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Dr. M is the author of five advice books for tweens and teens. Her latest is Where Should I Sit at Lunch? The Ultimate 24/7 Guide to Surviving the High School Years. She enjoys dancing, reading, working out and talking with young people about the issues that concern them. She holds a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.
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Liz, a first-year college student, is the co-author of three books: Ask Dr. M and Liz; Getting to Know the Real You: 50 Fun Quizzes Just for Girls, and Girls: What's So Bad About Being Good? She loves to dance, paint, make collages, hang out with friends and, of course, give advice.
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Dear Dr. M,
Every day of the week is awful for me. I have just moved from my dream house and perfect school to go to a new awful school. I also have a condition called A.D.D. in which I can't easily pay attention in school or go to bed. My teachers think I'm an awful student when I really work hard. Sometimes I even spend four hours on homework. I hate school; I am making bad grades, and feel like I have a boring, dull life. I really could use some nice advice to get me through Junior High. How can I go into school and not hate every second of the day? Please help!
—Jordan, 13, Oklahoma
Dear Jordan,
Moving is never easy, but at your age, it's even more difficult. You have to get used to a new school and different teachers, and find new friends. And having to cope with attention deficit disorder adds to your stress. But there are actions you can take to make things better. Start by talking to your teachers. If they don't already know that you have A.D.D., share that information with them. That will help them understand why school is so tough for you. Find out what kinds of special assistance might be available at your school. Do your teachers offer after-school help? Take advantage of that to learn strategies for studying and test-taking, for example. Talk to a parent or your school's guidance counselor or social worker about your feelings. Sometimes, just talking about a problem with people who care about you can help. Join a club at school to start meeting other kids who share your interests. Other ideas to help you get through Junior High are in a book I wrote called Too Old for This, Too Young for That! Your Survival Guide for the Middle-School Years. By the way, you're a very good writer—you expressed your problems and your feelings very well.
—Dr. M
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