Wisdom, please.
Posted May 12, 2012
An interesting thing about my school is that it's almost entirely boys. Of around 75 students, around 15 of them are girls. This gives the girls we do have an inordinate amount of power and somewhat less incentive to form friendships with one another.
So one of our administrators started a club called Girls Group. They have lunch once a month and talk about things like self-esteem and making good decisions. A recent field trip included going to the grocery store to shop for a menu they were given and discover how much that would cost, as well as getting bra fittings. I thought that last part was genius.
They're having their end of year lunch next Tuesday and all of the female teachers were invited to come and share our wisdom with the girls. I have a few ideas, but was really hoping you might have some more wisdom for me.
If you had the opportunity to address a group of teenage girls, what would you want to tell them?
Amy says:
May 12, 2012 at 03:55 AM
Boys have a vivid enough imagination, don't help them. Please respect yourself enough to keep things covered!!!
Just because your friend does something, doesn't mean you have to. If what your friend is doing doesn't seem right to you and they are trying to get you to do it too, maybe they are such a good friend.
Amy says:
May 12, 2012 at 03:57 AM
"are not" such a good friend!!
or maybe they just don't check their post before hitting post!
Laura says:
May 12, 2012 at 07:10 AM
Take every opportunity you can to travel outside your own little corner of the world. Observe other communities and cultures with respect--and learn from them. Once you understand that not everyone values what you value or thinks the way you do, you'll have a sensible idea of your own place in the world.
Don't be afraid to decide for yourself who you are. Do be afraid to let others define you. "To thine own self be true" is good advice. Be truthful both with yourself and with others.
Don't rush into parenthood. Grow up first.
Craig says:
May 12, 2012 at 08:25 AM
Paula Pell (@perlapell) posted several excellent suggestions a while back on Twitter, most of them beginning with "Hey young girls". For instance, "Hey Young Girls- Learn to be good at something you love that isn't boy related and then go meet a nice boy after you're confident and busy." Also, "Hey Young Ladies..Keep your boobs in your shirt, your butt in your pants, your head in your books and your eye on your dreams and be happy." Her favstar page (http://favstar.fm/users/perlapell/) is probably a good place to fish.
Also, there's no need to rush anything, and anyone who tells you otherwise is not acting in your best interest.
Holly Rose says:
May 12, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Well my 1st line is always- boys are dumb and they don't grow out of it... but I would also want them to find value & worth in who they are- not in who they date, what they wear or what size they happen to be. The only person you are honestly stuck with for your whole life is yourself, so be kind to her, find what is great about her and hold onto it. You will thank yourself for it later!
Lisa says:
May 14, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Give yourself reasons to feel good about yourself--work hard at your studies or your job so you can feel good about having done your best. And find something, whether a job or a hobby, that you're talented at and you love and give it your all.
Surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you. If someone routinely makes you feel bad about yourself, that is not a relationship you need.