This is about the time I received the opportunity to spend a whole weekend with 16 sixth graders. Yes, you read right: 16 sixth graders. Throughout the sleepless, somewhat frustrating weekend (as you can imagine), the one thing that I gained from the weekend is this: spending three days with a group of children between the ages of 12 and 13 was frustrating.
Working with sixth-grade boys presented a frustrating challenge. Any authority that you have been “given” to lead them you can pretty much forget -- unless, of course, you can quickly gain their respect, which in result makes for an easier weekend when dealing with them. If you want to sleep, being in the presence of these children definitely won't provide you an opportunity to receive any. Correctly assumed, sleep is a nonexistent thing in the life of a sixth grader. Don't even begin to question what happens when these children are provided sugar-loaded candy and caffeinated beverages. Needless to say, keeping the children under control and having some order was a rare occasion.
Nevertheless, working with sixth-grade boys presented a refreshing opportunity. These children had some areas of their life more under control than I did when you compare similar aspects. Yes, the "struggles" (if you can even begin to call them that, as they were just minor things compared to the great opportunity the weekend was) were present throughout the weekend. However, as the weekend wrapped up, reflecting on the time invested, the opportunity was a true blessing. These children taught me many lessons that I will keep with my life for the rest of time. Children this age are real. No show, no program is put on through their agendas. They live life to its full potential. They don't let people or things upset them. If one of them gets upset with another, the grudge rarely stays in effect for a lengthy time. They laugh, they play, they enjoy life. When they put their mind to something, they'll see it through to get accomplished. Of course, these compliments barely scratch the surface when talking about how well they're doing at life.
We can learn a lot from this specific group of sixth graders. The limit doesn't even have to be set on sixth grade, expanding your study to any young one you come in contact with and practically receiving the same lesson. Children put us adults (yes I'm including myself in the adult category) to shame. Understandably, we too often get consumed in the thing we like to call life. We forget to -- as many people like to say -- stop and smell the roses. Of course, these children have fewer responsibilities than what an adult takes on during a regular day. Regardless, there comes a time when we just need take a "chill pill" and relax. There comes a time when we just need to enjoy life.
Regardless of the bad reputation that this young generation receives at times, I'm not giving up on them. I'm not giving up on these children. They deserve more credit than they receive. These children are going to perform great things when they become adults. These children are the exact ones that will make a special impact on people's lives. These children will be the ones to provide the change we need in this world. These children will be ones to be able to restore true, genuine faith in people's lives in the years to come. These children are something special.
I learned all of this while spending a weekend with 16 amazing sixth graders.
