DEAR GRANDPA

Dear Grandpa, I'm sick and tired of being considered a terrible teen-ager. All I ever read in the paper or see on TV are stories about delinquents, perverts, and run aways. In stores and shopping malls I am often ignored or shunned just because I'm a teen-ager dressed in teenage apparel. Why can't people realize that most of us are nice law-abiding students?ShalaDear Shala, You are correct, there are a lot of bad stories about teen-agers. That's why a bad cop makes news and all the good cops go unnoticed.

Last year a poll of teen-agers came up with good news. The New York Times and CBS News polled 13- to 17-year-olds. "Teen-agers today are worldly, shaped by exposure to a culture that has dropped many of its inhibitions." The poll goes on: "In some ways they are as wholesome and devoid of cynicism as the generation that wore saddle shoes. They trust their government, admire their parents and believe it is possible to start out poor and become rich. Ninety-four percent say they believe in God. Strong majorities say they never drink alcohol and never smoke cigarettes or marijuana."

The poll indicated that drugs was their biggest problem they faced. As to their future 28 percent said getting a good job was foremost on their minds.

More than half indicated a lack of communication with their parents, because their parents "wouldn't understand."

That's one of the reasons for this Dear Grandpa column -- a place where you can get your questions answered in a straightforward manner.

Remember, the few teen-agers who are goofing up are the ones who make the news. The "good guys" are overlooked. Dear Grandpa,

I am not an athlete. In fact when it comes to soccer, the most popular sport in my school, I have two left feet both going in the wrong direction. All the girls go for the athletic guys. How can a "no goal" like me compete?Javier Dear Javier,

If you can't go up against the jocks, take another route. That route could be student politics, music, debate, school paper or other school activities. There are some girls who swoon at the athletic stars. More thinking girls will look to the brainier types with more personality.

If you have a question for grandpa, send it to: Dear Grandpa (Paper's name and address.) Or you can e-mail direct to grandpatw~@juno.com.