If today's middle schoolers seem shy and socially awkward, it's hard to imagine they could show off the bevy of talents Zebulon Middle School students put on display Tuesday night.

The school's talent show featured singers, dancers and beat boxers, poets, cheerleaders and musicians. ZMS principal Dalphine Perry said the show is an impressive display of what young people can do.

"You watch that and say to yourself, 'I didn't know they could do all that,'" Perry said.

In fact, the students were doing more than just strutting their talents on stage. They were raising money to buy extras for the school. Past talent shows have paid for benches in the carpool area, the school's large Cougar mascot that sits outside the administrative office and other items.

Of course, talent can buy a lot of things.