What’s it like being 11 in 2012?
Next week, we are going to watch the documentary “I Am Eleven”. A Melbourne film maker, Genevieve Bailey, wondered and explored what it’s like to be eleven. She chose this age as it represents the time between childhood and becoming a teenager. Genevieve travelled to 15 countries and interviewed many 11-year olds.
Before we watch the documentary and meet and talk with Genevieve Bailey (how lucky are we!), I would like to know your 11 year old (or recently 11-year old) thoughts and feelings.
Part 1:
Please read the following questions (they are the kinds of questions Genevieve asked in her interviews) and give them some thought before recording your response:
I am eleven (or recently was) in Melbourne…
1. What do you like least about being eleven?
2. What do you worry about?
3. What makes you happy?
4. What makes you sad?
5. What’s the best thing and the worst thing that has happened to you?
6. Would you rather be clever or good looking?
7. If you could invent something, what would it be?
8. What would you do if you could change the world?
9. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
10. Who should be the next Prime Minister and why?
11. Are you on Facebook?
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
13. How do you think we could take better care of the environment?
14. What do you think will happen in the future?
I am really interested to know what you think and feel. Thank you for taking the time to respond and for taking a risk and being honest.
Part 2:
After watching the documentary, we are lucky enough to be having a Question and Answer session with the film maker. What questions would you like to ask Genevieve when you meet her next week?
Ms J
PS As these questions require you to open up and share, if you are interested, I can be open too and answer them from the perspective of a 45 year old.
June 19th, 2012 at 10:47 am
1. The thing I least like about being 11 is that sometimes people can under estimate me and because I am young they won’t let me do certain jobs that I can easily do.
2. The thing I worry about most is not passing my VCE tests and getting a bad job.
3. Something that makes me happy is when I come home from school my puppy Poppy is so excited to see me that she pishes!
4. Something that makes me sad is if I see someone smoking.
5. The best thing that has ever happened to me is getting a dog and the worst thing was when i got bullied in Sydney.
6. I would probably rather be clever than good looking because if you have put yourself in a sticky situation you won’t get out of it by being pretty or good looking you will need the brains.
7. If I could invent something it would be a machine that cures cancer without pain.
8. The first thing I would do if I could change the world is distribute money evenly to all the countries so no one would be in poverty.
9. If I could live anywhere I would live in Australia because it is a peaceful country and we have democracy.
10. The next prime minister should be my dad because he really does know how to handle tough situations.
11. I am on facebook.
12. When I grow up I want to be an architect and design homes.
13. We can take better care of the environment by recycling and not littering.
14. In the future I think there will be hover cars.
ella
June 19th, 2012 at 11:41 am
Hi Ella,
i hope you are feeling a little better. Thanks for such awesome responses. Your meaning is clear and i can tell that you thought about each response. I updated the post to include a part 2. Can you check it out and submit aresponse, please.
Thanks
Ms J
June 19th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Hi Ella,
I wonder when I was 11 if I had thought about things as deeply as you. Your dad must be someone special. – I guess you would have to really deal with tough situations.
Thanks
Mrs Sacker
June 19th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
1. The thing I least like about being eleven is that when I am with 13 and 14 year olds, they think they are so much more mature and older than me and don’t want to be around me because I am too small to be a part of their conversations.
2. The thing I am worried about is getting to teenager years and being pressured to do things I really do not want to do.
3. The thing that makes me happy is when I spend time with my family and friends. My dog also makes me happy. I am also happy when I go on mini adventures with my family on the weekends that my dad plans.
4. Something that makes me sad is when I go away to places like Bali or Phuket and I see very poor children living in bad conditions. I see children not having an education and begging on the streets. While I go to amazing resorts these kids run around the streets and sleep in shacks.
5.The worst thing that has ever happened to me is losing very close grandparents and family. The best thing that has ever happened to me is being born in to a loving family and having amazing friends in Australia.
6. I would rather be clever than good looking because you will go far in life if you get a good job, know what can be dangerous and what situations not to put yourself in.
7. If I had to create a machine it would probably be a machine that brings back the dead.
8. The thing I would do to change the world is to give everyone a house and an education or occupation. I would also put a cheap supermarket near every village or city.
