New Eyes

Last week, I had an opportunity to travel with my students for a career exposure trip in Singapore. I’ve always enjoyed traveling and have learned much about myself and the world around me. I travel with my friends occasionally and travel with colleagues fairly often.

But the last time I traveled with my students was more than five years ago. And although I have good memories of that trip, I also remember being rather stressed at having to manage so many teenagers all at once. So I was prepared to be stressed again this year. But I must say that my expectations were happily unmet.

Traveling with my students when they’re much older was an altogether pleasant and enjoyable experience. Traveling with them when they’re much more responsible for themselves and more aware about the world, allowed me not to worry about how much trouble they might get into, but to see the world from their eyes.

With young people, everything is an adventure. There is a sense of invincibility that just permeates their entire being. They’re not afraid to try new things like riding a rollercoaster or getting wet in the rain. Of course, some of them are also likely to overspend or to get lost but these are experiences that are worth having too. They’re all part of the package of having adventures in the first place.

Young people are full of energy. I can wear myself out trying to match their energy and would fall short by half. We could go home from a long day spent outdoors and, whereas I would wake up still sore from the day before, they would be up and about ready for their next adventure.

Young people are full of hope. There are of course “nega-trons” that complain about everything but many more of them are eager to learn about the world. They can still see the potential in everything and watch as their dreams unfold. When I am around them, hope becomes tangible and I remember to keep seeing the world with new eyes.

I had expected to give far more of myself than I would receive. And although I came home tired and sore from all the excursions, I also came back grateful. As with all of God’s surprises, He really cannot be outdone in generosity.