DR. WALLACE: I'm a guy who is now a junior in high school, and most of my classes are fine, but I literally roll my eyes to myself every day in our history class! Why do we need to know so much about ancient history? It's beyond boring, and everything is so new and modern with today's world that I truly feel it's a waste of time to study all the past news.

If I were an art major, for example, yes, I could understand studying old paintings that are considered classics, but to simply learn all about world history in old wars seems like a waste of time to me. Why do schools keep teaching old history classes? — Beyond Bored in this Class, via email

BEYOND BORED IN THIS CLASS: History is important in so many ways, perhaps starting with the fact that the past is often prologue for the future! You might've heard of the snappy phrase, "history repeats itself," and to some extent that's true.

Understanding the world, geography, culture and the evolution of mankind, society and geopolitics has never been more important than it is today. Yes, we are in an ultramodern new world, but a lot of the tensions and flashpoints that existed in the past are absolutely present today in one new form or another.

Being able to realize why the world operates the way it does is very important to your future, whether you realize it or not. Your future profession, your safety and comfort, and even your freedom could depend upon how modern history evolves over the next few decades.

My advice is to do your best to absorb the past lessons but to speak up frequently in class and ask your teacher how old lessons may apply to today's current world. A good teacher should be able to give an excellent answer to that question and perhaps open up a discussion for the class that you may find interesting.

SHE WANTS OUT SO MUCH, SHE'S CONSIDERING GETTING MARRIED

DR. WALLACE: My best friend is very unhappy at home, although I'm not sure exactly what the details are.

She's been my best girlfriend for eight years, and we girls do almost everything together. She normally talks openly about a lot of subjects with me, but she's been very closed regarding why she feels. She needs to get out of her family home.

She's had a new boyfriend since early this past summer, and both of them are 17. She told me that she brought up the idea of getting married to him so that she could move out of her family's home.

I told her that I don't think that's a good idea but that whatever is bothering her, she should deal with it directly rather than trying to get married just to leave home. We both attend the same high school. What can I do to advise her? I really feel sad about this, and I don't want her to get married and run away to another state. — My Best Friend Is Upset, via email

MY BEST FRIEND IS UPSET: I agree with your advice in telling her not to get married simply to get away from her family's home. But apparently something is dramatically wrong to make her consider taking such a dramatic step as considering getting married immediately.

Tell your friend that she really needs to speak to a trusted adult at your school, in her extended family or even perhaps your parents or anyone else you can provide for her. Your high school will absolutely have counselors available to speak confidentially to her, so encourage her to immediately do so.

You can also let your friend know that depending upon what state you live in, marriage may not even be an option at the age of 17, as 16 states do not allow marriage until the legal age of 18. But that aside, the biggest issue is what's going on inside the family home, not the legal age of marriage in your state.

Take action immediately here. Your friend needs you without even realizing how important your intervention is for 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.

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