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 lifelong 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".