9. If I had to choose a place to live, it would probably be here in Australia because it is far away from the rest of the world which means less wars between us and a other countries. Also because we don’t have things like active volcanoes or tornados and because I have many friends and family here.
10. The next Prime Minister should be my mum because she is loving and makes amazing choices and decisions for the family. She also cares for everyone and loves to help people.
11. No, I am not on Facebook.
12. I either want to be a lawyer or an author.
13. We can take better care of the environment if we don’t cut down so many trees or throw out plastic products, recycle them because they are not biodegradable.
14. In the future I think technology will get even better and will make our lives even easier, hopefully it will help us live long, healthy and happy lives.
Timnah
June 19th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
Wow Timmi,
again you have expressed your thoughts and feelings so beautifully. Thank you for sharing your inner thoughts. I’m not sure that I was so sure of what I about my world thought at your age. I hope that you can be both a lawyer and an author.
Ms J
June 20th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Hi Ms J,
Thankyou.
Part 2:
I wonder what were some of the challenges Genevieve faced while asking questions in other countries. I also wonder which countries she went to and I wonder how those other kids responded.
Timnah
June 20th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
1 I don’t like how my older brother leaves me out at the park.
2 When i get older people will force you to do stuff
3 When i spend time with my family and dogs.
4 When people get very sick.
5 The best thing was going to spend time with my family in South Africa.
6 I would rather be clever because then you can do better things in your life.
7 I would invent a money tree because then you would not have to worry about any thing really.
8 Make sure that every one got on with each other.
9 I would live in Melbourne because not any violence goes on.
10 My dad is strong with what he says.
11 No i don’t have a facebook.
12 I would like to be an architect when i am older.
13 Give people and businesses fines if they get caught polluting .
14 That every one has a hover craft.
June 20th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
1. The thing I like least about being eleven is when older people say, “I’ll tell you when you’re older,” but never do.
2. Secondary school because it sound so tough and hard.
3. Being with my friends.
4. Adults say you are too young to do something.
5. The best thing that ever happened to me is being in a loving family and having great friends, but the worst thing that ever happened to me is when my dog got killed.
6. Clever, you can get a good job and have a good living.
7. Robotic personal servants.
8. Give everyone the same rights.
9. Africa, so I can help the poor and the wild life.
10. My grandma because she always knows what’s right for everyone and she is very decisive.
11. Yes, but I don’t enjoy it.
12. Astronaut.
13. Make a machine that makes paper out of dirt and when the paper is thrown out in turns back in to dirt in one week.
14. Robotic armies.
June 21st, 2012 at 6:41 am
Hi Ethan,
your responses don’t make sense as you did not structure your response the way I asked you to – which is a pity as i wanted to know what you think and feel.
Ms J
July 12th, 2012 at 7:38 am
Hi Ethan,
Well done for coming up with 14 good responses. You have some great ideas! It was a little bit difficult for me to work out which questions you were answering – maybe if you’d written some of the question in your answer then that would have helped. For example, 11 might have been “Yes, I’m on Facebook, but I don’t really enjoy it”. Maybe you could do that next time. But never mind, I managed to work it out.
I wondered, what might you use a robotic servant for? Perhaps for cleaning your room! And why would you like to be an astronaut? Maybe you’d like to explore some planets or work in a space station or meet aliens?
I see you’re into robots – did you ever see “Robowars”? That was great fun!
Keep on blogging and telling us your great ideas!
Clive
June 20th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
1. What do you like least about being eleven?
2. What do you worry about?
like Ella, I worry about my VCE score, I worry that i wil get a bad mark and that i will end up with a unfulfilling job
3. What makes you happy?
my family and my friends and that i am still in touch with my friends from yavneh (my old school)
4. What makes you sad?
when i see poor people on the street smoking
5. What’s the best thing and the worst thing that has happened to you?
best: that i was born into a loving famly that will do anything to see me smile
worst:my safta (grandmother) passed away
6. Would you rather be clever or good looking?
um…. clever because being preety might get you a job that u are not right for because the dude that is interviewing you is into you but that will not work for your VCE teacher but this will not mean that I am ugly, it just means that I will care more about my brains then my beauty.
