Dear Queenie,
I go to high school and I’m the smartest one in my class. I make jokes about everything, but I am careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. I read on a university level and have read many of the books that will be assigned when I go to university. I also do volunteer service and I have tried to be friends with the ones no one else seems to like.
My problem is that the ones I thought were my friends say I am not very nice.
Queenie, why would they say that and what can I do about it?—Teenager
Dear Teenager,
You seem very self-centred – every sentence in your letter has the word “I” in it more than once. Your friends may think everything you do is just because you want to be admired.
Try to show interest in what your friends are doing and how they feel about things. Do not make jokes, because your “jokes” may seem sarcastic to your friends. Try to make your friends feel that they are important to you. Most of all, try to develop a sense of humility.
