I heard about you in a magazine, and I would like to know what this dream means:

I had a dream about my neighbor Nicole (my age) and lots of cute boys. The boys were all around me playing b-ball with a girl near them -- and they were bowing down to her. There was also a teacher I hate (a sexist jock) along with his wife. All this was happening in a parking lot which separates the elementary school from the junior high school.

Could you please tell me what it means? Thanx for replying

--Anne, Age 15

Dear Anne,

Whenever people get together in a group, there usually is a bit of competition for attention among the members. Your dream indicates you are becoming aware of this competition. The cute boys, whose attention you and Nicole wanted, instead were paying exaggerated attention to another girl. This is represented by the boys “bowing down to her” in the dream. You may be worried that other girls are prettier than you, or you may be worried about your attractiveness is general, which is a completely normal feeling: Everyone worries to some extent how they appear to others.

You are in junior high now, and are attracted to boys and also are beginning to receive attention from men. This attention from men - symbolized by the teacher whom you “hate” - often may not be wanted. You may also feel a bit awkward about how to respond to this attention - it may make you feel uncomfortable.

Your dream takes place in the parking lot in between the elementary and junior high schools, which to me is a dream metaphor for your current transition from girl to young woman. Keep paying attention to your dreams; they are always accurate guides to your changing feelings and awarenesses.