Working at a Boys and Girls Club for three years, I’ve learned more from these 5- to 14-year-olds than I could have imagined. I thought I would be teaching them through the life experiences that have molded me. I was wrong. They taught me lessons about putting a positive spin on life situations. Lessons to take with me as I transition into my freshman year of college.
1. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Many times, I watch a child fall during a game of tag, skin their knee and immediately cry. However, just as quickly, they get over it and get right back in the game. In life, sometimes it’s hard for us to pick ourselves right back up again. Seven-year-olds taught me that most obstacles are really little blips and we can just get right back in the game too.
2. Stand Up for Yourself
One of the counselors was treating the third grade boys much like a pre-school group. You could sense the disappointment as the boys became restless and upset. While most moaned and complained under their breath, one boy stood up and protested explaining their interests, capabilities, and the obvious – they were not 3. Problem solved. The counselor took a step back, apologized, and upped her game. So it should be for adults. If being treated unfairly – don’t complain, do nothing and let anger brew. Stand up, respect the opposing side, but get your point across with rational information.3. Loyalty
As an after school counselor, I worked mainly with the kindergartners. During my time with them, I connected with a little girl who now never leaves my side. She consistently asks about my day, makes me smile if I seem down, and looks for me no matter what other counselors are around. At the young age of 6, she taught me that when you care about someone so much, no matter what the circumstance, you are there for them and let them know they matter unconditionally.
4. Laughter is the Best Medicine
Children get upset over the littlest things: their toy breaking, losing a game, and not getting their way. It could be anything else under the sun. What seems little to us is huge to them. Numerous times I’ve witnessed a friend help stop the tears by making them laugh. Everyone goes through tough times in life. Sometimes all we need is a joke or a friend to remind us of something that once made us laugh. We need to learn to laugh with others and at ourselves. After all, laughter is the best medicine.
Children inherently look on the brighter side of life. Somehow, we lose that perspective as we move through life. We're so eager to grow up that we leave behind the strength of our inner child. There’s no shame in being a kid again when it comes to our adult outlook on life.
