DEAR ABBY: I am a 14-year-old girl with great friends. Sometimes I feel like I'm living the life of a college student. I have physical relationships with a lot of guys -- as well as my boyfriend. How can I get into a life where I feel like I'm more my age? -- ACTING OLDER IN SYRACUSE
DEAR ACTING OLDER: By recognizing that you're uncomfortable living in the fast lane, and writing to me, you have already taken the first step.
It's a misconception to think that all college students sleep around. They don't. If the teens in your circle of friends are doing it, then it's time you meet new people and channel your energy into new activities -- sports, theater, art, dance, etc.
But first, you must confide in an adult (ideally a parent) who can schedule a doctor's appointment so you can be checked for STDs and counseled about birth control.
I admire you for wanting to change what has become a destructive pattern. That is a sign of maturity.