The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Grace H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Reading - Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Do Hard Things, written by Alex and Brett Harris is a first-rate inspirational book for young adults. The twin brothers started a "Rebolution." This combines the two words revolution, a good thing, with rebellion, usually a bad thing which teenagers are known for. A rebolution is the fight against society's low expectations of teens. They write that teens need to take responsibility to take action in politics and spreading the gospel. Alex and Brett have started a fire in the youth of America and the world with more people hopping on board everyday.
Only for the last half-century has there been the assumption that the only thing teens are good for is playing video games and sports. In fact, the word teen wasn't even in the dictionary until the 1900's. In the past, as soon as you turned 12 or 13, you were required to take responsibility for many different things. Whether it was getting a job like the days of the great depression, or maybe being sent out into the fields if you lived on a farm, or possibly being placed in a monastery or an academy to be trained in the priesthood or in military school - no matter what it was, these kids were tested and pushed into maturity. As you can see, they survived with many lessons learned before they were 18 and so can we. These kids were trained from a young age to be hard workers and deep thinkers.
Now-a-days, most teens don't last a full day's work or would struggle living without their phone or computer for a week. Still, not all the fault can be blamed on the teens. Very few people have high expectations of teens. Most think we are lazy, irresponsible, rebellious complainers, which many times is true. Some people might even say we are unreliable in everything; even little chores like cleaning our room or making our beds.
Is this what you want to be known for? A slacker? A nuisance? I certainly don't. I would like to demonstrate that there is no difference in the responsibility and work a teen can handle compared to an adult. Even though we are young, we can have an influence on many. Our peers, those younger than us and even some that are older could look at us and feel encouraged by the fact that we work hard and have a holy ambition. Do you think that Bill Gates, William Wilberforce, or any of our presidents slacked off in school, or never went over and above the call of duty to help someone or learn something new? Most people who are highly successful today probably worked incredibly hard to get there and pushed themselves in the areas they were passionate about.
So, as the Harris brothers would encourage you, stand up and make a difference in your world today. Don't wait until the best years of your life are gone because you've wasted them being a self-pleaser. Encourage those around you and GET REAL in your walk with Christ.