7. If you could invent something, what would it be?
A machine that brings back the dead
8. What would you do if you could change the world?
make everything free!!!!!!!!!
9. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
I would live right here in austyralia because it is where all my family and friends and family are and we have democracy.
10. Who should be the next Prime Minister and why?
my dad because he handles tough situations very well and he sdands up for what he believes in or you, Ms Hailey Joubert because you would add colour to the world
11. Are you on Facebook?
yes
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
um…. a dancer
13. How do you think we could take better care of the environment?
not litter
14. What do you think will happen in the future?
technology will overrule family time
xoxo simmi
June 21st, 2012 at 6:39 am
Hi Simmi,
thanks for your responses – in the future technology will have a stronger presence in our lives, I agree, but it doesn’t have to take over family time – it depends on a family’s values.
Ms J
June 20th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
1.The thing i least like about being 11 is being underestimated.
2.I worry about failing tests when i’m older and not getting a good job.
3.It makes me happy when my whole family meets together because we rarely do.
4.It makes me sad hearing about what happens in country’s ruled by a dictator.
5.The best thing that has happened to me was finding out i have step cousins in a way and meeting them. The worst thing that has happened to me was finding out my grandma might have cancer again.
6.I would rather be clever than good looking because if you are clever you can accomplish great things in life.
7.If I could invent anything I would invent a machine that would end world hunger.
8.If I could change something in the world I would stop war, world hunger, poverty and fix or help the environment.
9.If I could live anywhere I would still live in Melbourne because it has good weather(well at least three quarters of the time) and i have good friends in Melbourne as well.
10.I think my dad should be the next prime minister even if he does not want to be it because I reckon that unlike some prime ministers he will not make bad decisions
11.No I am not on Facebook.
12.I think we could take better of the environment if landfills were banned and you could only recycle.
13.In the future I think unless something is done about it we will melt and there will be giant tsunamis.
June 20th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
I would like to ask her if she was happy with most of the children’s answers.
June 20th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
hi ms. j,
Part 1:
1. my least favourite thing about being eleven is being in the gap, by not being a child, but not being a teenager. for example with clothes, i dont fit into childrens clothes or teenagers clothes so it is hard.
2. i worry about other countries who dont have democracy-who dont get a say in their country.
3. i am happy when i shop, because i LOVE shopping!!:)
4. it makes me sad when i see people who are less fortunate than me, who struggle to live.
5. the best thing that happened to me is having a family who cares for me and loves me.
i can not think of the worst thing that happened to me.
6. i would rather be clever because being clever gives you a career, but being good looking just means being popular in early days but later in life it will bearly be worth anything.
7. if i could invent something it would be a machine that cures all types of sicknesses and deseases that doesnt cost alot of money, doesnt hurt and doesnt take a long time.
8. i would stop homelessness and build wells so people could have clean water.
9. i would live right here in melbourne because i would be with my friends and family.
10. i am not sure who should be the next prime minister but i think to be chosen to be a prime minister that person should show all the attitudes.
11. no, i am not on facebook.
12. i have not decided yet.
13. to take better care of the environment there should be more local bins around so it stops people from littering.
14. in the future i think more technolygy will be invented which means it will stop people from doing sports.:(
Part 2:
question: Where did you get the idea of “i am eleven” from?
June 21st, 2012 at 3:24 pm
1. What I don’t like about being 11 is that everyone thinks they’re smarter then you.
2. I worry about other people that don’t have families or homes.
3. When I’m around my friends
4. I’m sad when my dad is always away.
5. The best thing that has happened to me is being born and the worst thing that’s happened to me is not seeing my dad as much as I want to
6. I would rather be clever then good looking because you need to be clever for when you get older.
7. I would invent a machine that makes you not die.
8. If I could change the world I would make sure there was nothing that will hurt the environment
9. If I could live anywhere I would live in Australia because all my family and friends live in Australia.
10. I think the next prime minister should be my mum because she makes good decisions
11. No, I’m not on Facebook.
12. When I grow up I wont to be a pilot or a basketball player
13. I think we should take care of the environment by watering it everyday
14. In the future the world will be a better place.
June 21st, 2012 at 5:20 pm
1. I don’t like bein 11 because that means I am the youngest in my family and my brother bosses me around.
2. I worry about people destroying all the trees and killing all the animals homes.
3. When i go to RSA and my auntie gives me tonnes of presents.
4.When I see strat animals.
