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."
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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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