10 Truths Middle Schoolers Should Know

It’s rare to hear anyone say they loved middle school. Even people with positive memories never tout it as the best years of their life.

Simply put, it’s an awkward season. It’s a time of constant changes, social shake-ups, swinging emotions, and intense pressures. If I’ve learned anything from working with adolescent girls, it’s how hungry this age group is for comfort and reassurance. I hear it in their voices and see it in their eyes whenever I speak to a group, a look of searching and a longing to hear something – anything – to help them make sense of things.

Please tell me it gets better, their faces silently plead. Tell me this isn’t it.

Well, middle school kids, I assure you that life picks up. There’s a bigger, more promising world beyond this rite of passage. In the meantime, I have 10 truths to center you. I hope they bring you peace and a little friendly guidance.

Truth #10: Today’s most awkward moments will be tomorrow’s funniest memories. Keep a sense of humor whenever possible.Middle Schoolers Should Know2

Those braces on your teeth that collect food? That acne on your face that miracle creams can’t cure? That giddy rush you get when your crush walks by, and you can’t think, talk, or see straight? One day these things will be really funny! They’ll be the memories you rehash again and again with your siblings and oldest friends.

It takes time, but as you gain confidence, your awkward moments become fun to share. You’ll readily admit yours and laugh at the comedy and conversation that result.

Eventually you’ll have a dazzling smile, clear skin, and someone to love. Your current problems will have closure. So stay mindful of the big picture, and remember that even your worst experiences will pass.

Truth #9: You don’t want to peak in middle school (or high school or college, for that matter). The worst goal you can have is popularity. Because what often makes adolescents popular – running with the fast crowd, dominating your peers, living a superficial lifestyle – eventually leads to problems.

A truly successful person gets better with time. You go from being version 1.0 of yourself to version 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and so on. But when you chase popularity, you peak early. You stop growing and improving because you’re stuck in instant gratification mode, looking for quick fixes to satisfy your needs.

Make it your goal to peak later in life. Make good choices that set you up for a bright future. If you’re not a superstar now, that’s okay. This simply means there are better things ahead as you continue to evolve and learn.

Truth #8: Technology makes it easier than ever to ruin relationships and reputations. We live in an age where people post everything online – feelings, emotions, and pictures. I love technology when it’s used wisely, but too often, it’s used impulsively. We let our fingers jump ahead of our brains, and within seconds, we can trigger hurt, misunderstandings, and serious issues.

So please, think twice before texting, emailing, or posting on social media. Cool off before giving someone a piece of your mind, venting, jumping to conclusions, reacting out of jealousy or anger, embarrassing someone, or sending an inappropriate photo. Use the Internet for good, not as a dumping ground.

And when you have an issue with a friend, call instead of sending texts. It’s easy to put in writing what you’d never say in person, or to interpret a message the wrong way, and the tension this adds to a relationship is hard to recover from.  

Truth #7: Surrounding yourself with good company is imperative. There’s an old saying that’s particularly relevant to your age group: “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”

Yes, you’re called to love everyone, but not everyone deserves a place in your innermost circle. Some people you love up close and personal, and others you love at arm’s length because inviting them into your life invites disaster.

Sooner or later, a bad influence will rub off. You’ll either make choices against your better judgment or wind up in a predicament. As a mom I know told her daughter, she once went out with a guy who was very sweet to her but also wild. She didn’t see the issue until they had their first date – and he took her to a drug dealer’s house.

She told her daughter, “Even though I was innocent, I would have gone to jail if the police had come. I was guilty by association just by being there.”

Good friends lift you up. They don’t put you in risky or compromising situations. To become the best version of yourself, you need friends who hold themselves to high standards and want you to reach your full potential, too.

Truth #6: What makes you different is what makes you great. Middle school is largely about conformity. I see this firsthand because I live near a middle school, and over time I’ve noticed how all the kids dress alike, walk alike, and act alike.

Meanwhile, at my children’s elementary school I see authenticity and diverse personalities because the kids don’t know yet how to be anything but themselves. It saddens me to know that they, too, will eventually feel pressured to hide what makes them unique.

You’ll never influence the world by trying to be like it. You’ll never find your calling by following the crowd. God made you different for a reason, and what sets you apart plays into His plan for you. So listen to that quiet voice inside you and remember yourself as a child. Cling to the passions you had in your early years, because they hold more answers than you know.

Truth #5: It’s okay to not to have your life planned out. It’s okay if you haven’t discovered your “thing.” Chances are, you know kids with immense talent and drive. They’ve trained for years in their area of expertise, and they know exactly what they want in life.

Deep down you may be envious and uncomfortable, because you fear you’re getting left behind. You wonder why they have their act together – and you don’t.

But even the best laid plans will face curveballs. Even the most driven kids will wind up on different paths than they originally envisioned. So if your future isn’t mapped out by 9th grade, take heart! You’re still young and have plenty of time to discover what you were born to do. Just set goals for yourself, use your gifts, and head in a good direction. Set a positive trajectory so that when you do discover your thing, you’re ready to soar.

Truth #4: Your uniform is not your identity. Labels are big in middle school, and there’s a confidence that comes from wearing a football jersey, cheerleader uniform, or other team attire.

But remember that having a uniform – or even designer clothes – doesn’t increase your worth. You’re special because of who you are, not what you put on your body or what you achieve.

Overnight you can lose your place on a team. You can lose your talents, your wardrobe, your relationships, even your Instagram account. But if you base your identity on the one thing you’ll never lose – God’s love– your foundation is unshakable. You’ll still be standing even if you lose every earthly trapping this world says is important.

