I, for one, have hope

People often talk about the lack of compassion and drive and dedication and promise that the current generation of students has. Some even go so far as to say that they are apathetic and disengaged. I can certainly see that ... in some students. But days like today remind me that the majority of our students ARE compassionate and ARE kind and ARE charitable. They aren't the self-centered apathetic brats that the older generations paint them to be (and, i admit, I've been guilty of this before as well). They have big hearts, are eager to help their world, and they just need opportunity and example to practice their compassion.

Each year, my school does a Giving Tree. Local children who have been taken from their homes or are without families are selected to be sponsored by volunteers in the school who then purchase holiday gifts for that child. Because, without these gifts, these children would go without. Each of the children on the tree range in age from infancy to high school, and each of them is in a bad situation that is beyond their control and their doing. Students who choose to sponsor a child get that child's name (first name only, of course!), age, sizes (for clothing), and a wish/need list. Students choose to sponsor children on an individual basis or with peers. It always makes me so happy to know that our tree runs out of children long before we run out of students wanted to help.

My advisory chose to sponsor a child this year, and we selected a five-year-old boy. My kids (all 12 of them) were so eager and excited about this opportunity that they started planning their shopping list immediately upon selecting our child. They were bubbling over with excitement and gift ideas, and they knew that this all was completely anonymous. They weren't going to get any "credit" or recognition for their gift-giving. This was purely to help out someone who had less and needed our compassion and our kindness. The gifts were due Friday, and they started rolling in on Thursday.

My kids came bounding into my room with their arms full of toys and clothes, eager to show me the cool things that they bought that they were convinced their little boy would just love. The pile beside my desk grew and grew and grew until it had trapped me and I had to move them all to another room. More presents rolled in today, and we spent the afternoon wrapping gifts. Their excitement was palpable as they laughed and talked about how happy their little boy would be when he opened the gifts on Christmas morning. They even remembered to buy batteries, so he could play with his new toys on Christmas morning!! The final pile was quite impressive and brought me to tears.

The stack of kindness that my kids have provided.

Don't tell me that kids today are jaded and selfish. Don't say they are apathetic and self-centered. Like any other human being, they can behave as such. But, like any other human being, they simply need opportunity and example to express their compassion and generosity and kindness. It's a natural part of who they are, and, when given the chance to help out their world and community, they jump at it. It's our job to ensure that they have the opportunity to learn to give back. And to experience how amazing it feels to give without expecting a reward. 

If my kids are the future of the world, I'm not worried. In fact, I am looking forward to how they make it a better place in which to exist together.