Student essays shed light on complex teenage lives

By Sue Mauersberg

Every school year, students all across the United States participate in many tasks. Amidst the chaos of growing up, teenagers complete homework, take tests, join clubs, go to school dances and sporting events, and hang out with friends.

At several points in their academic career, students have had to write essays for English or another subject. Learning how to generate a thesis statement, an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion is a traditional staple of a secondary classroom.

What many do not realize is that these essays reflect a raw and vibrant look at adolescent life. As an English teacher at Mount Nittany Middle School, I have had the humbling opportunity to read almost 2,000 essays from young people. In my 15 years of teaching, I continue to be inspired by the young men and women who write about the people they love, the life moments that change them, the grief that overwhelms them, and the views they embrace.

Through countless hours of reading and grading, I have learned a few things:

u Young people embrace life. They tackle difficult life issues and really celebrate the good moments of life. We adults tend to get weighed down by all of our responsibilities and we forget to live ... really live.

u Young people can communicate very well. My students continue to write with a candid nature that captures their spirit. We adults can forget to listen to their voice through the muck of every day. When they don’t think we’re listening, they stop talking.

u The essays that follow embrace all facets of life: from getting a pet, moving to State College, surviving a family crisis, or grieving over a loved one. The tumbling words can make one smile or wrench the heart. Together, they make a profound statement.

u Young people can remind us to be hopeful. I teach to 103 individuals, 103 separate lives, who come from 103-plus different families. One day these young people will be 103 adults contributing to a society that struggles with hope. They have dreams and goals and are looking to teachers, parents, and other adults for guidance, direction, and most importantly, inspiration. We adults can take advantage of the opportunity and not only offer them hope but be examples of hope.