Annie Fox for Teens... Hey, Terra!

Annie (AKA Hey Terra!) has been around long enough to have experienced a lot of what Life can dish out. But, it hasn’t been so long that she's forgotten what it's like to be your age. Check out some of the thousands of email questions teens from around the world have sent to Terra. You may learn something useful from her answers:

Wish I had one:
“I really want a girlfriend but I always get rejected.”

Hey Terra,

I'm a 15 old guy and I'm still a single (?!). Ever since 8th grade I really wanted to be in a relationship because I really want to enrich my life and I really want to be with someone and share feelings and secrets and also we can support each other. The problem is that I'm not a popular guy and I'm rejected by many people at school (I used to be an outcast and I always got picked on and bullied for no reason). I've asked girls out a couple of times but they all rejected me.

Blacktrooper

Dear Blacktrooper,

You sound like a very cool guy (for me "cool" means thoughtful and articulate)... People who are clear about who they are... shine with self-confidence. And that's what makes them really attractive to others. We all want to be around people who are friendly, compassionate, easy to talk to... a sense of humor helps a lot too.

My suggestion to you is this... cultivate YOU... from the inside. Take the pressure off yourself to be part of a couple for now. Who needs the extra stress!? Stop comparing yourself to guys who have gfs. The truth is, 99.99 percent of all teen relationships don't last any way. I'm not saying it's a waste of time to be in a relationship. It's definitely a learning experience! But, you can't force it... these things happen when they happen. So, from my way of thinking, you might as well enjoy the NOW... surround yourself with friends who really care about you. Involve yourself in activities that turn you on and trust that the future will take care of itself.

I hope this helps.

In friendship,

Terra


Need some advice? Write to Terra. She'll give you a straight answer you can trust without any lectures.


What's New?
''The Girls Q&A Book on Friendship: 50 Ways to Fix a Friendship Without the DRAMA'' by Annie Fox, M.Ed., illustrated by Erica De Chavez Books & Apps for Teens
''Middle School Confidential 3: What's Up With My Family?'' iOS app ''Middle School Confidential 2: Real Friends vs. the Other Kind'' iOS app ''Middle School Confidential 1: Be Confident in Who You Are'' iOS app ''The Teen Survival Guide to Dating & Relating: Real-World Advice on Guys, Girls, Growing Up, and Getting Along'' by Annie Fox M.Ed.
''Middle School Confidential, Book 3: What's Up with My Family?'' by Annie Fox, Illustrated by Matt Kindt
''Middle School Confidential, Book 2: Real Friends vs. The Other Kind'' by Annie Fox M.Ed., Illustrated by Matt Kindt
''Middle School Confidential, Book 1: Be Confident in Who You Are'' by Annie Fox, Illustrated by Matt Kindt
''Too Stressed to Think? A Teen Guide to Staying Sane When Life Makes You CRAZY'' by Annie Fox, M.Ed. and Ruth Kirschner