More Junior High Changes: Friends & Plot Twists

In today’s post, we dive into #4 and #5 of five big changes that middle schoolers go through. Let’s do this!

#4 – Friends

Friends become top priority, but it’s not always fun and games. Junior high friendships are like group projects—sometimes amazing, sometimes confusing, and sometimes you wonder how you got stuck with these people. Friendships shift. New friends come in, old ones fade out, group chats mysteriously go silent, and drama is in the air.

#5 – Plot Twists

As if friend drama weren’t enough, life sometimes throws in a move, a new school, or some other “fun plot twist.” And when they’re already juggling a bunch of changes inside, it’s like adding extra spice to an already spicy taco.

So, what’s a junior higher leader to do?

Two quick thoughts:

Normalize the chaos. Let them know it’s okay to feel all over the place. Change is happening to everyone, even if no one’s talking about it. In the last email, I mentioned normalizing the physical stuff—like the awkward growth spurts—but it’s way bigger than that. It’s everything else too: feelings, friendships, life twists… the whole rollercoaster ride.
Help them anchor to the unchanging love of Jesus. Because when everything around them feels like a crazy tilt-a-whirl ride at the amusement park (you know, the one that makes your stomach do somersaults and your brain go “What just happened?!”), Jesus is the solid ground that never moves.

Hope this stuff’s been as helpful as a snack during a long meeting! Keep rocking the awesome job you’re doing with those middle schoolers—they’re lucky to have you!

Nick Diliberto

P.S. – Looking for middle school ministry curriculum? Check out this bundle: