Friday, January 13, 2012

Scary Teenagers!


Okay so I am a trained primary school teacher... and therefore any age group that falls below or above that bracket is, well, kind-of {a bit} scary for me.
Thankfully Tobi has reached the right age group now where I feel that I can effectively help him but {honestly} I'm still fumbling my way around with Eliana and Spencer! Haha!
And then on the other end of the spectrum, there's the teenage years... and, well that's a whole different fear altogether!
But when I stop and ponder why I actually find teenagers so scary, I'm not even really sure I know the answer.  
When I actually think about the teenagers I know, that I see, that I talk to and that I have contact with regularly... none of them are at all the frightening characters that I've built "teenagers" up to be in my mind.
I remember blogging after our trip back to Australia in July about how amazed I was by the teenagers that we met at the various schools we visited. 
I also wrote about the amazing youth at Maranatha that raised over $7,000 dollars to help ZOE.
And on top of that, the older missionary kids here and ZOE youth alike are all phenomenal kids that actually inspire and challenge my thinking and actions regularly.
Why, just today I marveled at the senior students at Tobi's track and field day that pretty much organized the day and spent large amounts of time trackside, cheering on and encouraging the little ones to keep running and not give up.
And earlier this week, I had another "teenager" experience that once again left me wondering, where do I get this scary- teenager notion from that I so often resort back to?
David was recently asked by Graham Smith to assist his Australian team here, to run some sessions over at Chiangmai International School.  And so he was booked to do a couple of presentations to the Year 11 and 12 students on Human Trafficking. 
Well, after the sessions had finished, and we were about to head off to pick up our own children, one of the seventeen year old girls on the team approached us for a chat.
As the next 30 or so minutes unfolded I was, once again, BLOWN AWAY.  
I can't actually remember much of what I was really like as a seventeen year old girl, but I sure don't remember being as bold, courageous, confident, mature, aware, sensitive and motivated as this girl. 


I'm telling you, it is my privilege to have these opportunities to meet these young people.  I LOVE hearing their hearts and seeing the potential in them to go on and do AMAZING things.



I truly believe this generation are the ones rising up to make changes and to be the voice on many issues that we're facing today and I am excited to be around them to see a glimpse of what their putting their hands to as well as spending time just hanging out and hearing about their dreams and passions. 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmm, great idea! I will have to get thinking! I feel really blessed to have been in a position to begin learning and advocating about issues that impact the world I live in, from a young age. I think the internet and easy access to information really helps with that. I started gaining awareness of issues such as trafficking, child labour and violence against women during highschool and as a result of my interest in issues such as these, have had the opportunity to meet and work with tons of awesome young people doing amazing and hugely inspiring things! I don't think adolescents are scary at all ;) (Meke)

Cross Family said...

Thanks Meke. I know! I can't wait to see what comes in from people to throw that "scary teenager" lie out the window. I love hearing about young people are doing to make a difference. Andie

Christine Henderson said...

I remember you as a 17 year old...and Dave too...and I'd say you both fit perfectly into that description! Beautiful then...beautiful now :)