Dear Annie: I am 40 years old and have a younger brother. My mother died a few years ago. My father is 67, in good health and very active. We all live near one another.

I am a second-year freshman (whatever that means) heterosexual male. The reason I am writing you is because I am 19 years old and I have not had sex with anyone yet by personal choice. When did abstaining in regard to sex become frowned upon? Furthermore, I fear that telling someone might lead to ridicule and the loss of respect among the boys. Should I just have sex with someone and publicize it among the boys to get the monkey off my back, so to speak, or lie and say I made it to home plate, but really I didn’t?