DR. WALLACE: I don't like my given first name very much. It was given to me in honor of a female relative I never met, but who everyone agreed was a truly wonderful person.

So out of respect, and because I'm a bit of a shy girl who doesn't like confrontation, I wouldn't think of changing it legally, even after I turn 18.

But I'd really like to be called a new or different name, especially at school. And please don't recommend that I use my middle name since that one is really stodgy as well. What can I do about this? I respect the lady that came before me, but I feel trapped with the name I have. — My Name Does Not Match My Personality, via email

MY NAME DOES NOT MATCH MY PERSONALITY: I can give you a personal story here that might help you, or at least give you a laugh. Many readers of this column know that back in my day I was a varsity high school basketball coach. I love the sport of basketball and was a player myself years ago before I got into coaching.

Back in our family's playing days, we had many great friends who played on teams together, especially basketball. One year a boy who had a father in the military moved into our area from Annapolis, Maryland. This boy's given first name was Ronald, so it would've been natural for everyone to call him "Ron" or "Ronnie."

But on his first day at his new high school, when the teacher called attendance, his name was called out as "Ronald." As quick as a flash, he politely told the teacher that he went by the name of "Nick." The teacher did not question this, and then on day two the teacher called out, "Nick," and he promptly replied, "Here!"

He then went out for the basketball team and made the roster. Everyone called him "Nick" without questioning anything. He was a decent player, but not a starter on our team. One day at practice he flailed into the lane while driving toward the basket, only to throw an ill-advised, no-look pass that glanced off an unprepared teammate's shoulder. The ball ricocheted out of bounds and his side of the practice squad lost possession of the ball.

Immediately our coach blew his whistle and said the word, "future." When someone asked the coach what that meant, he said that stuff might fly in the future, but not here and not now. Everyone laughed and then the coach said, "Keep control of the ball, Nicky Future!"

Even more laughter ensued and not only was a nickname born in that moment, but it was cemented. Everyone knew "Nicky Future" on our high school campus and he seemed to enjoy the moniker and even kind of glowed when he was called "Nicky Future." I got to know him pretty well, and one day I asked him how he got the name "Nick" and he said he just liked it. I then asked if they called him Nick before he moved to our town, but to my utter surprise he said, "No."

I never did find out why he wanted to be called a different name, but he pulled it off and it stuck to him like glue at our high school. Perhaps you can do something similar, and by this I mean come up with a name or nickname you may like. Then see if you can get your fellow students and teachers to address you by this name. It might be a good compromise by allowing you to be called a name you like without having to formally dissociate yourself legally from the first name you were originally given. This phenomenon of using a new name is more prevalent than you might imagine these days.

I SEE MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE PETS

DR. WALLACE: Why do some homeless people have pets? I always feel so sad when I see homeless people, and as a high school student I do some volunteer work with a few of my friends from time to time at a soup kitchen.

Some of these people are just down on their luck and are actually very nice people who truly appreciate the assistance they receive. — So Many Have Pets, via email

SO MANY HAVE PETS: First, pets are wonderful companions. Many homeless people have no other human being to count on and enjoy the companionship of, so it's natural that some homeless persons seek to have a pet, usually a dog since dogs are easier to keep near than cats and some other pets are.

There could also be a benefit as well, and that is many people in the general population are perhaps a bit more likely to help a homeless person with a pet, since obviously the animal needs to be fed as well.

I commend you and your friends for taking time to help our society with this very important issue. Our nation should be keeping its focus on helping to remediate this challenge and to help those who truly need more support than they receive,

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: Nik Shuliahin ???????? at Unsplash