come from an average family, I wear average clothes and I have very average looks.

I have a few average friends at my high school, and I have average friendships that are all right, but definitely not great.

I fear that once I graduate from high school, I'll drift off into a very average life. Is there anything I can do about this? — Another Average Person, via email

ANOTHER AVERAGE PERSON: Every human being is spectacular in several ways, and this includes you. If you think about it, calling yourself "average" in seemingly every single way implies that much of your focus has been making a lot of comparisons with your fellow human beings.

Why not seek to set yourself apart a touch by being the very best friend you can be to your existing friends? Do some spontaneous, nice things your friends would enjoy.

Perhaps consider also volunteering a bit of your free time to help any local worthy cause you wish to support. You'll meet some similarly minded people, and you'll likely come away from the experience feeling better about yourself.

I suggest overall that you put much less of your focus on comparing yourself to others and more on being the best version of yourself you can be. Make yourself proud, and stretch your current routines into new areas, particularly those that are of interest to you. Don't be afraid to try new things, meet new people and socialize more in ways that make you comfortable.

The more you stay busy enjoying your life and your experiences, the less you are likely to feel hopeless or stuck where you presently are.

I'M ABOUT READY TO CALL MY FATHER'S BLUFF

DR. WALLACE: My father and I don't get along well, to say the least. He's threatened to kick me out of our house many times, and now that it's summertime, I'm thinking about calling his bluff and just leaving home the next time he goes on one of his rants.

But I know that if I do this, my mom will try to get me to come back home. I have one more year of high school ahead of me, and I won't turn 18 until nearly eight months from now.

If my dad kicks me out of our home but my mom goes to the authorities, would I have to go back home for eight more months? — I've Had Enough, via email

I'VE HAD ENOUGH: I'm sorry to hear your family is experiencing this kind of strife. The short answer to your questions is yes, your mother could have local authorities return you to your home.

If your father becomes physical with you, that could change things, but your letter did not outline anything like that.

The other option to be allowed to live on your own would be to file a request with a local court to attempt to become an "emancipated minor." You can Google this term and see how it applies in your part of the nation, but my advice would be to seek a truce with your father for now if feasible and to make plans to move out of your family's home when you turn 18.

You'll need to plan for a place to live and a way to support yourself, of course, and you can use the time between now and then to prepare for that.

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.

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