more than skin deep

just returned from a student merit award presentation at my daughter's high school. I know by now to bring some kleenex in my pocket, because these events always bring a tear to my eye.

I watched some of the biggest, burliest, scrungiest looking young men, the kind that might prompt me to cross the street if I saw them gathered together in a group after dark, walk across the stage and hug their teachers. Each teacher spoke a few sentences about his or her student, and I heard references to smiles, positive attitudes, triumph over adversity, kindness, and academic effort.

I bow in gratitude to the dedicated people who are teaching our kids, and who go the extra mile to notice and acknowledge qualities of character and strength, even in those students who may not be academic superstars.

I wish the audience had been made up of more than just the parents of the other award winners. I'd love to see pictures and an article about this in the newspaper. Too often, when teenagers are mentioned in the media, it's only because they've done something terrible. If you don't have teenagers in your family, or know any teenagers personally, I can see how easy it would be to get the wrong idea about the younger generation. If the general population could have more exposure to events that show teenagers in this light, I think it would generate a wave of hopeful anticipation for our future.