Middle School - Some Tweens Just Aren't That Into It

I had a young woman write me recently about her struggles in middle school. She told me she easily spent 2-3 hours a day on homework, and was also having issues with bullying. She's clearly having a difficult year.

Oh, I feel for her and her parents. Middle school can be a lot of fun for many tweens, but for others it's a transitional phase they just want to grow out of, so that they can move on.

What do you say to encourage tweens who are experiencing issues in middle school? How do you  help them understand that these years won't last forever? More importantly, how do you help them find the silver lining, so that they can enjoy at least part of these years?