DR. WALLACE: I am thinking about buying a used car. Would my car be a wise and valuable investment? I'm also thinking about riding a bike to my school and my job, but a bicycle is expensive, too.

Plus, I would need a lot of safety equipment since I have to drive through a very busy downtown area to get to my job. — Working Student, via email

WORKING STUDENT: if you shop around carefully and find a good deal on a reliable used vehicle, your depreciation over the next few years should be relatively minimal if you keep your vehicle in good shape.

It's unlikely that your vehicle will make you money on the actual purchase of the vehicle and a resale price of the vehicle at a future date, but you will receive benefits from this investment.

You will save time being able to drive to your job directly. Your overall safety should be enhanced as long as you drive carefully and defensively. And having reliable transportation will allow you to keep a steady job and perhaps work a few extra hours here and there, allowing you to make more capital for yourself during the months or years that you do own such a vehicle.

MY SISTERS AND I ARE NOT SIMILAR STUDENTS!

DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and the youngest child of four in our family. The oldest, my brother, is already in medical school. Then I have two older sisters who both currently attend college. I'm still in high school at my age, of course.

My problem is that both of my sisters are pretty much brilliant students. They were straight "A" students throughout high school and their teachers loved them. I'm no dope, but I also don't have any shot at being an "A" student. My teachers, many of whom have taught my sisters years ago, don't seem to understand that I'm a normal "B" student. These teachers accuse me of being lazy and not achieving at the high level that my sisters did.

The lazy accusation just isn't true. I care about my studies, I do my homework and I get the best grades possible. I know there is not much you can do for me, but since you are a former educator, maybe you can tell me why teachers always compare brothers and sisters and think they are all supposed to be equal when it comes to academics. — Sick, Sore and Tired of the Comparisons

SICK, SORE AND TIRED OF THE COMPARISONS: It's human nature for teachers to expect a lot from children or siblings of those who have a particular gift or talent, but I agree that is not anywhere near fair. For example, just because one sibling in the family may be a star athlete in one sport or another, it does not mean that the other brothers and sisters are going to be star athletes as well. But for some reason, teachers tend to make the assumption more readily when it comes to academics than sports.

There is nothing wrong with teachers expecting younger siblings to reach the goals established by older brothers and sisters. When this doesn't occur, the teacher should have the ability and reason to realize why this is and then adjust to the reality of the individual.

A teacher's primary goal should always be to have students perform to the best of their own personal goal, not the ability of anyone else whether they're related or not.

A successful student should always aim to achieve as much as their abilities will allow at any one point in time. And it's always wise to remember that some individuals become better students or have more comprehension, and deductive reasoning skills kick in later in their lifetime. High school grades are one snapshot of a small portion of an individual's life, nothing more and nothing less. We all have the opportunity to improve, expand and grow in new and exciting directions as we leave childhood and grow into young adults, and later, well-established adults.

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.

Photo credit: Chris Liverani at Unsplash