DR. WALLACE: I'm a freshman in college and I'm taking a wide variety of general education courses. There was a time I was interested in being a musician or even an actor. I gave it a try in each field for a brief while when I was younger, but I learned firsthand just how much competition, luck and nepotism factor into success in those professions.

The other day, I had a mild epiphany, and a gut feeling told me that I would be an excellent manager or representative for successful musicians, actors or anyone else who would need those specific services.

Do you feel this is realistic? If so, how could I customize my educational decisions to best prepare for such a potential profession? — Managing May Be My Niche, via email

MANAGING MAY BE MY NICHE: I've worked with various managing professionals in my day, and I can tell you that the best of them had a wide variety of skills. In no particular order, these skills are the ability to communicate well, be strong at strategic planning and thinking, have the ability to multitask and plan, and have a strong enough background to understand and master finance, accounting and capital management skills.

A business management degree would serve you well, but that may be too broad for your particular career goal. Publicity is important in the business you seek as well, so anything that involves advertising, communications and even finance would likely suit you well.

Meet with a counselor at your college and explain what you're trying to accomplish. Beyond that, comb through your personal contacts, those of your family and friends, to see if anyone has connections with successful musicians or actors, and seek to meet their management directly via your personal connections. You could volunteer to do an internship or at least ask for an hour or two of a professional's time in this industry to give you some true insights as to what the job fully entails, and the best ways to get started in the business.

I FEEL MY BEST FRIEND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ME SOMETIMES

DR. WALLACE: I'm a high school girl and my best friend spends a lot of time with me, but to be honest with you, there are times I know she manipulates me.

For example, when she is not allowed to see her boyfriend during the week, she'll tell her parents that she's coming over to my house to study. But after talking to me for 10 minutes, her boyfriend will drive over to my house and pick her up! I of course say nothing, but deep down I know this isn't right.

What can I do about this situation? I don't want to lose my best friend, but I don't feel right being manipulated either. — Caught in an Ethical Dilemma, via email

CAUGHT IN AN ETHICAL DILEMMA: There is a very simple answer to this situation, but it will indeed take some fortitude and finesse on your part to implement it to ensure the best possible outcome for you personally.

At a comfortable time over the next several days, take your best friend out to do some shopping together or perhaps stop to get a light snack somewhere. Take this opportunity to explain to her, with direct eye contact, that she is indeed your best friend, and you would never want to jeopardize this friendship. Then go on to tell her that both of you are deceiving her parents when she uses a "study" visit to your house as a cover to see her boyfriend without her parents' knowledge.

Let her know that you'll always help her in any possible way you can, as long as your ethical standards are not breached. Tell her this has truly been bothering your subconscious for a long time, and you finally decided you must explain this to her.

Every friendship will have its trials and tribulations. Those that are strong and truly meant to be are valued greatly by each party. If you can have this open conversation with your best friend, you'll soon see just how much she values your friendship once you discuss this matter honestly with her. If she looks at you, smiles, and tells you that she understands, the two of you can put it behind you and go on with your friendship. But if she turns on you and leaves in a huff, it may indicate that your friendship is not as strong as you had assumed it was.

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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