Drama Queens

This probably sounds strange, but I have a soft spot for middle school girls.  I think they are adorable.  The ones around 11 or 12 years old, full of drama and woes, packed into an outfit you know makes their mothers cringe.  The girls that are moody and slam the bedroom door daily.  So called "Drama Queens."  Wide eyed, gangly and agog on a daily basis.  Those girls are my favorites. 

Under the snotty attitudes and excessive make-up reside young girls trying to establish the foundations of their adult identities.  Brain development causes them to notice more than when they were little kids. Noticing brings more thoughts and feelings.  They don't usually have the tools to deal with these thoughts and feelings.  Something called "neural pruning" occurs at this time as well.  The developing brain kills off a bunch of brain cells in preparation for massive brain development. Thus the moods and drama.  The moods and drama cause most sane adults to head for the hills rather than deal with a preteen girl. 

The adults that can't escape from these girls, also known as their parents, often become totally exasperated and take them to a therapist.  When they end up in my office, I work past the snotty exterior.  I know that the girl with the teased hair and "goth" clothes will become a 4.0 student and the star soccer player in high school.  The awkward one with no fashion sense will grow to be the leader of the debate team.  The girl locks herself in her room and cries at the drop of a hat will get her doctorate.  I know this because I have seen it.  I have gone through middle school about a dozen times at this point.  

They are my favorite because I get to help them figure out who they are.  I get to call bullshit on stuff like acting dumb to get a boyfriend and point them towards self-worth based on their inherent value as a human.  I help them look past stereotypes and learn to make thoughtful decisions.  I get to see them make discoveries about themselves and the world around them.  I get to teach them about integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. I get to do this and how is that not one of the coolest things in the world?