KidSpirit

My Rock

Strength and InfluenceGlobal Beat

There’s strength rooted in being a rock for someone. Having the stability, the knowledge, the unconditional love, the consistency takes strength. My community, my rock, stirs my dormant inner strength by giving me what I need from them, supporting me with their own strength, but not holding my hand the whole way. Community doesn’t just loan you strength when you need it. They tell you they love you, but you have to do this on your own. And so, you leave your homely, warm rock, and you become a little more stronger than you were before.

Knowing your community has your back makes it easier, but support not only through consistency but also honesty is how I become stronger. After all, true strength comes from within. You need to take the tough love to do things and make decisions on your own. But you can always come back to your community. I always know that my mom will be there to talk on the drive home from school, or my friend will be ready with advice when I’m desperate for direction, or my grandma will be there to really, truly listen and to ask the hard questions. Rocks are always in the same spot you left them, the same smoothed spots and sharp edges always remaining right where you last touched them. Both communities and strength come in different shapes and sizes, and the relationship between those two come in many different shades. Some people have their own rock, and some people balance themselves between boulders, managing just fine. Some might not have any rock apart from themselves. But through honesty, consistency, familiarity, and your routine with them, you rest and find the strength to keep going.

Katie Lamm is a 16 year old KidSpirit editor from Memphis, Tennessee.

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Art by Jaden Flach, Brooklyn

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Art by Jaden Flach, Brooklyn