KOTA Territory NewsChildren First: adolescent awkwardness builds life skills

Children First: adolescent awkwardness builds life skills

When you're young, it's hard to avoid labels.

"Yeah they call me a jock. I play football, so you're probably gonna be called a jock," said 14 year-old Jarod Houbadioux of Rapid City Central High School.

 But most kids will tell you some labels are catchier than others...

"Nerds love math, they wear glasses," said a group of middle school children at the YMCA.

"If I need help with my homework I can just call [nerds]... If I need help." said Houbadioux.

While adolescent awkwardness might be something to laugh about for most adults, for kids living through it it's something that causes a lot of stress.

Sean Hayward, a outreach counselor at the YMCA, was once a troubled youth himself.  he knows the path for the socially awkward child is rocky.

But he says those bumps along the way often prepare kids for a brighter future.

"They've learned lots of coping skills. Then when they get into that adult world (sometimes late college world) you really see them blossom into an extremely successful person because they've had to learn those skills at a young age." said Hayford.

And he says those skills give them an advantage over the "popular kids."

"There are kids who struggle with the fact that oh my boss doesn't like me and they have to learn to deal with that.  they struggle with the things those kids with social obstacles have already overcome," said Hayford.

So Hayford says while it may be hard for kids to see the value of their struggles now ... when they are on top in the future they'll be able to realize what's really important.

"They realize later on that it's not a big deal if this person doesn't like me. As long as I can get them to respect me...I'll be ok."