It’s often said that if you choose a job that you love, then you never have to work a day in your life.

I am a Youth Development Officer and I am fortunate enough to wake up every morning excited to go to work.

Having worked in Community Services over a 10 year old period, predominantly in Youth Work – I am driven by my passion for empowering young people.

Effective youth work works well on that basis alone – that you are working alongside them, not for them.

Yet, what I’ve found so enlightening and admirable when working with amazing young people, is that it isn’t always so much what we can teach them. But what they can teach us.

Regardless of what field of work we are in, no matter the clientele, the demographic – there is always so much to learn from others. It is never a one way street.

It is that continual development and openness to learning that helps us to become better people not just in our jobs but in our personal lives too.

Through my Youth Work experience in caring for children in 24/7 state care, empowering young people in an environmental organisation, working in government and private housing, in a rehabilitation facility, in a training organisation, now in local government – I have learnt so much from young people.

Here are 5 Lessons Young People Can Remind Us About Life.

1. Life is about balance.

Whilst a majority of young people do not have the same responsibilities most adults do, many that I have worked with have endured a heartbreaking amount of trauma and suffered more than some of us will ever experience in our lives. Yet, the smiles radiating from their faces, the laughter emitted from their mouths – tell a completely different story.

As adults, especially with work and family commitments – it is easy to feel overwhelmed in our life stressors, to neglect our mental and physical health, to forget to smile, laugh and enjoy the moment.

However, we can’t forget to cherish life.

This is why supportive workplaces encourage employees to utilise their leave, spend birthdays at home, be there for their family when emergencies eventuate and there are challenges at home. We need to remember to maintain that work-life balance.

2. Making mistakes is okay.

Having run writing workshops with young people, assisted young people with cooking, and even provided support with job applications – I have had the pleasure of witnessing the upskilling of young people’s life skills.

Watching individuals blossom, enrich their learning, and achieve self efficacy through trial and error and experience – is what makes my work so rewarding.

However, to get there, these young people have made mistakes. They have tried, they have given every experience their all.

In life, especially with imposter syndrome, changes of a job that lead to new people, a new environment, new processes – it can lead to feelings of insecurity and a fear of making mistakes.

However we can’t let this failure consume us and stop us from trying, from experiencing life, from having the confidence in ourselves. That inner confidence will boost our morale, productivity and future career prospects both in and out of our current roles.

3. Being vulnerable is essential to growth.

Young people, more often than not, are very forthcoming and transparent. They can be direct, blunt and very open. These are qualities that we adults can certainly be reminded of.

In the professional world, we may feel predisposed to believing that our reputation is solely built on a tough exterior where we are required to appear confident all the time, to never ask for help, to never question anything.

However, not only do employment laws suggest otherwise, but current workplace practises do not live by that.

Supportive workplaces embrace transparency and openness – they want a team who will bring their other experiences to the table, who will challenge policies and procedures, who will be honest about the personal challenges that could be having an impact on their work.

Whilst all colleagues may not always become friends, it’s important to remember that genuine connection also leads to trust, rapport and bonds which can also have a positive impact on team morale and building.

Having the ability to be the real you at work with the balance of professionalism – has the potential to reduce performance anxiety and have you feeling more confident and competent in the work you do.

4. Asking for help is actually a strength.

Young people are often in the position of requesting assistance from others – whether it be for some advice about a relationship, guidance around education, or even some support around what services might be able to assist with a specific concern.

Being able to seek help always takes courage and the self awareness that maybe they don’t always have the answer.

Likewise, there are times where we may not know the answer, where we might need clarity on a problem, where we might need to brainstorm a bit more before we get closer to a solution.

And all that is okay. We need to allow ourselves time to think deeply on our options and make a decision that is truly right for us.

Strategic planning is the key to a better success story, more successful project, a more positive outcome and statistic.

5. Your loved ones are the most important aspect of your life.

For most of us, work is a large part of our lives. It not only provides financial stability, it also provides us a sense of purpose, gives our lives meaning, and helps us to contribute to the world through our own skills.

But what young people have reminded me most importantly is that no matter how busy life is, there is always time for your family and friends. That your support network is what matters most.

Just like we do at work, we have to “maintain” these relationships, we need to make that continual effort, we need to reflect and re-evaluate when things aren’t going so well.

Having a strong network of family and/or friends means the world of difference when we are going through challenges and need someone to remind us we are not alone and we have strength to get through this.

I am grateful for these 5 lessons that young people continue to remind me about life. And I am grateful that my personal and professional life is living proof of that every day.