Growing up in the small town of Hutchinson, Minnesota, my acne-laced teenage years were very awkward and uncomfortable.
As a child, I grew up in Mankato but was soon relieved of that comfortable place and moved to a booming farm metropolis of about 11k in Hutch. Having found some popularity and success in Mankato, however, this confidence was quickly lost as I entered those very formative teenage years.
As a child, I grew up in Mankato but was soon relieved of that comfortable place and moved to a booming farm metropolis of about 11k in Hutch. Having found some popularity and success in Mankato, however, this confidence was quickly lost as I entered those very formative teenage years.
Being the new kid sometimes has its benefits: clean slate, new friends, different surroundings, and guilt-laden shopping excursions given by my mother for moving us away from our lifelong chums.
For people that have a less relational bias, this can be an easier transition. But for those individuals that are highly relational, like myself, it can be less than favorable.
Public acceptance in a foreign culture, I quickly found, was not easy. I also observed a universal truth playing itself out: kids can be mean, and will be mean, and will often be mean until they mature, which for boys can sometimes be well into their 30's.
For people that have a less relational bias, this can be an easier transition. But for those individuals that are highly relational, like myself, it can be less than favorable.
Public acceptance in a foreign culture, I quickly found, was not easy. I also observed a universal truth playing itself out: kids can be mean, and will be mean, and will often be mean until they mature, which for boys can sometimes be well into their 30's.
This brings me to October being National Bullying Prevention Month. While the thought of attempting to legislate sound moral behavior in teenagers is laughable, I do applaud their efforts bringing into light a growing area of concern.
US teenagers account for about 4400 suicides per year (source), with a higher likelihood in teenage females vs. males. While a recent Yale study (see link here) stopped short of reporting a direct link between bullying and suicide, the study did report that bullying victims were 2 to 9 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
I really can't say that I had suicidal thoughts as a young teenager, but the encouraging words of my parents and friends helped a great deal during those more difficult days.
Ultimately, this brings me to something I ran across called 'The Awkward Years Project'. These are individual stories that perhaps some of my readers can identify with. I found them both encouraging and inspiring.
For my small part, I will continue to encourage kids (including my own) to seek the Lord on all occasions, follow their passions, ignore the naysayers and bullies, choose love instead of hate, and build up others versus tearing them down. After all, life is short and God has made us exactly the way we are for His very precise purpose.
Grace & Peace
PLW
US teenagers account for about 4400 suicides per year (source), with a higher likelihood in teenage females vs. males. While a recent Yale study (see link here) stopped short of reporting a direct link between bullying and suicide, the study did report that bullying victims were 2 to 9 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
I really can't say that I had suicidal thoughts as a young teenager, but the encouraging words of my parents and friends helped a great deal during those more difficult days.
Ultimately, this brings me to something I ran across called 'The Awkward Years Project'. These are individual stories that perhaps some of my readers can identify with. I found them both encouraging and inspiring.
For my small part, I will continue to encourage kids (including my own) to seek the Lord on all occasions, follow their passions, ignore the naysayers and bullies, choose love instead of hate, and build up others versus tearing them down. After all, life is short and God has made us exactly the way we are for His very precise purpose.
Grace & Peace
PLW
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