If you work with middle school students, it's always helpful to think back to what life was like when you were in middle school.  I spent some time thinking about it, and here is the list that I came up with:

• I wanted to be in the NBA.
• I bought an mp3 player for $300 that held 8 songs.
• People freaked out about Y2K.
• Gas cost a little over $1/gallon.
• I started using AOL Instant Messenger and created my first ever SN: rjgrune2000 still works to this day.
• I didn't own a cell phone.
• My computer ran Windows 98.
• My grandma had this crazy computer called an iMac.
• People in schools started worrying about school shooting.
• Pirating music became popular due to a program called napster.
• Beanie Babies and Tamagotchi were popular for a short time.
• I made a website dedicated to Britney Spears.
• A teacher told me I'd make a good pastor someday; I thought she was crazy.