B. Elaine (aged 17)

Of course I hate school, but it's not that I'm against education. It's other stuff. I'd like to get a boyfriend, but the boys at my school are so shallow and stupid. I keep in with some of the other girls, but they can get really nasty sometimes. Like smoking. I don't want to smoke. It's so unhealthy, but all the other girls in my group smoke, and they don't like it if I don't. I mean, what am I supposed to do?

C. Fatima (aged 16)

It’s not easy for me right now. I was born right here in this town, but some people still treat me as a foreigner. Not to my face, mostly, but you see it in the looks you get. And I like all the stuff that kids my age like, music, parties and all that, but my parents keep saying kids don't behave like that at home. They mean their home. I'm just not sure where I belong.