Young People are like Clay

Today I was talking to an individual who has a 17 year old son. This young man is having some psychological problems and is having a difficult time being comfortable in this world at this time. While I was talking to her, I realized I became quite passionate about wanting to help this young man.

I love the high school and college age individual. I stated this to the woman I was talking to and she replied, "that's unusual, most people don't like them". In my heart and mind, I thought this was sad.

Individuals from about 12 to around 25 years of age are like a handful of clay. They are being molded and remolded before they are actually fired in a kiln and made an adult. Yes, even after being fired sometimes prematurely, changes are made because of brokage. The broken parts can be repaired, but there will always be that line where the repair was made that might not be seen on the outside, but left a lasting impression on the inside. If this glob of clay can be formed while soft and pliable in a good way, then there is less chance of breakage.

This makes me think of a friend of mine who makes small clay creations, shaped like individuals. In her creations, she adds expressions and items on the clay people that depicts their personality, their desires, their hobbies and their loves. When she makes these, she has told me that at times she has to start over and remold them completely because it just didn't turn out right the first time. She works and works molding the clay with her hands, working it to make it perfect, making changes here and there as she goes, so that the finished product is the right image of that specific person. Everyone of her creations are unique.

Now think about this, in relation to a young person. They are like a glob of clay. However, with these young moldable individuals there is more than one set of hands working on them. Even though the parent or guardian would like to believe that they are the major influence in this individual's life, it may not be true. They have input into their lives from their peer group, from teachers, from coworkers at that after school job, from ministers or priests, from siblings, from just about anyone they come into contact with. Every time they interact with another, there is an impression made in the clay. Some of these dents or impressions are good and some are not. It is the responsibility of the individual to decide which dents to keep and which ones to smooth out and get rid of. A parent or guardian or someone who cares about this person can help with this molding process.

This is what I enjoy, making lasting impressions on these young people. They have so much potential. I like to encourage the individuals to explore and find out what really makes them happy, not temporary happiness but true happiness. I have talked to alot of young people, my children included and I like to find out what their desires are. My oldest son, when he was in college came to a crossroads in his life when he needed to change his major and direction in life. I told him to go the counselor, tell that counselor what he wants to do the rest of his life, tell that person what activity or job description would make him happy and not seem like a job.

The counselor was wonderful and spent several hours with him sorting through majors that would get him where it wanted to go. He changed his major and has been happy with that decision since. This process made him think about himself and who he truly is. He searched his heart for happiness and found it, with no restrictions.

At times, I think that some of these young people are made to believe that their unique ways of living and seeing the world are wrong if they waver from the "norm". With this belief, they begin to alienate themselves from others, thinking that they don't fit in. They should be accepted for who they are and help them learn how their unique ways can enhance their life and effect others in a positive way.

The young people from 12 to 25 years of age need to be listened to and respected for who they are and the potential they have. In a perfect world, every individual will have at least one person who will affect their lives in a positive way. You could be that person for just one individual or even more. Look for the potential in everyone you meet, but especially in the young person, who is still soft and pliable. Celebrate their diversity and help mold them into a creation that can be productive and happy in the world they live.