5.The worst thing that ever happened to me was my fifth birthday and my teacher let me use the big toilets and i accidentally locked myself in and they said happy birthday without me…. Luckily they heard me screaming. The best thing that happened to me was staying back a grade in school because I started one year ahead. I like this because if I did not stay back I would not have the life I do now.
I would like to ask her if she was suprised by any answers she got.
6. Clever because you can get so much more out of being clever than good looking.
7. I would invent a machine that turns anything into food and water. It would also be easily affordable so people in poverty could use it.
8. I would ban cigarettes but do it in a way that nobody will get angry or sad.
9. I would live here but if I had to live somewhere else it would be RSA because all my cousins and family are there.
10. My dog because she always finds a way to get what she wants. If it’s barking at people or begging at the table for food.
11. Yes but I mainly use it for games.
12. A lwayer because I want to defend people.
13. By using renewable and solar energy.
14. We’ll find another planet that meets the recquirements that we need to live on and we’ll start transporting people there so our world wont “over flow”
June 21st, 2012 at 5:27 pm
1. I don’t like when my sister talks about older thing that I cant here.
2. If there will be another earthquake.
3. My family gets along very well.
4. When people don’t like who they are and have no where to live and no friends.
5. The best thing that happened to was getting past a couple levels in the Victorian soccer.
6. Be clever because I will get further in life.
7. I would like to invent when you say something you want to say or do it will do for you.
8. Every were everyone will has the same amount of money.
9. I would live in Melbourne because I am made to live here.
10. My uncle because he is a lawyer and makes good decisions.
11. No, I am not on Facebook.
12. I would like to be a personal trainer.
13. We need to try recycle more.
14. Everything will be automatic.
June 21st, 2012 at 5:59 pm
Hi Ms J,
1. What do you like least about being eleven?
2. What do you worry about?
I worry something bad is going to happen to my family.
3. What makes you happy?
When i’m with my family and friends.
4. What makes you sad?
When i find out someone is sick or passed away.
5. What’s the best thing and the worst thing that has happened to you?
The best thing is when i got Juicy my dog and when i saw my parents for the first time.
6. Would you rather be clever or good looking?
I would rather be clever because when u grow up you will need knowledge.
7. If you could invent something, what would it be?
????????I would invent a matchine that can bring people back to life.
8. What would you do if you could change the world?
????????I would make the world enviremently friendly.
9. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
i would live in melbourne because my family is here.
10. Who should be the next Prime Minister and why?
( My dad or john howard.)
11. Are you on Facebook?
Yes i am to talk to friends in different Countrys.
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I would be a vet or a doctor or a breeder.
13. How do you think we could take better care of the environment?
Don’t litter!!!!!!
14. What do you think will happen in the future?
You can pick up houses with a truck.
xx Milla
June 21st, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Hi Ms J,
1. What I like least about being eleven is how the older people don’t let you contribute in there conversations.
2. I worry about if something happens to one of my close relatives or if someone dies in my family and i also worry about scary stories.
3. The thing that makes me happy is having a warm, loving and welcoming family.
4. The thing that makes me sad is seeing my parent’s of siblings fight or argue.
5. The best thing that has happened to me is being born into a beautiful, open, peaceful, warm loving family. And the worst thing that has has happened to me is seeing my Zeida (Grandfather) Go into hospital mostly every week.
6. I would rather be good looking because it will help you when you grow up and also because you would rather have the good brains than a pretty face.
7. If i had the chance to invent something it would be to bring back all the good people back to life and change everyone to be a good person.
8. If i had the chance to change the world i would give every poor family the money and support they need and help them live in good conditions and have good shelter and can afford to send there children to a good school and get the good education they need.
