To my middle schooler, here’s why middle school is the worst.
I’m glad you’re almost done with a super annoying year of your life. Everyone hates seventh grade. Like, everyone.
The first year of middle school is torture for pretty much the entire universe.
Yes, it’s exciting and new, but it’s also boring and awful. You know this now and that’s a good thing.
That will make 8th and 9th a little more tolerable.
But, here’s the kicker, there are more awkward years to come.
The biggest take away you will probably gain from middle school is that it is so awkward that some days you’ll beg me to stay home just because you don’t want to go back to that weird place everyone knows as junior high.
But, take comfort in some of these facts about middle school.
Everyone feels uncomfortable in their bodies. Trust me. The girls that are full developed do. And the girls that aren’t. And everyone in between. Even the boys feel awkward.
They all wish that they could be invisible physically because that would be ideal for people not to notice their hair they are just trying to learn how to style themselves, the voice changes, the bras, and the acne and facial hair. No one likes that part of middle school.
Middle school PE is the worst. You won’t ever love it. The best you can do is try to endure it and keep your head down and run those miserable laps so it will be over soon. Oh – and wear deodorant. Always deodorant.
Everyone is trying to figure out life in middle school.
Boys don’t know how to talk to girls anymore, and vice versa and everyone is weird all the time. Try not to take their weirdness personally. It’s just middle school.
Everyone is trying to find their group. They are trying to look cool. They are trying to fit in. They are trying to stand out and disappear all at the same time. It’s a mess.
It’s a big bunch of weirdness in a pile of stinky bodies because some people sometimes forget the deodorant. They’re not used to it yet. That’s OK. Forgive them if they stink.
Some friendships from elementary may not survive middle school and that’s OK. Because, remember? It’s when everyone is trying to figure out life and their body and how to stand out and be invisible at the same time and find their people, too.
Middle school makes no sense am I right? Exactly.
So, look for new people as well as leaning on your old friends too. It’s OK to make new friends. It’s OK to ditch old ones (Nicely and politely of course – don’t be a jerk).
Things are going to change in these next few years, and they might possibly be some of the hardest years you ever go through. In fact, ask any adult if they hated middle school, or wanted to disappear, or had an awkward phase, and I guarantee you they will say yes to one or all of those questions.
Most of all – be kind. Because every kid at that school is feeling the same way you are. Weird. Awkward. Stinky maybe. Trying to figure out life. It’s a mess, remember?
And try your best not to take things personally like when your friends stare at their phones instead of talking to you. They are just feeling awkward and trying to figure out middle school, too. And they are certainly trying to figure out social media. Even I’m trying to figure that one out.
But, the important thing is to try to enjoy it the best you can (when you’re not dreading it).
Because middle school is where you learn some important life lessons that will serve you through high school and college.
Like who your true friends are.
What it means to work hard now that school isn’t a breeze anymore.
How to say you’re sorry.
How to let go and grow up.
How to talk to the opposite sex.
How your body works.
It’s important to stand up for what you truly think, believe, and feel and not just go with the crowd.
Figure out what YOU really love.
What YOU’RE interested in.
Who YOU are.
There are so many lessons to learn in middle school.
It may feel like torture when you’re in it trying to figure all those things out, but trust me, we all survived it, and you will too.
Just remember that you aren’t alone. EVERYONE is going through what you are going through even though it seems like no one is.
So, next time you’re sitting in class and you say something that makes you embarrassed or feel awkward, just know that everyone else in the room is surviving middle school too.
They’ll get through it, and I know you’ll get through it, too.
So, it’s OK to cry about middle school and hate it. Just don’t forget to try to find the beauty in the weirdness, too. (If that’s possible)
To my middle schooler-I'm glad you're almost done with a super annoying year of your life. Everyone hates seventh…
Posted by Perfection Pending by Meredith Ethington on Tuesday, November 12, 2019
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