Truth #3: Applause can be misleading. You can make a huge mistake and still get cheered on wildly. Through social media, popularity is now quantifiable. You can gauge your performance by how many “likes”, comments, and shares you get.

But remember, numbers alone can be misleading. To get the full picture, you need to measure numbers against the truth. After all, Jesus Christ had 12 followers. Adolf Hitler had millions. These numbers speak for themselves.

The best applause to live for is the quiet peace inside you. What makes you feel good about yourself? What helps you rest easy at night? Criticizing someone to bring them down or make people laugh won’t bring you peace. Neither will watching someone else beat up on a kid as the crowd cheers him on.

You know the truth by how you feel deep down. And when you seek your applause from within, you don’t need the applause of public approval.

Truth #2: There’s a difference between helpful advice and criticism that holds you back. Be careful who you listen to. Some people want you to succeed. Others don’t. Develop a strong filter for whose words you take to heart – and whose words you ignore.

Some questions to ask yourself are: Do I trust this person? Are they respectable? Do they practice what they preach? Are they the kind of person I hope to become? Do they recognize my talent and potential and encourage me, or do they drag me down by harping on where I fall short?

How others talk to you influences how you talk to yourself. And since that voice in your head impacts your confidence, determination, and willingness to take risks, you want people in your life who speak the truth in love and always with your best interest in mind.

Truth #1: You’re AWESOME. Truly, you are. All these crazy changes are leading to something amazing. In the grand scheme of life middle school is only a blip, so keep it in check. Have fun, dream big, and make good choices. One day you’ll look back and laugh at the absurdities of this stage, and if you’re lucky, you’ll enjoy a lot of humor now.

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Thanks for reading this message. If you enjoyed it, please share it on social media. 

My new book for girl moms AND boy moms is coming soon! More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive, will release April 5 and is the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Pre-order now to get the lowest price between now and April 5 and amazing pre-order incentives. If you love audiobooks, you can pre-order on Audible, where I am the narrator!

My other bestselling books, Love Her Well: 10 Ways to Find Joy and Connection with Your Teenage Daughter 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know and Liked, have been used widely across the U.S. for group studies.

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Posted by Kari on August 5, 2015

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20 thoughts on "10 Truths Middle Schoolers Should Know"

  1. Amelia says:

    Kari, I absolutely loved your book 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know! I saw your name and I knew I had to read this little article. I am past that awkward tween time now, but may I just express how greatful I am for having that book. It helped me so much in gaining confidence in myself and the world and God. So thank you. You made a difference in my life.

  2. Suzy says:

    I loved this. This age is tough. Tough on parents and tough for kids to truly hear. This was super helpful and right on their level.

  3. Angenell Jones says:

    I really enjoyed this article,and so did my 12
    year old granddaughter. So informative. I will SHARE. We are experiencing some of the things mentioned in the article.

  4. JC says:

    I love this. Thank you. So important to remind our kids there is life after Middle Schol!

  5. Erin Kohler says:

    You put into beautiful words what I want to tell my middle school daughters. Thank you for your wisdom and your heart!

  6. Amy Wright says:

    Wow I loved this! As a mom of THREE tween girls (2 of them in middle school), I thought everything you had to say was on point and had so much value for them. Thank you for your wisdom and insight. I wish I would have found this post in time to take them to your talk in St. Simons, but we’re a couple days late.

  7. Reza Gheisari says:

    من به زن دائمی جوان هجده ساله سفید پوست قد بلند مهربان بی توقع چشم آبی مو زرد پولدار سالم خیلی خیلی نیاز دارم و اما من بیکار هستم پول ندارم بیماری فلج مغزی دارم کمکم کنید با تشکر
    فقط با پیامک تماس بگیرید ۰۰۹۸۹۱۳۵۵۶۲۸۴۹

  8. Alice says:

    Thank you. I really needed this

  9. Kendall says:

    Thank you I think everyone should read this i needed this.

  10. Kate says:

    This is great advice I’ll definitely tells to my kiddo as he reaches this age. Not all the references to God’s love, because that is still seeking approval from others. Real self-love comes from within and your advice about social media, fitting in etc is absolutely correct. Middle school is like an abyss that can feel miserable, but it is survivable.

  11. Genine Briley says:

    Sister, well said. Thank you for sharing.

  12. Kelly says:

    I loved this and will share this with my son who will attend middle school this year. I wish more authors would write books for boys too. Thanks for helping parents find ways to encourage and inspire their children. Great advice!

  13. Berfilia says:

    Thank you for all that I am in middle school so I will think about this story more often.

  14. Baldi333 says:

    I am in 7th grade. Thank you for the advise!

  15. Baked Beans says:

    My teacher gave us this to read in school and it really did help, Ty. 7th grade is hard! especially with virtual school uWu

  16. Cj says:

    This helped me a lot middle school is really hard

  17. nicole says:

    This is an amazing blog post. I just read it to my soon to be 8th grader and she was in agreement with everything. I love that you put a Chrustian perspective into it. Thanks! Great job.

  18. Joy Frasure says:

    Just came across your “10 Truths Middle Schooler’s Should Know,” on Pinterest. As a retired middle school teacher, these are spot-on truths. My teaching partner and I were often reminding our students of many of these truths throughout each school year. The problem is, when kids are in the midst of this awkward age, it is incredibly difficult to stop and self examine these truths in the moment. Kudos for writing a book that both parents and students should read while navigating these years.

  19. Heather says:

    As a middle school counselor, these words resonate so much with me and feel like the echo of my heart to my students! Thank you for sharing this.

  20. Krystal swiger says:

    This was great! You should make a condensed version, like a poster. I would total ask my admin. To hang it up at our school! Kids need this!

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