DR. WALLACE: My family moved last summer to a new state, so I'm just now getting comfortable at my new high school here. I've finally made a few good friends and each week, I'm getting more comfortable in this part of the country.

Recently, a guy who asked me out made enough of an impression on me that I granted him a second and then a third date. I dated a few other guys before him, but those guys, although nice, turned out to be "one and done" dates.

The first few weeks went well with this current guy, but something really strange has occurred. He's been pestering me to cut my hair quite a bit shorter! I'm a girl who takes pride in her hair, and I have a really nice, long and beautiful mane of hair on my head! Don't get me wrong, I have many other physical shortcomings, just like everyone, but my hair is my pride and joy.

At first, I thought he was just kidding me or even teasing me to get a reaction. But over time, he's persisted even after I politely told him multiple times that cutting my hair would be my last choice if I decided to try a new look sometime. A few days passed, and then he brought it up again, without any hint of a smile on his face, so I know now he's not teasing or kidding me. He told me that he "really, really wants me to cut my hair much shorter." I was taken aback, but I just changed the subject shortly after that since I was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

Then the other day, I was speaking to a girl I've gotten to know fairly well. I mentioned his hair request and she let out a gasp! She then told me that last year he had a very big and public romance with one of our school's top cheerleaders, and, you guessed it — she has very short hair!

Now I'm wondering if I should mention this to him or just let it go and hope he doesn't bring it up anymore. Either way, I feel weird knowing this tidbit of information. — My Hair Is Off Limits, via email

MY HAIR IS OFF LIMITS: Your story sounds a touch ominous to me. If he has merely made one comment about your hair length one time in passing, I would feel that it was no big deal.

But your letter indicates that perhaps he has more than a slight fixation on the length of your hair, and it could be to remind him in some way of his ex-girlfriend.

You may want to evaluate all aspects of your relationship, or friendship, with this guy. His constant fixation on your hair despite your rebuffs and his insistence that you cut it soon are both serious red flags. It might be best to seek an offramp from dating him given his lack of respect for you and your bodily appearance.

I'M SHOCKED BY SOME ON MY CAMPUS

DR. WALLACE: I attended an all-boys military academy for high school, and now I'm a freshman at a large, well-known college. I won't name it, but it's very big on the national stage due to the very successful sports and academic programs.

Back in my high school days, my classmates and I were quite serious and disciplined students. Fortunately, my training has carried over to my new college days, and I'm doing well in classes and keeping up with the lessons, assignments and term papers.

What shocks me is the overall lack of time management my fellow college students seem to suffer from. I fully understand taking a break and blowing off some steam, but I know students on campus who party late in the night literally every evening!

It does not surprise me that most of these students are guys, but there are also several girls who join in and do the very same thing. Do you think that because I'm at a famous school that there is more focus put on socialization and fun, rather than academics, or is this phenomenon present across the country?

I'm no prude and I like to have a bit of fun myself, but I select my spots carefully and use that time as a reward after a lot of hard work. I'm curious to get your take. — Studies Before Suds, via email

STUDIES BEFORE SUDS: I have a newsflash for you, and it's that not every student who attends college, especially some of the big, well-known ones, has academics as their first priority.

It's a personal choice, of course, but some students feel pressured to go to a prestigious college in the first place and they seek to at least attempt to pass their classes in the time they have left around a very active social calendar.

For other students, academics are a huge priority, just as they are for you. It's likely that you don't notice those students as much because they are home or at the library studying. The party crowd, however, is indeed much more visible and performative.

Good for you that your background, discipline and work ethic allow you to prioritize your time to get the things that are important to you done first. Taking a bit of down time after that sounds like an excellent plan to me.

Finally, don't let the vocal and overly social students at your school make you think that your campus is unique. Trust me, what you are seeing on your campus is basically a microcosm of what goes on college campuses across America.

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 rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. 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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