DR. WALLACE: I'm a senior in high school and I'm a very good student with an A-minus average. Neither of my parents went to college, but they are encouraging me to go to Ball State University next year and to follow my dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. I really love children, and I already teach a Sunday school class for primary age children.

I had a job this past summer in a fast-food restaurant. I liked the job and was glad to earn good money for college. My boss said I was a good employee and asked me if I wanted to continue to work a few hours every week while I go to school. He said I could work after school four days a week from 4-7 p.m., and six hours on Saturday.

My dad works in a factory and my mom does not work, but they give me a small allowance and I appreciate that, but having a bit more would be nice. Mom and Dad are not in favor of me working during the school year because they want me to keep my grades high. They said I should get your opinion, and if you felt it was a good idea, they might reconsider. — Shelly, Hobart, Ind.

SHELLY: Usually, I would say to "give it a try" and if the grades start to slip, quit the part-time job. However, in your case, I have to agree with your parents. Keep up the good grades and become a master teacher. It's just not worth risking your academic future to earn a few extra dollars.

PLEASE SHOW MY ANSWER TO MOM

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and attend a Catholic high school. My mom demands that I date only guys who attend my high school.

But wouldn't you know? I met a wonderful guy who attends a public high school. He wants to take me out and I'd like to go out with him. And guess what else? This boy is a Catholic.

When I told my mom this, she said that I still couldn't go out with him because he doesn't attend my school. Do you think this is right? — Tiffie, Quincy, Mass.

TIFFIE: It's important that mom explain why she insists that you date only boys who attend your Catholic high school. It can't be because she wants to insure that you only date Catholic boys because some non-Catholic parents choose to enroll their children in a Catholic school for several different reasons. Would she allow you to go out with a non-Catholic boy who attends your school?

I suggest that you ask your mom if you could please bring this boy to your house so she could meet him and thus make a better evaluation of his character.

I realize that your mom has the final say on this, but I would encourage her to at least meet this boy before making her decision. Please show mom my answer.

TIME IS THE ONLY CURE FOR INTOXICATION

DR. WALLACE: You wrote that hot black coffee will not help a drunk person sober up any more quickly. That's just not true. Once in a while my boyfriend drinks too much, but when I get him a mug of hot black coffee he sobers up in a matter of minutes. What do you think about that? — Nameless. Iowa City, Iowa.

NAMELESS: If coffee really sobers up your boyfriend, he wasn't drunk in the first place, but he may have been pretending to be. Black coffee, cold showers and other "cures" for intoxication are nothing but myths. Alcohol is slowly, but surely, eliminated from the bloodstream and nothing can hasten the rate. Time is the only cure for intoxication.

Do your boyfriend a big favor by encouraging him to quit drinking. No matter how much he consumes, it's a waste of money and could lead to big-time trouble.

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.