I'm in high school and recently met this guy in an activity outside of school. I'm interested in him and thought he was interested in me.

He was acting all flirtatious with me - hugging me, grabbing my phone and putting his number into it, and putting a profile picture of him and me on Facebook.

Then the activity ended for Christmas and New Year's holidays and, since he goes to a different school, he said that we'd keep in touch by text and Facebook until we see each other again when the activity re-starts later this month.

I've been texting and Facebooking him but he never responds. I text him like once a day and when we start up a Facebook chat, he always logs off without saying goodbye and before we can start a more in-depth conversation.

I really don't understand these mixed messages he's giving me. Is he trying to tell me that he's not interested anymore? Should I confront him?

Confused

Start off 2012 by learning to do - and accept - a reality check. It can help you through all your future relationships.

My point - there are no mixed messages here. He liked you.... maybe just as a friend, maybe with the possibility in the future of more, but not enough to spend his holidays in contact.

Don't become a social media nuisance. It's great to text and chat, when both parties are into it. But when a person makes it clear that he/she is not, especially when you're early into the friendship, back off.

Persisting, and then confronting are bad moves. They make you look needy, and that pushes most people away.

When the activity re-starts and you see him again, be natural, not critical, and you'll find out soon enough if he's interested to renew the casual friendship again, or anything more.

I'm a university student who has a terrible sleeping habit since high school. It doesn't seem to matter the location or situation but I can fall asleep very easily even if it's against my will.

I try to get as much sleep as possible the night before but it's quite hard given my field of study (architecture). Even with a good ten hours of sleep I'm somehow not satisfied in the mornings.

It's becoming a big problem in my classes and job. I force myself to stand at lectures so I don't fall asleep. I've been seen semi-conscious at the office but luckily my co-workers express concern more than disdain. I've even been nodding off at meetings even though I purposefully make myself uncomfortable in my seat! I'm really not a coffee drinker and tea doesn't seem to do anything for me.

I'm at a loss of how I can fix this since the amount of sleep doesn't seem to be the problem.

Embarrassed

Every adult needs to be pro-active about his or her own health. There's no place for embarrassment when you recognize a persistent change in your body functions or state of mind.

Get to a health centre at your university and ask for referral to your own physician. Explain how prevalent the condition has become, and ask for tests, not sleeping pills.

Ask also if you need to see a specialist, in case this is related to thyroid function or other internal matter that's made you tired beyond your normal sleep needs of the past. It's up to you to pursue information for a healthy life.

FEEDBACK Regarding the child, age five, whose teacher wants him on Ritalin (Nov. 17):

Reader - "My son was very bright, but if he was forced to sit still, it took so much of his concentration that he couldn't pay attention to the lessons.

"His elementary and middle school teachers allowed him a "space" around his desk, near the back, where he was allowed to move, stand, sit, kneel, pace, etc. as long as he stayed within that space and didn't bother others.

"They also gave him special assignments that challenged him. He loved school and his teachers.

"In high school, he was placed in higher level classes. Also, athletics helped his body cope with the extra energy. He played soccer for many years, and then changed to long distance running.

"He was never on Ritalin and graduated from a very selective university. He's now 23 and works with kids in a hospital-based recreation center."