Expectations

As many of you know, I am 15 years old. I have gone through a lot of difficult experiences up to this point. Many I would say, have formed me to be the strong Christian I am today. But, it was hard. I know most of you who read my blog are older, around 20 ish. So if you know a high schooler feel free to share this with them.

Going into high school I expected a culture shock compared to middle school, and boy did I get one. Everything was so different. In middle school everyone looked down at the kids who were smoking and drinking. But in high school it seemed like everyone was praising the people who did bad things. Because in high school it's normal to drink, party, and have sex. At least that's what everybody was saying.

At homecoming and prom, the teachers and faculty were EXPECTING us to get in trouble. They had so little expectations of us, they had ever person take a breathalyzer before they could enter the dance. Now don't get me wrong, it was a good idea, and over 2 buses full of students got sent home. But my point is, the teachers, adults, parents, fellow students, expect teenagers to get in trouble.

So when I was an entering freshman, I had these low expectations. I decided to live down to them, and as many of you know I got into some bad things. Many of my friends scooped down to these expectations with me. Actually most of our grade (9^th graders) decided it was cool to do it. As I went along with the crowd I realized something. None of us were happy, and everyone knew what we were doing was wrong.

But then why do no one stand up and say this is wrong? If we all knew we didn’t want to be doing this, why didn’t we stop? Simple. Peer pressure. If someone said something, everyone would go with what everyone thought everyone was thinking, and say that person was stupid, weird, a geek. When in fact, they were thinking the same thing, that this was wrong.

Guess what? You don't have to scoop down to these expectations, in fact you should rise above them and set new ones for yourself! Challenge yourself to live bigger then what's expected, live bigger then average. Become something bigger for Christ.

David was estimated to be 17 when he killed Goliath - something that a man couldn't do! God sent a teenager instead. He thought that teen's were better equipped for the job. God has bigger plans for you now, then you could even image. Live up to God's expectation's for you, not society's.

Here are some bible verse's I want you to think about:

Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life. 1 Timothy 4:12

It is good for someone to work hard while he is young. Lamentations 3:27

The righteous should CHOOSE HIS FRIENDS CAREFULLY, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20

You can choose to go alone with the crowd, or you can choose to take a path with Christ. I know it is hard, the pressure sometimes can be really overwhelming. But, you can say NO. Once I decided to stop living down to these expectations I found my life changing. I know yours can too.

You have a choice.