my life is normal

sometimes when i think about where i am and what i am doing, i cant help but wonder how it has worked out.  i have had a pretty easy and "normal" life. i grew up in a house that supported me, valued education, and spent time together. i went to school and college. and i have never really had to struggle to the degree that some other people have to on a daily basis.

most of the students i interact with each day don't come from a place like this. they live in a house and neighborhood that is not always safe with people who are not always setting a good example. some of them spend their time in juvenile centers, while others of them are constantly fighting the pressure to be in a gang. some of them don't have basic english skills, are grieving the loss of parents, both physically and emotionally, and a few of them become teen parents.

when i sit down and think about it all at once, its overwhelming. how can someone like me, who has had an easy, run-of-the-mill experience with life, possibly even come close to understanding and connecting with people, especially kids, who have lived more life in 11 or 12 years that i might possibly live in an entire lifetime?!?

i think its so easy to get caught up in dwelling on the fact that many of these kids dont have it easy. and that life isnt fair is dealing things out the way it does. i think its easy to say you feel bad for someone who has had these experiences or feel like you need to do something for someone who hasnt had it so easy. but i also think doing these things and feeling bad for these kids is probably one of the worst things that i could do for them.

its true that many of their situations are not ideal, but they are still kids who act like other kids. they like the same things, act the same way, and make the same mistakes. so why should i treat them any differently? these kids are not their situations- they are smart, funny, creative individuals who have bright, happy, and successful futures ahead of them!

it really is an incredible thing if you think about it- how people from all different places and backgrounds and age groups can really understand one another and grow to develop meaningful relationships. my experience has proved to me that there really is something common that ties us all together and i really dont have the words to express how thankful i am for having the opportunity to learn this from this experience.

when i think about this, i also cant help but give these kids credit. if i were them, i am not sure that i would be as welcoming or open to a stranger like me coming into their lives. i definitely have not had the same experiences as some of these kids, but they dont seem to mind, and i am BEYOND grateful for that :)