Find Someone Who...

Have you ever: had stitches, had a bad case of diarrhea, been a Girl Scout, felt suicidal.

Each week I go into a Minnetonka Middle School and meet with a group of 8-10 7th & 8th Grade girls to discuss a variety of issues. It's been something I've done for a couple of years. This year, though, my group has been a very dynamic mix of personalities. I've enjoyed them immensely and I would go so far as to say it's been one of my favorite groups. It is a mixture of chaos, energy, and hormones. They are extremely talkative. To bring some order to our discussion, each girl that wants to talk has to hold a stuffed frog. Sometimes we talk about serious things, but mostly it's very surfacey.

I would say today was a breakthrough. The beginning "Have you ever" was an activity I had the girls participate in. They each had a piece of paper where they had to find someone who: "blank" and then get their initials. It was a fun, yet personal activity, considering the last question was asking them if they've ever felt suicidal. I wasn't sure how the group would respond, but I felt in my heart that it was important to explore and discuss this issue. My biggest goal was to get them to see that no matter what the situation or issue is; they are not alone in the hard things. There is always someone else who can relate or understand.

It didn't take long before the conversation got deeper and girls were pouring their true feelings out. Some feel so rejected and hurt by friends and parents that they wonder if living even matters. One girl crys herself to sleep ever night because she wishes she didn't have to dress preppy to be accepted. Some believe change is not possible in their lives because they've made so many mistakes. I was very proud of the girls as they listened to each other and comforted one another. I had a chance to remind them of their beauty and worth. Many of the girls were in tears before the end of group. I was overcome with so much emotion and empathy for them that we ended with a somewhat cheesey, but powerful, group hug.

I long for these girls, and many others like them, to know the imporance of their worth and beauty. Many of them do not have a support network to help them struggle through difficult times. I was so thankful that I could reccomend a place at TreeHouse to connect that makes it its mission to remind kids that they are lovable, capable, worthwhile, not alone, and loved without strings.