Dear Campus Advisor:

This year I am preparing for my first year of college.  I have a boyfriend who attends college already.  He takes classes full time at the local city university, however, I have received a full scholarship to attend school in another state.  My boyfriend and I both want to stay together, yet we are both terrified at the idea of trying to maintain a long distance relationship.  We've heard so many horror stories about couples who end up parted because of the exact situation.  How can we make this easier for ourselves to deal with emotionally?  Help a sister out.

Hmmmm, Mona:

This situation is a little tricky I must admit, but nothing you or any other young adult is incapable of dealing with.  Yes, it is true that distance can put a strain on a relationship, but if handled properly, it can be an adventure!  College is an experience that can bring new friends, new attitudes and new social growth.  If you and your boyfriend have been together for a while, take comfort in the fact that you have some wonderful history together.  Often in college you can meet individuals who are attractive to you at first sight, but upon further investigation are extremely unstable, definitely not worth leaving a good stable situation for.  Above all, be open to new experiences that can broaden you as a person.  Develop positive friendships with your college classmates.  Take pleasure in getting to know yourself better.  You don't always have to be seen dating or accompanying someone when you go out.  Join friends and classmates for fun outings and educational events.  Keep communication open with your boyfriend.  Make plans to visit one another when you have a three-day weekend.  Send each other letters with pictures attached.  Small things like this can go a long way in keeping those long distance flames burning.  Sometimes, however, people can just outgrow each other, simply because young couples have limited experience in personality changes.  Often times, a person can leave home one way and come back quite differently.  If you find that you do not feel as strong about the commitment after a while or when your freshman year is over, tell your man how you feel.  You may not be able to be lovers but you can at least stay friends.  Perhaps in time you can come back to that relationship for an even deeper experience.  If nothing else, remember the way is not difficult unless there is no wanting."

Dear Campus Advisor:

I am studying to be a fashion designer.  I've already completed my first year and I am now beginning my visual concentration courses.  One class in particular concerns me.  I have only been in classes for three weeks and I am starting to get the feeling my professor does not like me.  She constantly criticizes my work and contradicts all of my suggestions.  I try to approach her to ask if there is any thing she can tell me to help make my work better than average.  She offers little to no advice on my problems.  I need this course badly to succeed in my major, however, I can not seem to do better than a B+ on my projects.  Is this a case of me needing to find something else to make my work appealing or simply a case of the angry professor? Please help me! 

Dear Apple:

This brings back memories of my college days.  I had issues with almost all of my professors.  Indeed, you must not forget that professors are people too.  They have their personal beefs and hang-ups, just as there are certain students you don't care for.  The main thing is figuring out is this just a professor trying to really push you to expand your creativity or is this just a P.W.A (Professor with an attitude).  Is there a student that the professor really likes or who is achieving A-grades? There is always a teacher's pet, hopefully it is because the professor likes or values that student's creative perspective. You can probably get better results from the strength of the teacher's-pet-friend clause.   Once you have become something more than the bad student in the professor's eye, you can gain insightful clues on how to make your work even better an make that attitudinal professor an ally.  If all of these approaches fail, try asking other professors in that department to look at your work.  Ask them to honestly assess your work, and show it to other professors and colleagues.  If enough professors and professionals look at your work and see no problem with your work it will be quite apparent that the professor has a personal issue with you. Keep in mind that a B grade is not a bad grade, but I admire your striving for excellence.  If you are not able to influence a different attitude with this Professor after trying these suggestions then take it to the Dean of the college. You have a right to be treated fairly in the classroom. Good luck, let me know how it turns out.