DR. WALLACE: I'm a guy who is an aspiring athlete at my high school. One of my close friends who is already a successful star player in his sport recently pulled me aside and told me how important nutrition is to my athletic endeavors.

Is this true? We're both 17, and I find it hard to believe the diet makes much of a difference when we're both in terrific physical condition already.

I fully understand staying away from drugs, smoking, alcohol or things like that that could impede my sports performance. But whether I eat healthier foods or fast foods here and there, I really don't see that it would make that much difference to my sports output. Do you agree more with me or my friend? — Don't Think It Matters, via email

DON'T THINK IT MATTERS: In sports these days, literally almost everything matters! Serious athletes at the high school, collegiate and early professional levels, almost universally buy into the idea of taking extreme care of their bodies to perform at their highest levels in their chosen sports.

Many elite sports coaches and trainers also work with their athletes to ensure good sleep patterns and habits, address mental and emotional issues and of course, food consumption designed for maximum strength and energy output.

Speak to your coaches, do some research on your own, and I think the more that you know about this topic the more you will agree with your friend and with me.

DR. WALLACE: I'm just 18 and will be attending a local community college in my area here in a few weeks. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do with my future so I'm planning to take a variety of entry-level college courses to just kind of sample different subjects and possible career paths.

In the back of my mind, I've always been interested in teaching, but I'm not sure that I want to go down that path for certain yet. While I'm developing my college academic skills, is there any way I can sample some low-key teaching opportunities without having an advanced degree to do so? — Interested in Surveying Teaching, via email

INTERESTED IN SURVEYING TEACHING: Coaching is always a good way to do this, in my opinion! See if you can find a local intermediate school, boys and girls club or local sports group that might need volunteer coaches.

You likely won't be paid anything, but you may well accomplish your goal of working with some young people and getting a feel for what guiding them entails. Beyond coaching local kids in your area, you could also seek to find some organizations that are looking for volunteers to help them with various activities, often these activities involve learning, subject matter, recruiting additional help, and eventually teaching the skills you've learned to others.

There are many forms and opportunities to teach if you keep your eyes and ears open and stay creative. Yes, pursuing a formal teaching degree and receiving a credential is indeed a commitment, but for those who enjoy the profession, it's definitely worthwhile.

I commend you for seeking to "test drive" the profession in creative ways as you're trying to figure out your future. You sound like a wise individual who will make good decisions going forward. Best of luck, I'm rooting for you no matter what path you choose.

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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