"Punk Teenagers" and How Awesome They Really Are.

Among my many hobbies and passions comes not only a love of the theater world, but an intense respect and admiration of the the 

high school students I have the blessing of working with on 

such theatrical projects. I get to do the after school programs. 

Not be an official teacher, yet still registered 

with the school as an acting coach, dance instructor, 

choreographer & director. 

That also allows me liberties that official teachers don't get to have:

I get to be their friend, confidant, and someone they 

all know they can text or facebook

about their bad day and I will always be frank with them 

and tell it how it really is:

"You are awesome, kid. I loved high school but 

I wouldn't want to do it again. 

Being a teenager is hard, 

but you are beating the odds everyday by just showing up and trusting that it's all gonna be okay. 

And knowing that whatever life throws at you,

you can handle it."

And they know I mean it, cause I'm also the director who will say, 

"Nope. That scene was an epic fail." 

No, really, I will. 

But I also follow it up with,

"Good news is, you took a big risk, got the bad one out 

of your system, and I will help you fix if you want to make it better."

And they do.

High school kids get a bad rap.

Just the other day I had one of my superiors at my day job 

ask how I can stand to work with them.

"(They're) so moody, self important, and just plain annoying!" 

Look, 

They are not only figuring out that they don't know it all,

which scares them,

but that their parents and mentors don't know it all.

Which terrifies them.

But they want to learn.

They want to succeed. 

They want someone to believe in them.

They want someone to be honest 

and tell them that was their worst,

but be ready to show them how to do their best.

And truly believe they can do it if they choose to.

And ps, 

to make sure they get praised like crazy for even their 

smallest improvements.

In my high school days I was blessed with a mentor who 

changed my life by simply giving me that same 

admiration, honesty, and respect. 

She helped me choose to be the person I am today.

To be told I emulate her in any would be one of the highest compliments someone could give me.

I hope from the other side she can see how hard 

I try to pass on to my students

the life changing lessons she taught me.

But I also know now why she chose to teach high school.

My high school students blow my mind every day with

how brave they are.

They inspire me. I respect them. 

 I admire them.

So next time you see some "punk teenager,"

just remember how badly they need someone to know they 

are more than that,

so they can keep the courage to believe it too. 

-In Loving Memory of Syd Riggs-