Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005

Winter Youth Gathering

As I watched the different teenagers over the weekend, I wondered about myself. What kind of teenager was I? How did my chaperones and leaders view me?

Was I one of the kids that kind of sat in the corner and played cards? Was I one of the kids that said I didn't like this or that and complained all the time? Did I have to be asked over and over again and finally told to help with something?

Was I one of the first ones up to sing a praise song or do actions? (Definitely not) Was I willing to participate? (Yes!)

I feel like I grew up in a different culture than these teenagers. In the midwest, people were so much more reserved... my family, especially. I cried a lot, I got mad, I went thorugh every emotion in the book. I did not, however, show it in front of people I didn't know, especially not crowds of them. I was never one to take the mic or sing a solo.

This weekend I was in charge of games for 100 teenagers. I always admired people who led but I never was one- at least not in a public speaking capacity. I was not even nervous to speak in front of them. I think it went really well. I enjoyed my time in the public eye, believe it or not. Seeing all 100 teenagers obeying my (polite) commands was refreshing since moments when the mere 14 of my eight and nine year-old students are obeying me are rare.

The end of the weekend was bittersweet for me, as I know I will not see most of these people ever again. I am enjoying working with teenagers more than I thought I would. It was only five years ago that I was a teenager, it feels like decades. There are so many stages of life I've gone thorugh in the past 7 years.

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