9. If i could live anywhere i would live in Australia Melbourne because it is very safe and we have no wars here.
10. The next prime minister should be my papa ( Grandfather) because he has already helped Israel be a better place and he is very passionate about helping the world.
11. NO i am not on Facebook!
12. When i grow up i want to be an A.F.L diatition because i love sport.
13. To have a better environment we need to put all our rubbish in the bin and look after our environment very well.
14. I think in the future the world will be a different place with new inventions and new laws and people will change the way they live there lifestyle there houses might change and there personalities and i believe we will have flying roads and cars.
June 21st, 2012 at 7:46 pm
1. What I least like about being 11 is that I’m underestimated.
2. I worry about waking up on time to catch the school bus.
3. What makes me happy is weekends because there is no school.
4. what makes me sad is not being able to see one of my grandparents.
5. The best thing that has ever happened to me is being born in such a caring family.
6. I would rather be clever because it will help you more in life to get a good job.
7. If I could invent something I would make a cure for cancer.
8. If I could change the world I would stop child labour and world hunger.
9. If I could live anywhere in the world I would live in Melbourne Australia because I already have friends and family living here.
10. The next prime minister should be my mum because she knows how to handle a sticky situation.
11. Yes I am on Facebook
12. When I grow up I want to be alive and an accountant
13. I think to take care of the environment we need to recycle more.
14. I think there will be hover boards.
what gave you the idea to make this documentary?
Liron
June 21st, 2012 at 8:47 pm
1) People think worse about you just because your younger.
2) Not getting a good job and letting my family down.
3) When i play soccer with my fiends and when people compliment me.
4) Not doing well in sport and school.
5) The best thing thats ever happened to me is being brought up with a caring family and the worst is missing the soccer state finals.
6) I would rather be clever because you would get much farther in life.
7) I would invent a machine that makes everyone feel good about themselfs.
8) I would make there be no more poverty and hunger in the world.
9) Europe so i have a better chance of getting into the EPL.
10) My older brother because hes a good leader and he can control everything.
11) No, im not on facebook.
12) I want to be a soccer player, architect and a athlete.
13) By having no litter and by recycling all your paper, bottles and plastic.
14) They will make new inventions and everthing will be electrical.
June 22nd, 2012 at 7:53 am
1) What i least like is that i don’t have as much freedom as teenagers.
2) I worry about how my future will turn out.
3) What makes me happy is seeing my family, friends and people i don’t even know happy.
4) I get sad when i learn and see things about poor countries and kids my age with so little.
5) The best thing that has happened to me is getting so far in the soccer trials, and the worst thing is seeing kids at my school playing alone.
6) I would want to be clever because i can get way better in life.
7) If i were to invent something i would want to invent a cure for major sicknesses.
8) If i could change the world i would try and stop poverty and starving people around the world.
9) If i were to live anywhere it would still be Melbourne because my friends and family are here.
10. I think my mum because she is a good leader and can take on almost anything.
11. yes i’m on facebook.
12. when i grow up i want to be a psychologist.
13. we could recycle, reuse and manufactures can use less energy which will stop pollution.
14. There will be a lot more electronics.
Tayla
June 22nd, 2012 at 9:00 am
1.The thing I least like about being 11 is my older brothers dont let me be around them and their friends when I have nothing to do because im “Too Young”.
2.I dont worry about anything.
3.Being around friends and family doing things I like to do makes me happy.
4.Seeing disadvantaged people and not being able to help them makes me sad
5.Winning a scholarship is the best thing that has happened to me. Hurting my ankle is the worst thing that has happened to me.
6.I would rather be clever than good looking.
7.If I could invent one thing it would be a vending machine that you give trash and it gives you money.
8.If I could change the world I would end world poverty.
9.If I could live anywhere I would live in Australia because its a safe place.
10.If I could choose the Prime Minister I would choose John Howard because in my opinion he has been the best Prime Minister to Australia.
11.Yes I am on facebook
12.A physicist.
13.To take better care of the environment I would do so by saving fossil fuels and not cutting down as much trees and farming them instead.
