As a high school teacher, I have had the opportunity to hear and understand what is going on in their lives. Some teenagers will tell me outright what is going on, others may make a passing comment that will require some questioning on my part and others will share what’s going on in a writing assignment. Teens have worries, they have legitimate stress and they are overwhelmed. Teenagers know that they have big decisions to make in their future and it can feel like too much.
A few months ago, a student walked into class. She is at the top of her class, she’s in all honors and AP classes and is an AMAZING athlete. On that day, she looked like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. She had this look of absolute overwhelm and when I greeted her at the door, I got in return more of a grunt, and for her, this isn’t normal. I quickly asked her what is going on.
Her response: What’s the purpose of life?
I wasn’t expecting that question. And in a few seconds, it became very clear that her classmates were curious too.
This has been a question I have spent a lot of time thinking about throughout my life, as a teenager through my adult years. What’s the purpose of life? Why am I here?
I don’t have THE answer, but I do have my answer, what I believe is a simple answer.
I believe that every person has been given a dream or a gift. I believe the purpose of life is to bring life to that dream or gift and to share it with the world. I told her when we share our gifts we are truly living our life’s purpose. Sometimes it takes time and we may have to develop ourselves and our dreams, but that’s part of living our purpose. But when we truly share our gifts and live our dream, we inspire other to do the same.
And then with that, we started our lesson for the day.
As a caring adult in the lives of teenagers, are you living your life purpose?
