DEAR HARRIETTE: I need some advice about religion and love. I am Catholic, but I do not practice many Catholic traditions. I would not consider religion to be a big part of my identity, but still enjoy partaking in some traditions such as Christmas and Easter. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is Jewish. He would also not consider his religion to be a big part of his identity, but that is not the case for his mother.

My boyfriend's mother is an Orthodox Jewish woman who keeps kosher and follows all the Jewish traditions and rules. She tries to motivate my boyfriend to keep kosher and things like that, but he simply has no interest. I respect his mother’s values as well as my boyfriend’s, but when it comes to discussing marriage with him, he says marrying a Jewish woman is important. I don’t see why this is an important factor in a potential wife when he doesn’t care about it now.

Do you have any insight on why that is, or if I could discuss it further with my boyfriend without starting any drama? -- Not-Kosher Girlfriend, Commack, New York

DEAR NOT-KOSHER GIRLFRIEND: This is an important topic that you should sort out if you think there’s a chance you want to marry this man. In the Jewish tradition, when someone wants to marry a person of a different faith, it is common that the spouse converts to Judaism. For some families, this is acceptable.

I did a bit of research on this topic, and I can tell you that it is rare for a religious Jewish family to agree to an interfaith marriage. That said, many interfaith couples have successfully built lives together. It can mean that they suffer a loss of closeness with one or both families, though. Talk this through together and talk to your parents, all of them, to get a sense of whether you will be strong enough to marry.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a college student who has been constantly searching for an internship. I have used my university’s career service center and searched sites like indeed.com and other search engines, but nothing seems to catch my eye. I am open to different types of internship experiences, but was wondering if there are any ways you would recommend a college student go about finding the type of internship they are looking for. -- The Lost Intern, Boston

DEAR THE LOST INTERN: Start by evaluating what interests you. You can select more than one idea if you are unsure, but you do need to have strong opinions about whatever you choose. You must sell yourself to a potential intern coordinator, demonstrating why you should be selected to work with them. This includes being articulate about how you can help them do their work as well as what you would like to learn from them.

When you look at intern listings, look for businesses that do things that interest you. You can also ask your neighbors, your parents’ friends and other adults or local businesses that you like if they have internship opportunities. Many students design their own internships. Give yourself a deadline to apply, and get busy.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a female college student who, like my peers, is searching for a job and going on interviews. I would consider myself semi-stylish, and I generally know what is appropriate. But when it comes to interview attire, I am at a loss.

I have been applying to both corporate and non-corporate jobs for next spring. Depending on what job you are interviewing for, does it change what you should wear? For example, I am applying for a nanny position as well as a PR associate position. What would you recommend for a female college student to wear on a job interview? -- Outfit-Confused Intern, Madison, Wisconsin

DEAR OUTFIT-CONFUSED INTERN: It is OK to be a bit stylish, but being professional is key for most job interviews.

In the corporate space, it is smart to wear a suit or a dress with sheer hose and dark pumps. In other words, you want to look conservative. Your jewelry should be modest, as should your makeup. What you want is for the interviewer to see you, and your outfit should support that.

For a non-corporate job, you could wear the same interview outfit, or you could wear something that’s a bit more casual. Do research on the company. Look at its website to get a sense of how people look who work there. Never wear jeans. Never wear athletic clothing. These rules are true for all job interviews.

Even for the nanny position, be professional. You do not have to wear pumps, though. You can wear a pair of slacks and a nice blouse. Bring a bag with sneakers and jeans, though, in case the parents ask you to go out and play with the child(ren).

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been dating my high school boyfriend for six years now. We are at different colleges and have been doing a long-distance relationship ever since freshman year. I would consider this a serious relationship.

Recently, I have been wondering if that was the right choice. I have had the greatest experiences with him and he continues to make me very happy, but there is a part of me that thinks we both should experience life with other people, or by ourselves. At the same time, I think to myself, why would I want to break up with someone who makes me so happy? I am torn and was just wondering what your opinion was on long-term relationships at a young age. -- Girl Torn in Half, Dallas

DEAR GIRL TORN IN HALF: It is understandable that you would have these thoughts. There is a risk in every relationship, but especially so with young, long-term lovers. I suggest that the next time you and your boyfriend are in each other’s company, you talk about these thoughts. Ask him if he is having them as well. Be honest. If this is conjecture more than you being interested in someone, be sure to say that. You don’t want to threaten your relationship. Being open about your inner conflict may be hard, but it is much smarter than keeping it to yourself and potentially acting on your feelings without agreeing on next steps with your boyfriend.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son graduated from high school six months ago. He does not want to go to college, and he doesn’t really have goals. I am so worried about him. When he was growing up, we always talked to him about college and building a career, but he just isn’t interested.

He got a job at a gun-making company, of all places. His job is to assemble guns. It’s a small business in a nearby town, and he makes good money. But this is not what I want for him. I know it’s legal, but I hate the idea of it.

Should I try to convince him to leave this job or give him space to find his way? I’m worried because I don’t want him to get into gun culture. A bunch of his friends like going to shooting ranges and stuff. I don’t think that’s a good idea for him. But he is a high school graduate and 18 years old. He has the right to make his own decisions. I know I can’t control my son, but I want to guide him. Is it too late? -- Bad Decisions, Tampa

DEAR BAD DECISIONS: You cannot live your son’s life for him, as much as you might want to. While you may not love his choice of employment, at least he has a legal job. He will learn discipline and timeliness at this job, especially if he is on the assembly line. This may also open his eyes to how he would like to spend his future. Some people enjoy rote work, while others want a different type of challenge. Rather than trying to direct him to another line of employment, encourage him to do his best on this job. He doesn’t have to stay there forever, but doing well is important for his employment record.

In terms of how he spends his free time, you already know you cannot control his actions. You can remind him to be extremely cautious when using guns. Point out the obvious: He must always follow the law. You live in a state that allows the open carry of weapons. Your son is of age to own a firearm, so you cannot control that. You can continue to talk to him about safety, though.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I worked on my factory job for 15 years, and I was recently laid off, though I didn’t do anything wrong. My company was sold, and the new management is automating everything, so they cut back on a lot of the workers. I have to find work soon, but I’m not sure what to do. I can’t outsmart a computer. Another friend who got laid off has decided to take computer classes so that he might be able to get an administrative job. Do you think that’s a good idea? I don’t know what to do. -- Out of Work, Queens, New York

DEAR OUT OF WORK: It is always smart to increase your skills. What you may want to do is go to your local unemployment office -- the same place where you can get unemployment compensation for a period. Get counseling there for how to direct your job search and expand your abilities. The government offers a range of free classes for people who are trying to re-enter the work force. Seek out this support to see what types of jobs are available these days and what you need in order to secure one. Go to careeronestop.org for guidance.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)