2005
Column started
Weekly Column · Observer-Reporter · Since 2005
Ask Mary Jo
A weekly column by Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski, published in the Observer-Reporter since 2005. Real questions. Honest answers. For teens and the people who care about them.
Explore the columns20+
Years of columns
1,000+
Questions answered
Recent Columns
Real questions. Honest answers.
Click a column to read the full article on the Observer-Reporter website.
Boundaries & Peace
Set Healthy Boundaries to Find Peace
Dr. Mary Jo explores how setting healthy boundaries is an act of self-respect and compassion — for teens and adults alike — and offers guidance on communicating limits with confidence and care.
Character & Kindness
Choosing Kindness Wins the Day
A 14-year-old watching her parents' divorce chooses to model her mom's kindness over her dad's bitterness — Dr. Mary Jo affirms her wisdom and explores what it means to build a life rooted in kindness.
School & Belonging
Finding Your Way in High School
A 14-year-old asks why high school feels so scary and long. Dr. Mary Jo offers encouragement to connect, get involved, and give yourself time to find your place.
Health & Nutrition
Teens Examine Food Additives
A follow-up column in which Dr. Mary Jo's peer educators research chemical additives in food, comparing U.S. and European regulations, and examining high-fructose corn syrup and artificial colorings.
Respect & Relationships
Show Respect to Young, Old Alike
Respect isn't reserved for one generation — Dr. Mary Jo explores how mutual respect between the young and the old strengthens families, communities, and our shared humanity.
Personal Growth
Grow Into Adulthood a Day at a Time
Growing into adulthood is a process, not a finish line. Dr. Mary Jo offers encouragement for taking the next right step while allowing yourself time to learn, change, and grow.
College & Future
Adjusting to College Life Takes Time
A first-year college student shares anxiety about adjusting to campus life — Dr. Mary Jo offers reassurance, practical coping strategies, and a gentle nudge to be honest with mom.
Screen Time & Tech
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
Dr. Mary Jo weighs in on the screen-time debate, offering families a framework for balance, honest conversation, and modeling healthy digital habits.
Mental Health
Talking About Mental Health Matters
Dr. Mary Jo encourages teens and families to break the silence around mental health, offering language and compassion for starting the conversation.
Friendship
Navigating Friendship Drama
When friendships feel complicated, Dr. Mary Jo offers perspective on loyalty, boundaries, and choosing relationships that lift you up.
Family
When Parents Disagree
Dr. Mary Jo helps teens caught between parents who see things differently, offering tools for staying grounded and communicating with both.
Identity
Finding Your True Self
Adolescence is a time of discovery — Dr. Mary Jo encourages teens to explore who they are with curiosity, patience, and self-compassion.
Community
Making a Difference in Your Community
Dr. Mary Jo inspires young people to look outward and find meaning through service, connection, and showing up for others.
About the Column
Since 2005, Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski has answered real questions from teens and families in her weekly Observer-Reporter column. Her responses are grounded in decades of experience as a nurse, educator, and advocate for young people.
Read the full archiveAsk Mary Jo is published in the Observer-Reporter and shared through SW PA Teen Outreach. The featured selections above are recent topics from the ongoing column.
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Dr. Mary Jo welcomes questions from teens, parents, and educators. All questions are kept confidential.
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