DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: Last year I was a senior at university. Each year after finals many students take part in a tradition called the Naked Run.

The first four years of school I never participated and I'm normally quite well behaved, however in an instance of senior year spirit I participated in the run last year. It was really fun and I actually enjoyed living life for once.

At one point in the run I made the silly decision to stop and tie my shoe which separated me from the crowd of people I was running in the middle of. After that I was running slightly alone and not in a crowd anymore.

As I went down a set of stairs there was a photographer taking pictures for an online news article. I was at the bottom of the stairs and then ‒ FLASH FLASH FLASH goes the camera and I knew I was caught buck naked in the photograph.

After a week or so I discovered my picture in the news article (fully nude from the front) as well as a few other nude photos of me floating around the internet. I don’t mind much as I look great to be honest and I actually didn’t mind all the other students seeing the picture.

My only question is how much do you think this will negatively impact my life? Do you think it might cost me a job in the future?

I think I’m being way too paranoid as I’m not in a sensitive profession, but for some reason I can’t help but feel an unhealthy paranoia about this! I’m a dental hygienist. What should I do if anything or should I not even worry? --- CAUGHT IN THE RAW

DEAR CAUGHT IN THE RAW: It’s possible to argue that our pasts always catch up to us, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

You enjoyed yourself at the time of the run and had no immediate issues with the photos of you showing up online. You also seem to have a healthy body image.

These are all positives, and since based on the details you mentioned there’s nothing inherently compromising or criminal in the images captured of you, the whole situation seems less likely to be a life damaging event than it is to become an amusing tale to tell future romantic partners and kids/grandkids (when they’re old enough ‒ and minus the photos!).

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: I have worked hard all my life. I started and built a well-respected retail furniture business, which has grown to seven showrooms in two states.

When my children were grown, I helped each of them get a start in life. They are all successful and have grown children of their own.

I love all my grandchildren. Of the five of them, four are college graduates and two have come into the business. Along with their father, my son, they are taking what I started and growing it. I couldn’t be prouder.

There is one of my grandchildren, though, my only granddaughter, who has gone on to break her parents’ and my hearts.

In her senior year of high school she started playing around with drugs because that is what her boyfriend was doing. She became hooked on heroine and has been in and out of rehab at least four times in as many years. The creep who got her started pops in and out of her life and they have a baby who lives with my daughter and her husband. There is a custody court battle gearing up and the whole situation is a nightmare.

When I told my daughter and son-in-law that I intend to take my granddaughter out of my will, they were shocked. My daughter said I was giving up on their little girl, who was trying to get her life together. I told her I sure as hell do not want two drug addicts getting their hands on a sizeable amount of money. We all know what they will do with it, and I am doing everyone a favor by keeping the money away from her so long as she is unable to stay clean.

My daughter calls me heartless. Am I? She doesn’t think I am so bad when I am paying for my granddaughter’s rehab stints, and I am not unwilling to pay for more, if there’s a decent chance it will get her clean once and for all. --- FOR HER OWN GOOD

DEAR FOR HER OWN GOOD: I agree with you that handing over a windfall of cash to an addict could be catastrophic.

I believe you should consider seeing if your attorney or estate planner can propose some way to protect the inheritance that you had earmarked for your granddaughter so that it can be managed by someone other than her. There may be a way to direct that funds only be used to allow your granddaughter to seek legitimate treatment.

Ultimately the decision to include or exclude your granddaughter from your will is yours to make, but if a compromise between all or nothing can be reached, it’ll potentially help keep peace in the family and provide a way for you to continue to support your granddaughter’s recovery attempts after you’re gone should they still be necessary.

DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: When my older brother told our parents he was taking a gap year between high school and college they weren’t thrilled, but they went along with it. Turns out he found a great job he really liked during that gap year and never went on to college. Last year he used his college savings fund to put a downpayment on a house, which also made my parents nuts, but which I thought was a smart move.

I have been telling my parents I also want to take a gap year after I graduate high school this spring. I’m in an IB (international baccalaureate) program and will also be taking four AP tests in May. I have been doing extremely well so far this school year and am confident I will earn the AP credits. Besides which, I will be leaving high school with an IB degree. All of this means I will have basically done at least my first year of college by the time I graduate high school.

Because my brother never went to college, my parents say I can’t take a gap year. They seem to forget that I am very different from my brother and fully intend to attend and graduate from college. I just need a break, and I think I have earned one these last three and a half years.

I have already had early acceptance decisions to my two top picks. One of them told me there is no problem with a gap year deferment, and the other said they would make a final decision on a deferment when they see my final semester grades.

What can I do to convince my parents I am going to go to college? I just need a break. --- NEED A BREAK

DEAR NEED A BREAK: IB programs are famously demanding, and you’ve done well to succeed in one thus far. It’s not difficult to see that you’d likely benefit from some time off before diving into college.

Hopefully when you’re discussing your plans with your parents you’re offering some specifics on what you’re looking to accomplish during your time out of school, how you’re going to afford it, and precisely how you intend to get back on track with your studies after your batteries are recharged.

Giving them a clear outline of your gameplan might help them understand your continued commitment to your education.

One thing you will want to investigate if you haven’t yet is what happens to any scholarships or financial aid packages that are part of your early decision offers. Your parents could rightly be concerned that by asking for an admissions deferment you’ll possibly lose critical funding, which would naturally play into their reluctance to green light your gap year.