The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Joel M. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Read - Book Report on Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
In the book Do Hard Things, Alex and Brett Harris challenge America’s teenagers to rebel from disgustingly low expectations. This book has challenged me personally in many ways. If this book was written by any one much older than teenagers, it would not have as big of an impact. But the great thing is it’s written by two normal guys close to my age, going through the same things. That is why this book speaks to so many teenagers.
In chapter one, the authors made the point that teenage years are very important for the rest of your life. Our teen years are our training grounds for adulthood. The decisions we make now could potentially affect the rest of our lives. An example of a big one is following God. If you decided to do it now, it’ll be easier to keep going as you get older. Now that is a big responsibility! Yes it is, but it is time teens start accepting it.
There is so much potential held back by the lie of teenage adolescent years being an extended childhood. Why do we have to wait till we are “grown up” until we start changing the world? The answer is we don’t! If you look back in the past, “teenagers” have been doing absolutely amazing things. Like the story of a thirteen year old boy who became a captain of a ship, and sailed it home. By the standards teens are held at now, this feat would have been thought impossible. Stories like this challenge me to suck it up, and do hard things. Not all hard things have to be huge accomplishments (Cleaning your room can be hard too).
Looking back in history, children will rise to the level of expectation given them. Now look at America’s culture, what is expected of our youth? Not much. What is a majority of our youth doing? Once again, not much. I believe that if our culture has higher expectations for youth, we’ll start doing more. Now here is the hard part. Even if culture does not have high expectations for you, have them for yourself. Push yourself to change the world around you, even if that means doing little things. You never know who will see the little things that you do. It could affect someone’s life, which in turn could change the world. Sometimes the little things can change the world as much as big things.
Now what about me? How has this book personally affected me? Well, this book has just shown me how little I can or should complain about anything. When it comes down to it, making the hard choice now, will reap innumerable benefits later. But if I choose the easy way now, life will be much harder ahead. God will reward hard work and effort. I just have to decide to do it. I don’t have to wait till I’m an adult to start changing the society around me. I can Do Hard Things.
