I'm not going to lie to you, I am not a big fan of middle school girls. As the age difference between myself and middle school girls increases, so does my preference to avoid them if I can. It doesn't help that I didn't like middle school girls when I was one. And yet the week I spent with 15 middle school girls is without a doubt one of the best weeks of my summer.
I went into Druid City Girls Media Camp afraid I wouldn't be able to connect with the girls I would be teaching the basics of filmmaking. I left the camp having learned quite a few things myself.
1. You Shouldn't Have A YouTube Channel If You Can Only Do Mascara
I overheard some of the campers discussing this. I hadn't realized how popular YouTube channels had become, which is probably why I didn't realize there are more prerequisites to spreading your ideas through YouTube. I definitely did not know how to apply mascara at their age, and I definitely had a YouTube channel (whether I had quality content or not is up for debate).
2. You Shouldn't Waste Time Caring What Other People Think
The best ideas in the camp by far were the ones the campers made because it was what they liked. Society's opinions and preferences were left at the door. One of my favorite short films from the camp was called "I'm a Giraffe" and that took abstract filmmaking to a whole new level. Those girls did not give a shit. And I am here for it.
3. Snack Is The Most Important Time Of The Day
It is a time to reflect. It is a time to plan. It is a time to remember how amazing animal crackers and Little Bites are. It is a time that should happen at least once a day.
4. If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again
A lot of people (myself included) give up if they aren't successful the first time around. These middle schoolers did not give up, on anything. They did dozens of takes to get the perfect shot. They flipped water bottles over and over again until they got it. They tried over and over again until they finally stole my chair from me. They may be addicted to technology, but when they put it down they play to win.
5. Middle Schoolers Are Suprisingly Woke
No matter what I or anyone else might think, middle school girls know what is going on the in the world around them. Before they begin high school they know the world is not fair, and it is not in their favor. It breaks my heart knowing these girls know there are people in this world that don't see their potential, but the fact is they have a better concept of the world's biases than I did for most of high school.
6. Group Projects Don't Get Easier
Sure, we learn how to communicate better as we grow up. But compromising our ideas never gets easier. I spent most of the week acting as a mediator of inspired young filmmakers. This included deciding whether or not it would make sense to kill a millionaire with poison, should a film take place on an island, etc.
7. Girls Change A Lot In A Short Time — Not Just Physically
There is a huge difference between myself at age 20 and these 10- 14-year-old girls. There is just as large of a difference between the 10-year-old girls and the 14-year-olds. And I'm not talking about outward appearances. Responsibility, self-concepts, sense of humor, maturity — so much changes in just a handful of years.
Six years ago I biked everywhere, hated putting dishes away, and was just figuring out how an iPhone worked.
Ten years ago I asked my parents for permission to do anything, thought Crocs were cool, didn't realize there were any big difference between boys and girls, etc.
Today I drive myself wherever I want to go, whenever I want. I am on my 4th iPhone. Crocs are a throwback. I know a crucial difference between men and women is that men might underestimate today's middle school girls. But I won't anymore.
