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Lansing Teens Make the Town Better |
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Dan Veaner
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Friday, 25 November 2005 |
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The other night I talked to four Lansing students who made it all the way to the State Championship in the swimming competition. I couldn't help but be impressed. First of all, these young women are accomplished swimmers who took first place in their division, and were among the top ten in the whole state. That is pretty impressive by itself. But that isn't what struck me. They were very well spoken and excited about what they had accomplished. They had worked hard and accomplished much together. They clearly had respect for each other, their other team mates, the girls they competed against and their coaches. They were generous when describing opponents, giving them high praise. Age didn't seem to matter to them as it does to some kids -- the four ranged between 8th and 12th grade. They were very up-beat about what they were doing, and thrilled to have made it so far.
OK, self-possessed, motivated, humble, generous, well spoken... is this what you think of when you hear the word "teenager?!" Yet many of the kids I've met in our town fit this mold. It's refreshing and inspiring. And it makes you redefine the stereotype.Four boy scouts are on the verge of becoming Eagle Scouts in January. The most visible project is the garden outside the library, but all four have domes something significant to improve the community. Did you happen to catch the Middle School musical? It was an enormous accomplishment for the young teens and "tweens" who participated in it. You may have noticed a number of articles in the Star by young writers. Or maybe you didn't notice -- the articles are pretty good so you may not have realized they were written by kids. Kids in Lansing are involved in much of the fabric of the community, and they are taking a positive, can-do attitude about whatever it is they are doing. It is a testament to the level of involvement parents have in their lives and to the kids themselves. And it sure makes the town a nice place to live. ----
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