Kids These Days

People often look at me with disbelief when I tell them that I love teaching seventh and eighth grade.  I especially love teaching at a school that goes from grade seven to twelve. Many people associate kids these days with raging hormones, an obsession with video games and you tube and texting, being out of touch with what’s going on in the world and a general lack of respect. But this is just a small part of who kids are. The bigger parts, the parts I know, are their huge hearts and their ability to make a difference.

To date, and less than half way into the school year, the students at my school have raised well over four thousand dollars. They have sent this money to help in the horn of Africa and to support the Terry Fox Foundation.  They have collected over one thousand pieces of sports equipment and clothing and sent them to schools in Nigeria.  They have sold bracelets to sponsor a child in need and they have been out collecting food for our local food banks.  And they will not stop here.

I am most proud to be a teacher when I am sitting in our gymnasium during one of our amazing assemblies.  They are largely student run and they have often moved me to tears.  At the Terry Fox assembly, students got on stage and sang and played instruments and their audience listened. They showed videos of Terry and his marathon of hope and their audience was inspired. They asked for a moment of silence to remember and acknowledge those who have been devastated by cancer and more than 1000 students were silent. It was a beautiful and sad and proud moment.

Kids these days make me feel like I want a do-over.  I want to do-over middle school and high school so I can be more like the kids I see every day. I want to lead and inspire my peers. I want to sing and perform at assemblies (I would first have to go further back and be born with these talents). I want to raise money and help those who need it.  I want to be cool…ok, I’m getting off topic.  Really, these kids make me want to be a better person.

Kids these days probably do play too many video games and text too much. You’ve probably heard them using inappropriate language and appearing like they just don’t care. But, they do care. They care more than most of us and they prove it every day in school when their words become actions and their actions help make someone’s life just a little easier.

Kids these days aren’t perfect, but who is? Instead of judging, be a believer. Believe that these kids know what is right and that they are connected to their world. Believe that simply by being around them they just might inspire you.  Believe that kids are getting better, not worse and know that one day it could be your life that they’re making just a little easier.