Brother thinks sister isn't cool

It seems that one day my older brother just woke up and decided that I wasn't "cool" enough to hang around with him. I find it odd that I'm better friends with his friends than he is. How can I make him see that I'm still cool without ruining his senior year? — Melissa, 16, Lowell, Mich.

You know how you find it odd that you're better friends with his friends than he is? That's the problem right there. I bet it's not that your brother thinks you're not cool enough to hang out with him, but rather that he feels invaded. Think about it: If you had a younger brother who wanted to hang out with you and your friends all the time (and he was the center of attention), would you be cool with it?

I don't know about you — but I would get really annoyed. Give him and his friends some breathing space for the rest of the summer. Don't ignore them; just show your brother you have your own set of friends. Once you give him some space, I'm sure by the time September rolls around he'll start to miss you. Until then, have your own fun.

All the people at my school think I'm a nerd, and I thought I was popular. I want another image, but where should I start? — Candice, 13, San Antonio

Changing yourself just to fit in will only make you seem like a wannabe to the people around you — and make you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. Instead, let's talk about what it takes to be confident, because that is the one thing that every popular person has in common.

The secret is to truly love who you are. If you don't feel that way right now, then you should start doing things to change that self-perception. What gave me confidence in high school was my involvement with school plays and the choir. I was also a great badminton player (P.S.: I tried soccer, but I was awful!), and I loved clothes and would always be putting my own cute little twists on my outfits.

My point is, those things made me proud of myself back then, and I continue to build a life that I can be proud of. Pleasing yourself (as opposed to focusing on others) is how you become confident — and popular. Try it: It works!

I have a lot of beauty marks (or moles, I guess). They're not incredibly large or anything, but they are there, and I hate them. They make me so self-conscious. Are they that big of a deal? Will guys not like me for it? — Ally, 17, San Diego

The moles are a big deal only if they are medically dangerous. If they change in shape, size or color, they could be cancerous — so you should see a dermatologist to get them checked out if you notice any changes.