DR. WALLACE: I'm beyond shy, and now I'm a sophomore in high school. Last year, I literally did not speak to anyone outside of my classrooms. This year is the same for me so far, but I know I need to break out of my shell soon before it's too late.

I'm a good student, and I don't cause any waves in any of my classes. I'm just a bit below the academic stars at my school, but I'm a really solid student in my own right.

What can I do to at least speak to another student? — Quiet as a Mouse, via email

QUIET AS A MOUSE: I suggest that you use your academic talents to your advantage here and seek to use them to help a few other students too.

By this, I mean that you should ask another student or two to be study partners with you. It's often true in life that when you "first give, then you get," and you certainly have something to give.

Start by taking notice in your classrooms to see if there are a few students who appear to be sincere, but who are struggling a bit here and there in certain classes.

You could approach one such student and ask if a study partner arrangement a few times a week might be helpful. You can say that you enjoy having another person to discuss the topics and lessons with. If you find the right person, you can likely help to lift this individual's grades and you'll quite likely build a friendship as well.

Once you get comfortable meeting with and speaking with a friend regularly, you'll be able to speak with others too. Don't try to do too much at first. Just stick to suggesting study meetings to various students in your classes until you connect with one who accepts your offer. I trust this won't take too long and that you'll have a lot to offer in terms of being a good study partner and good eventual friend.

I NOW HAVE MY DREAM DATE, BUT I HAVE NO CAR TO USE!

DR. WALLACE: I asked a great girl out on a date last week and she said yes, so I'm quite happy and really looking forward to getting to spend some time with her to get to know her better.

However, even though I'm a senior in high school, I don't have a car, and my parents have told me that I can't drive their cars until next summer when I graduate from high school. I should also be honest and tell you that I used to be able to borrow their cars, but I got caught in a lie one time when I went somewhere I was not allowed to go, and therefore the family cars are off limits to me.

My friends all drive, and now I'm thinking how embarrassed I'll be if I have to ask my date to drive us. I want to be honest with her about my lack of access to a car to drive, but I don't know what to do here. Any ideas? My date is this upcoming weekend. — Excited but Have No Wheels, via email

EXCITED BUT HAVE NO WHEELS: First of all, yes, you should be fully and completely honest with your date. You might ask one of your friends to drive the two of you, or you could look into using a ride-share company such as Uber or Lyft if there is adequate access in your area based upon your age.

If you do need to have your date drive, ask her politely to do so. It's really no big deal, but you should offer to put fuel in her vehicle (unless it's electric!) and you should cover all of the costs of the date since you are the one that asked her out — and she will be using her or her family's vehicle.

Focus between now then on her, who she is, what she likes and how you might best interact with her as a friend. Worrying too much about who drives is a secondary issue and should be treated as such.

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.

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