To culminate the project, our class was treated to a luncheon at Larksfield Place on the last day of class. During lunch, students presented residents with their final life story books and banners, and enjoyed engaging with their resident one last time. It takes a lot of collaboration for a project like this to unfold. Wichita State is grateful for our partnership with Larksfield Place, who are so welcoming of our students and open their community for an entire freshman class to come each week for half of the semester. And for Shocker Printing who does a beautiful job printing the final products. Enjoy a few snapshots from our last day together … Thanks for following Sharing Life Stories with Shockers!
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It's no small task, to partake in a class project as a freshman, where you are partnered with an older adult you have never met before, and are charged with interviewing this person to collect something as personal as their life story. As one of our residents even admitted, he couldn't have imagined doing this type of project as an eighteen year old. But that is also the beauty of the project. It encourages us to step out of our comfort zone, go beyond our own peer group, and engage with someone who has been our age before, who has walked through decades of the joys and sorrows life has dealt, and who has so much to share. I maintain that while the residents end up with the final tangible product of a life story book and banner (which is incredibly meaningful) the students walk away from the experience with an intangible new sense of connection and insight into the amazing lives the residents have lived. The students gain just as much as the residents during this project, because it's inspiring to learn of all the ways the adults in front of us have contributed and are still contributing to their communities and to society. Through this experience, we had the pleasure of learning about residents who had ran marathons, worked on the apollo space missions, were responsible for some of the most iconic construction projects in Wichita, traveled the world, was an antique automobile connoisseur, were private pilots, experienced love stories suitable for Hollywood, received significant recognitions for career accomplishments, raised children … just to highlight a few attributes of the amazing stories shared. Amazing stories that are worthy of being told, celebrated, and passed down to family members through the years. All stories that remind us the person in front of us is more than just their number, they are a collection of experiences and life long lessons that have made them who they are today. We all are a collection of our experiences and if we take the time to engage with one another, imagine what we can learn across generations. Student Snapshots "It had a big impact hearing how each of us had left an imprint on each other's hearts, and it made my heart happy to know that for most people, this was more than just a project." "I am so happy how this project went. I never thought a connecting generations class would have such an impact on my life." "It was also cool to see the relationships that were developed between different generations. That is what I believe to be my favorite part of the project." "This class has not only helped me learn to communicate better with older adults but it's also given me a new friend and mentor." "She showed me, how to be happy in life and how many things you can experience in a lifetime. You are never to old for adventures and you never regret making memories with your favorite people around you". Thanks for following Sharing Life Stories with Shockers! This week residents had an opportunity to meet our students right where they are - on Wichita State's campus. We flipped the script and Larksfield took a short fieldtrip to the Rhatigan Student Center where we held a large group session, our first of the spring, and everyone had an opportunity to hear other perspectives. While only six of eleven residents made the trip, their impact was felt in the room. Because at this session, everyone had the opportunity to hear the passion with which residents shared of their childhood. Conversation ranged from growing up in the cold winters of Michigan, summers spent "shocking" the wheat on the farm, driving a car to school illegally, and even stories into early adulthood of marriage and extravagant gifts like a yellow Mercedes that was made on the exact date they were married. Students also had the opportunity to share of their childhoods and how they contrasted to their resident's. Or better yet, how similar they were as one student described he too drove to school illegally, and it was a joy to see that connection and bond unfold. What stole the show though was a shared moment of ballroom dancing. When an instructor shared that part of her history is her experience as a ballroom dancing instructor, one resident leaned over to his student and said, "Get your camera ready." He then walked over to this instructor, and while doing so, explained that one of him and his wife's favorites things to do during their 63 years of marriage was ballroom dance. With outstretched hand, he asked her to dance. Having just lost his wife within the past couple of years, it was the most touching moment I have experienced this semester. It brought smiles to everyone's faces in the room, and a tear to mine. That's what this is all about, isn't it? Reliving memories, sharing them across generations, and remembering that we all have a story. How fortunate we are when we get to see a part of someone's story play out before our eyes. Student Snapshots "I thought it was so cool how we could all relate to each other and find interest in each other's simple but personal experiences. We genuinely had a fun time and a good laugh. That was different for me, to be able to coexist, because with adults in my family it has always been a adult split and have their adult talk and the younger ones do the same and separate by age groups. At the meeting it made it possible in my head now that we can all as a family genuinely spend time together and have fun and conversate with each other." "He talked about all the vacations and silly stories he experienced as a young adult and kid, and it baffled me how free kids were back then compared to now. He was so independent compared to kids now and it really showed me how he is the way he is now. Without his independence, there wouldn’t be any trace of his go-getter attitude." Thanks for following Sharing Life Stories with Shockers! What is so beautiful about an intergenerational project like Sharing Life Stories with Shockers is that it takes the obvious elephant in the room, the age that separates student and resident, and renders it insignificant. That's not to say we ignore the age gap, rather we celebrate it and all that can be gained - not in spite of, but because of the years that separate us. Too often society paints a picture that aging is to be delayed as long as possible. We are so bombarded with messages surrounding the importance of youth and how to stay young, that we can easily forget the benefit of age. I suspect you can recall an adult in your life (or yourself even) joking or lying about their ever-increasing age with each passing birthday. That's because we choose to hide our age as if it is something to be ashamed of, when in reality, it is something to be worn proudly. Perhaps we do this because we are mourning what has passed. But instead, what if we looked forward to what is yet to come that hasn't been lived yet. To age is to live. Why not celebrate it? I had a student remark in class once about birthday celebrations. We don't celebrate them with vigor and excitement like children do. All children want to do is get older, and all adults want to do is be younger. How interesting our mindset is, and how influenced it has been by the experiences and messages that surround us. This negative mindset though has pulled us apart, from