DR. WALLACE: I'm a high school student and my attendance is not the best. I don't feel well often, and end up missing three or four days per month.

I make up all of my assignments, and I study extra hard to keep up my grades. Most teachers understand my situation, but one teacher in particular makes 20% of our grade based upon class participation, and I'm penalized for not being there.

Do you think it's fair for some teachers to make part of my grade strictly dependent upon my attendance? — It's Not My Fault, via email

IT'S NOT MY FAULT: Teachers can indeed set up their grading structure however they want, as long as it is approved by the school faculty and the particular school district they are working in.

You mentioned that your grade is dependent upon your attendance, but it's actually dependent upon your class participation. This is true because even if you had perfect attendance, but you never participated in classroom discussions, you'd receive low marks for classroom participation.

My advice is to meet your teacher one-on-one and explain that while you're dealing with a few health issues, you'll do your best to attend as many days of school as you can. Also mention that you'll be sure to participate often and effectively in class every day you're there. Of course, you'll need to do your homework and be prepared to provide meaningful comments and discussion points, but if you address this issue head-on, I trust you'll have an opportunity to overcome the handful of absences you are experiencing each month.

I'M SMITTEN BY AN OVERSEAS GUY

DR. WALLACE: I'm a girl who is 17 and in high school. About a year ago, some girlfriends of mine somehow got connected with several groups of teenagers in foreign countries.

This group of teens routinely sets up group text messages, and we talk about our lives, our countries and the differences we are experiencing as we are growing into adulthood. I've been participating now for a couple of months, and one boy, in particular, who lives in a Scandinavian country, has truly captured my interest.

Is it just a pipe dream that I think about meeting him or even dating him sometime? Would it be better to stop participating in this group and just focus on what is in front of me in my local neighborhood? — Admittedly Interested, via email

ADMITTEDLY INTERESTED: I don't see any reason why you can't do both, at least for the time being. You're within a year of becoming an adult yourself, and therefore, you'll be able to make your own decisions in life, including where you may want to travel in the future.

But don't forget that, even though you're intrigued by this particular young man, he may or may not know much specifically about you.

Even though this sounds old-fashioned, if you could find his address, you could mail him a handwritten note letting him know that you find him particularly special and interesting. He may or may not return your letter in kind, but it will at least give you an opportunity to contact him away from the group.

In the meantime, absolutely focus on what is in front of you. Enjoy a robot social life and see how things go. Having multiple possibilities in life is always a good thing.

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: Feliphe Schiarolli at Unsplash