14.I think we will run out of fossil fuels and alot of other natural resources in the future.
June 22nd, 2012 at 10:07 am
1. I like least about being 11 that I am not old enough to make some decisions for myself.
2. I worry about war in the world and that there is no world peace
3. I am happy when my cat waits for me to get home from school.
4. that people in other countries are starving to death and that I’m so lucky.
5. The best thing that has ever happened to me was when I was in Fiji and I spent the week playing rugby with people I just met. The worst was when my great grandmother passed away.
6. I think that being clever will get you further in life because you can get out of situations that looks couldn’t
7.I would invent something that cures some of the worlds most dangerous diseases.
8. If I could change the world I would have world peace and there would be no war.
9. I would live in australia because there is peace and there are also not many natural disasters.
10. I think my dad would be the next prime minister because he takes things in a positive way and doesn’t favour.
11. I am on Facebook
12. I want to be an NBA basketballer when I’m older.
13. I think we could take better care of the environment by bothering to go to the rubbish bin and using the recycle bins.
14. In the future I think there will be a lot of war
June 22nd, 2012 at 10:26 am
1. I think that being 11 sometimes can be good and bad, bad because you are not allowed to do certain things and good because most places you go to you can get in for cheaper.
2. What worries me is that if I pass tests and exams and how if I go well in them.
3. What makes me happy is going home to my family and hanging out with my friends.
4. I am usually sad when family and friends are upset.
5. The best thing that’s ever happened to me is being born to such a caring and loving family. The worst thing that has happened to me is when I went to hospital for a week.
6. I would rather be clever then good looking because when you are in a tough situation you can’t get out of it by being good looking you need to have the brains.
7. If I could invent something it would be a machine which would cure bad sicknesses for less expensive so not so wealthy people can afford it.
8. If I could change the world I would change it so there is no world hunger.
9. If I could live anywhere I would live here in Melbourne because all most of my Family live here.
10. I think my Dad should be prime minister because he is really helpful, Is really smart and will listen to everyone.
11. No, I am not on Facebook.
12. When I grow up I want to be an architect and an interior designer.
13. I think we should try and look after the environment by not littering.
14. In the future I think that there is going to be more technology.
June 22nd, 2012 at 10:31 am
Hi Ms J,
1. The thing i least like a bout being 11 is people undersestimate me because i am smaller.
2. i worry mainley about children dieing from desisers.
3. hanging out with my family and friends make me happy.
4. i get sad when i see poor people on the side of the street begging for money.
5. the best thing that hhas happened to me is being born to a loving family,and being in musicals. the worst thing thats ever happened to me is when someone in my family pased away.
6. i would rather be clever than good looking becasue when you are stuck in a sticky situation you cant get out witrh looks onley inteligents.
7. if i could invent something i would invent a time mashine so i can go back in time to stop all the bad things that had happened in the past.
8. if i could change the world i would make peace in the world and make sure no wars accure.
9. if i could live anywhere i would live in australia because australia is a fair country and not maney desasters happen.
10.the next priminister should be my dad becasue he is kind fair and is always positive.
11. YES in am on facebook.
12. when i grow up i want to be a phsychologist.
13. we could take better care of the environment by always recycling.
14. in the future the world will end.
love jasmine
June 25th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Hi Ms J,
1. The thing I like least about being 11 is that you cant do as what you want, like go out by yourself e.g.
2. I worry that I wont be successful when I’m older.
3. What makes me happy is being with my family and friends, and playing music.
4. What makes me sad is when I see disabled people.
5. The best thing that has ever happened to me is being able to play music, and the worst thing that has ever happened to me is when people in my family pass away.
6. I would rather be clever than good looking because the you’ll go further in life.
7. If I could invent something I would invent a machine that makes people better from being sick.
8. If I could change the world I would make sure everybody had fair rights.
9. If I could live anywhere I would live in melbourne because it safe and my friends and family are here.
10. My dad should be the next Prime Minister because he is fair and clever.
11. I am on facebook.
12. I have not thought about it yet.
13. We could take better care of our enviorment by finding ways to save water and energy.
14. In the future electronics will be much more advanced.
Luv Manz