DEAR ABBY: I am a 14-year-old identical twin. My sister and I are sick of the whole "twin" thing and want to go to separate schools. We really want to be our own people. We have wanted this for a long time now. However, I'm not sure we can because, where I live, you have to go to the school in the town you live in.
Do you have any suggestions on things we can do to make new, different friends, and how we can look different from each other? We are moving this year, so next fall we will be in a new school. -- THE TWIN THING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
DEAR TWIN THING: You and your sister are smart girls. What you want to do will be healthy for both of you, and I congratulate you for wanting to do it. It's important that each of you develop as individuals, and the move will give the perfect opportunity to start.
If you have been dressing alike, make a point of not doing it from now on. If you have been wearing your hair in the same style, change that too. When you enroll in the new school, join separate clubs, go out for different sports, etc. If you do, people will no longer perceive you as molded from the same cookie cutter. Good luck.