DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and dating a guy who is 19. We met at a mutual friend's party. We've gone out a half dozen times and each time I met him at his work because he works until 8 p.m. It does save a lot of time this way because he doesn't have to drive to my house and then back uptown for a movie.

My problem is that my parents do not like this plan. They say he should pick me up at my house and they also would like to meet him. I don't mind meeting him at his work because I have my own car. What is your opinion of this situation? — Hannah, St. Paul, Minn.

HANNAH: Your date should pick you up at your house and see that you are home safely before curfew. Meeting him at work occasionally is appropriate only if time is of the upmost importance. It is also important that your parents meet your date the next time you go out with him.

HAVE DAD CONTACT THE PRINCIPAL

DR. WALLACE: We have now been back to school for several weeks. I am really excited because I'm finally in high school (I'm a freshman). There are a lot of fun activities and I'm looking forward to participating in several of them. I've already seen our first football game and we won! I was excited about our first after-game dance to be held in our school gymnasium, but I had to tell my friends I couldn't go because my dad thinks that some guys do drugs and drink at these dances.

When I asked my friend who is in the 10th grade, he said that the kids who attend the school dances are usually very well behaved. How can I convince my dad that he is wrong about the kids who go to these school dances? — Madison, Fort Worth, Tex.

MADISON: You should have your dad contact your principal and ask if he can visit the dance for five or 10 minutes so he can see the conduct of those students who are attending. School-sponsored dances are well supervised. Teachers, administrators, or other school personnel are always in attendance.

School-sponsored functions are some of the best activities for teens to enjoy.

A CARELESS MOMENT, A LIFETIME OF REGRET

DR. WALLACE: After reading the letter from the girl whose boyfriend is pressuring her into having sex, I decided to speak my mind. I am 19 and proud to say that I'm a virgin. In this day and age of abortion and rampant sexually-transmitted diseases, a girl must think with her brain rather than allow her hormones to make critical decisions.

When I hear terrible stories about the predicaments of others, I'm relieved to know that I don't have to worry about such things. I've had several close relationships with guys and they all respected me and never pressured me to be sexually active.

I'm writing this letter to all the girls who feel pressured into having sex. Never allow anyone to pressure you into doing something that you don't want to do! And always remember that a careless moment can cause a lifetime of regret. — Nameless, Abingdon, Ill.

NAMELESS: Thanks so much for your e-mail. So often teens get involved in sex because they believe everyone else is sexually active. It just isn't so, and you're living proof of this!

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.