Why? Tonight a sophomore girl that frequents our youth group had over 150 likes on a photo, yet she goes up to my wife and says, “You liked my photo!” She felt so loved, understood, valued, important… simply because my wife saw a photo and liked it. That student scrolled through a myriad of names to find my wife’s name, then seek her out, to share that she felt loved and noticed.

Bottom line, if the pic is appropriate “like it.” If the photo is appropriate just double tap the screen letting your student or leader know you where there. In a fantastic book,  “Lead Small” it mentions showing up randomly as very important to the student. One of the easiest yet personal ways we can show up randomly for a student is through social media. Follow your students on instagram, facebook, twitter, etc. and when they post that picture of them being goofy at school or bored at home, simply “like” it.

It’s become too easy. To show a student you value them simply takes tapping a screen twice, but it means the world to them. I still vote for taking them out for a Starbucks, movie, or attending a school sporting event, these can produce some more time for conversation. Though these outings can be counted as a glue for connecting with and staying connected to the student world, there is something quite invasive yet extremely valuable to a student in simply saying, “I like it”. To the student it means: I’m rooting for you, great job, cool stuff, that’s fun, way to go, I’m a fan!