My daughter married two years ago - she’s 29, he’s 27.
She’s not the happy person she once was. He’s selfish, controlling, crude, lazy when it comes to chores, and drinks too much beer daily.
They live 10 minutes away, but we hardly see him, or he leaves right after dinner.
They don’t do a lot together. She doesn’t open up about it, but my husband, her sister and I see the effect on her.
He has a good, pleasant side, but I believe he overcompensates for low self-esteem by behaving macho.
I’ve suggested counselling to my daughter; she suggested it to him. He said he’d do it but has done nothing.
Is there anything we can do? She knows we’re there for her but doesn’t want to admit she made a mistake in marrying him. She deserves so much better.

- Sad Mom

You’re looking for an end to this marriage, when you should be looking to help your daughter deal with it. Then, if she’s faced the problems and tried to handle them, SHE will know if it’s time to give up. Otherwise, she’s naturally bound to spend her efforts either avoiding your obvious judgments (i.e. seeing you less), or pretending there’s nothing seriously wrong.
While counselling would be helpful, you seem to have presented it as something he needs to fix… not a great approach to someone with poor self-esteem. There’s more chance of his acceptance if your daughter suggests marriage counselling together, to help them both adjust and work on their relationship.

I’m 18, and moved here with my family from India at 14.
A guy from school in India messaged me, and we became really close as I shared almost everything with him. That summer, I returned, we met, and realized we liked each other. We went to a lot of places together.
When I returned to my new home, and he went to England to study engineering, it became a long-distance relationship. He’s very faithful and it’s worked out. But the time I spend online has hugely increased, though it hasn’t affected my studies.
My mom’s always been very nosy about my life, because she thinks I’m not mature enough to make my own decisions. Before, I was open with her and would do everything she said. But when online with him, I’ve said it’s with my friends. She gets mad sometimes; if I make a plan to go somewhere with them, she creates problems.
How do I keep my boyfriend a secret and still have a great relationship with my mom? I can’t tell her about him - when she caught me the first time, it wasn’t pleasant.
She’s having some health problems and I don’t want to trouble her nor keep fighting.

- Torn Between Them

You’ll “trouble” Mom a lot more, when she discovers, inevitably, that you’ve built a secret relationship over a long time, and lied to her throughout. It’s certain to convince her that you’re not mature, and don’t even have the courage of your convictions.
Introduce your contact with this guy, as a friend from back home who you’ve come to trust. Share some of his qualities and stories of his student experiences, so she can slowly get to know him.
Eventually, you should even have them “meet” online. If you show Mom that the relationship is open and innocent, she’ll trust you more and worry less. Even if she has reasons why she feels it’s not right for you, at least these could then be discussed.

I’m 16, interested in a career in sciences but also in how to help people with their problems… as you do with advice columns.
What kind of path (in university) would I pursue, for a career in that area? I want to plan for the future.

- Researching

Science can help masses of people: it can prevent and/or cure many illnesses, broaden our knowledge of the universe, teach us better ways to use and save the environment, etc.
Advice isn’t a topic learned in university; it has to come from wisdom and life experience, backed by research in various helping fields such as mental health. I advise you to pursue your interest in scientific areas of study, and add some courses in psychology to help you better understand how people think and react.
Your basic desire to help others will steer you in the right direction as you advance your learning.