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!
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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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