Q - Dear Annabelle, I'm not very popular at school and everyone makes fun of me and jokes about me. I only have three real friends and they aren't very supportive at all. I have tried to tell them how I feel and they just tell me to go and talk to the school counselor. I did and she acted like everything that is happening to me is my fault. Is there something wrong with me? A - Dear Cassi, I doubt that thereās anything Īwrongā with you. (13 is just a hard age to be.) If your friends are telling you to see the school counselor.....who then isnāt helping, it might be a good idea for you to look up a teen therapy group or a Īteen challengeā group. Perhaps thereās something available through your church. Itās generally unwise to burden your friends, if they have indicated that theyāre sort of Īworn outā with your problems. I know that you probably feel your parents arenāt much help...I mean, how can people so Īoldā know anything about being a teenager? Too, sometimes moms and dads are so filled with their own concerns about working and providing a safe place to live and food to eat that they, sort of, forget to stop for a minute....or more....and sit down and listen to your concerns. Sometimes teens just need to Īwait outā being young and spend their time focusing on learning..not only in school, but also learning Īhow to beā with other people. Thereās a very good, very old book called ĪHow to Win Friends and Influence Peopleā written in the 20ās by a fellow named Dale Carnegie. Itās, essentially, the ownerās manual for people and, if you can commit itās principles to heart, you will have moved yourself a far distance towards understanding how to attract people to you. Cassi, youāre not the first teen to feel this way, and you certainly wonāt be the last. Check with your local library or bookstore.......theyāll have books there that will also be of help to you. Others have been down the path you are now on, and checking their Īroad mapsā will be of help to you. The main thing for you to remember is that, one way or the other, you are going to survive this, and having a sense of humor about the process will be a very big help. - Annabelle