THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 51 lines
DOWN THE ROAD, Karen Perreault might become a psychologist, but for now, she'll dabble in the emotional and mental psyche of her readers as a columnist for Teenology.
Sounds scary but Karen carries solid qualifications - a teen-ager who has been there, done that.
``I've been through my parents' divorce,'' said the 17-year-old Maury High School senior. ``Relationships with friends and those ups and downs. The stress of school is something we all go through. Experiencing different parts of my life have helped me understand others and myself better.''
Karen knows being an advice columnist won't be easy; the application process was daunting enough.
Advice columnist applicants had to answer two questions:
``I just found out that I'm two months pregnant. My parents are both very strict and I don't know what to do. Help!''
``I'm 17 years old. I'm pretty. I'm smart. And I'm dateless. That's not because no one asks, it's because my parents refuse to let me date until I'm 18. What do I do.''
Editors looked for well-researched statements, answers that offered options as well as empathy and compassion. The pool of applicants was whittled down to six. These students met with Teenology editors for a brief interview. In a two-hour process, applicants were divided into groups of two and given other questions to answer.
The idea of dealing with issues like sex, pregnancy, relationships, suicide made Karen hesitate for the slightest second. She believes that through tapping local experts and counselors, computer research and collaborating with Lamont-Deangelo Ferebee, her co-columnist, she'll be able to offer sound advice to her readers.
``It's a big responsibility and it's an important one,'' Karen said. ``I'm flattered I got the position. I feel you can't solve every situation in a letter, but you can give (people) support and give them some direction, some spark to help them do what they need to be doing.''
In between writing columns, the honor student will stay busy with her chamber orchestra work, private violin and piano lessons, working to improve her GPA, and applying for college. Oh, and hanging out with family and friends.
But she says she'll never be too busy to help out a reader. Said Karen: ``I'm ready.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
RICHARD L. DUNSTON/The Virginian-Pilot
KAREN
KEYWORDS: TEEN COLUMNISTS by CNB