Teenagers these days…
“Teenagers these days,” the lady in front of me at checkout sneers, nodding toward the enthusiastic group of boys across the aisle. “Always in shorts when it’s freezing outside and never without their earbuds and phones attached to them.”
I smile but don’t engage. You hear it all the time—complaints about their phones, their music, their sandals (with socks!) in the snow, their lack of coats.
But you see, I didn’t even notice what they were wearing.
Because the teenagers I know…
They’re organizing candlelight vigils and fundraisers for a classmate lost to a car accident.
They’re getting themselves to morning weights, sitting through a full day of classes—including college-level coursework—hustling at practice, and working part-time jobs or internships to save for their first car.
They’re checking in on each other after losing a friend to suicide, making sure no one feels alone.
They’re stopping middle schoolers in the hallway to compliment their shoes or make them feel seen.
They’re high-fiving their classmates’ younger siblings between classes, unbothered by how it might look to anyone else.
They’re living life unfiltered—fearlessly dancing in TikToks, not because it’s perfect but because it makes someone laugh.
They’re cheering on their younger siblings at games, offering advice, building them up with love and confidence.
The teenagers I know are starting businesses—making jewelry, candles, cupcakes, and more.
They’re out in the fields, side by side with their parents or grandparents, driving tractors and hauling grain.
They’re volunteering at Kaden’s Closet, mowing their neighbor’s lawn, or holding doors open with a smile.
They’re playing video games online with the younger kids, not just to win but to teach and connect.
They’re working in after-school childcare, wiping tears and helping tiny hands create heirloom ornaments that will hang on Christmas trees for decades.
They’re mentoring younger kids, reminding them that they belong.
They’re saving the money they earn to help pay for prom dresses, graduation trips, and thoughtful gifts for their families.
They’re showing up for their friends—at dance recitals, choir concerts, and football games—with homemade signs and the loudest cheers in the stands.
They’re questioning the world around them, organizing mental health events, and petitioning for changes that make their schools better for everyone.
They’re sitting with their grandparents, soaking up stories, and teaching them how to FaceTime or send emojis.
They’re navigating a complicated world with bravery, asking hard questions, and standing firm in their values.
They’re dreaming big—of becoming doctors, teachers, farmers, artists, and leaders—and working tirelessly to make those dreams a reality.
They’re loving fiercely, living boldly, and proving that the future is not something to fear—it’s something to celebrate.
Teenagers these days?
The ones I know?
They’re incredible.
And yes, sometimes they’re doing it all with AirPods and in sandals
But they’re doing it.
And they’re incredible.
At least, the teenagers I know.