Generation Z to Silent Generation, and as a result, we have experienced a disconnect. Perhaps now more than ever, as a result ever-increasing technology that has shifted how we interact with each other, and because of isolation and the devastating effects of Covid. But, couldn't we challenge the negative perception that society has placed on aging by sitting down and engaging across generations? We have an opportunity to be open minded and kind towards each other throughout this project. And students are realizing that when we do this, conversing with someone who is 83 doesn't have to be all that different from someone who is 18. Is it perfect? No. Are the memories always vivid and clear? No. Does that matter? No. If we start looking beyond the years and at the person sitting in from of us, we will start closing the age gap that has long divided us. I am finding it to be a shared aspiration among students and residents alike, and intergenerational projects are one step in getting us there. Student Snapshots "This week was very impactful for me because we were able to discuss the generation gap and the age gap. He seemed optimistic that we could all come together and truly be one again, but that it would take a lot of effort on everyone's part. And I couldn't agree more!" "He had a few preconceptions of how young people are now and how they are raised, but when we told him about our own personal experiences you could tell he had the same realization as us that we are still pretty similar at the end of the day." "Overall this process has been a great way to not only get to know a very cool man but I've also seen my approach to communicating with the older generation changing." "What I learned from my resident this week is not only how similar older adults are but how similar people are in general." Thanks for following Sharing Life Stories with Shockers! One of my favorite aspects from the journey of connecting generations is the realization of how much there is to learn from each other. Even if we are separated by decades, there are always parallels to be drawn that connect us. True, each generation has grown up in drastically different cultures, with varying societal ideals, and ever-increasing technology. While these surroundings often shape our perspective of how we see the world and others, if we just sit down and listen we start to realize how much we have in common and how much can be gained from each other. This rings particularly true for college students, as they dive into the questions surrounding their resident's early adulthood years and learn what life was like during that season in life. That is when we really breakdown barriers and what we thought we knew. We would be wise to remember that the person sitting in front of us was also once 18 or 19 years old, and we are often guilty of forgetting that. This experience gives us the opportunity to hear what college was like, what stepping into business ownership was like, for some what war was like, and for others what those early married years were like. Time is a gift. Listening to each other allows the residents to share what time has taught them with students who are just stepping into their future. Student Snapshots "One thing I really appreciated was how, despite our diverse backgrounds, we were able to learn from one another. For example, how he grew up and the environment he was exposed to differed significantly from mine. But despite this gap, I found parallels in his story that I could connect to mine and use to better understand my perceptions and how the environment I lived in helped shape me into who I am. Talking to him about sports and academics in his childhood helped me see other people's lives from a different perspective." "The personal impact of his stories made me think about my life and how stories have shaped my life." "I can tell she is very observant of situations and even of generations. What I mean by that is she can recognize times have changed without degrading the generation or situation she is talking about." "One thing I’ve liked about talking with my resident is the fact that we grew up similarly. Despite the many years difference, we both moved around a lot as kids and live far from family members. It’s kind of refreshing to see someone with the same life experience. This has definitely helped me connect to her, and I’m glad to be writing her story." "I have grown my appreciation for the older generation in our world because they all had their own unique lives that are so interesting to learn about."
Thanks for following Sharing Life Stories with Shockers! A new freshman class has started the journey of engaging with residents from Larksfield Independent Living in Wichita, KS. For the second half of the spring semester, students and residents will come together twice a week, both at Larksfield and on WSU's campus. The purpose? Capture each resident's story, compile a life story book/banner to be cherished for years to come, and gain new perspectives across generations. When we see the world through another generation's eyes, we begin to break down stereotypes we may hold against each other because of age alone. Students and residents alike have an opportunity to explore that even though we are decades apart in age, we have so much to gain if we look beyond the years. Day one required a little creativity to get organized, but once we got beyond the logistics of how to set the stage, everyone was off and running. As a considerably larger group this year, we organized into small pods. While it is a little different layout to begin than last year, it has provided a much more intimate setting and opportunity for students and residents to really get to know each other. When we are well underway with our story books/banners writing, small group discussion and story telling among the whole can happen. If I learned anything from teaching this for the first time last year, it is to be flexible - to let the students dive in, take the lead, and simply enjoy their time engaging across generations. As we go, I hope to capture snippets from student reflections of each weekly experience. Even after only one day, there is an energy and excitement about the experience unfolding. Here are a handful of the initial student reactions to the project... Student Snapshots "We (student and resident) both agreed that greater collaboration on both fronts is critical to closing the age gap that separates us. All in all, I believe this will be a very personal project that will extend far beyond the walls of this class and into the atmosphere of my world..." "I think that very often college age students or even teenagers get so caught up in responsibilities in life that having a conversation with a complete stranger or making connection with someone is not something that happens enough. Meeting with my resident was a refreshing moment for me in the last week. It felt good to lay aside all my worries and problems and connect with someone much older than myself." "I was not expecting it to go as well as it did because we all have never met before. It was a good surprise." "I consider myself a history buff and am excited to talk more with my resident about events from the past." "I'm in awe that even at 83 he not only wants to stay working but is physically able to get up and actively create positives effects on his community." "I think that this experience will be equally beneficial for us both to be able to share our stories especially since we are both open minded people." "It went a lot better than what I was expecting. It was eye opening to hear her stories about when she was younger. It makes me excited to continue to talk to her!" Thanks for following Sharing Life Stories with Shockers! |
AuthorHi! I am Jacie Green, an instructor in the aging studies program at Wichita State University. Follow our freshman class journey as we engage with residents from a local senior living community. Enjoy! Archives
May 2023
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