Last year I tried to tell some personal stories about living in Chile to freshman. Oh look at me, aren’t I the cool teacher taking time out of class to share a little slice of my personal world with you? Isn’t this fun? Aren’t you lucky to get to know me? Oh please Ms. Davis tell us more about lollygagging across the Chilean countryside!
Well. Their eyes glazed over a bit and some started packing up bookbags pre-maturely. Besides feeling the wounding blow to my ego, I was perplexed: over pizza and beer my peers generally enjoy this particular pack of backpacking adventures—why didn’t it resonate for teens?
It is easy to forget that most teens go home every weekend, hang out around their houses or the mall, watch videos on youtube, go to school dances, and sleep. Travel stories of complete freedom and possibility can be difficult to relate to, hence the droopy eyes. Instead, tell them about yourself when you were their age and your plights were more similar to their own.
(This is dorkey, I admit) but I made a brainstorm of stories from when I was a young teen with morals or lessons attached so I can figure out when they might be useful. Some of them can be writing triggers. Some of them illustrate a point. They are not the same stories of bridge jumping and skinny-dipping that pepper so many of your adult stories; it is a different genera altogether. Try lots of stories about pets and trying to look cool but failing, and maybe even a first love if you can make it about acceptance and moving on rather than just smooching.
They listen differently to stories and remember them much longer.
So what was the best little drama of your life when you were 15?
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