DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and don't smoke, drink, or do drugs, but when I go to parties I sometimes feel like a big boob because I'm such a goody-goody. Naturally, all of my friends want me to join them in their fun and games. So far I've had the courage to say "No," but it's getting harder and harder. How can I keep from joining them? — Tina, Greenville, S. C.

TINA: Your party friends want you to join them because misery loves company. They really don't care about you or your well-being. It takes guts to say, "No, thanks," but I know you have guts or you wouldn't have written to me. Don't give in. Keep your standards high.

But why not also start looking for other friends and attending different parties, which don't feature drugs, alcohol and nicotine? Your letter is a perfect example of peer pressure. Finding more compatible friends could eliminate finding it harder and harder to not join in with your current friends and their fun and games.

I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TAKE YOUR ADVICE

DR. WALLACE: I wrote to you last year and asked your advice about dating an older guy. I was just 16 and was swept off my feet by Miguel, a really cute guy who was 23. My parents said he was too old for me and said I should find a guy nearer my age, and you also told me to date someone my own age. Well, I told my parents I'd find a younger guy and would no longer see Miguel. And I also didn't take your advice, so I ended up having this guy pick me up after school and get me home before my parents got back from work. On weekends, I told them I was shopping with my girlfriends

I got away with this for a couple of months, but then Miguel started getting possessive. He started making demands, first that I would not talk with other guys and that I always let him know where I was at all times. He even gave me a pager so he could check up on me.

Then after a few months, he wanted sex. He knew I was a virgin but he insisted and after a few months he was demanding it nearly every day. One day I finally told him I would not be seeing him anymore, and he said he would kill me and escape to Mexico.

After that I finally told my priest about the situation and he contacted my parents immediately. The priest and my parents were very supportive and Miguel was arrested for statutory rape and is now in prison. My priest said he will be deported after he serves his time in this country. I'm sorry that I didn't take your advice immediately, but I know now that you were absolutely right!

To make my long and miserable story short and happy, I am now dating a guy my own age and we have great fun together. — Angel, El Paso, Tex.

ANGEL: As Shakespeare once wrote, "All's well that ends well." You are a fortunate young lady. I'm certain that you now have your life in order. Experience is a wonderful teacher. I'm positive that you have learned a "painful" lesson!

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. E-mail 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.