But We All Benefit - Shocker Snapshots

We enter this project very storyteller-oriented. Our main goal is to capture and produce a life story. It’s only natural then that students enter the first couple of sessions thinking the storytellers are the ones benefiting most from this experience. But what I enjoy is the moment students start realizing they too are gaining something from this project. Maybe the student doesn’t walk away with a tangible project at the end, like the life story book or banner, but they don’t leave the experience empty-handed. They walk away with a new perspective; a perspective that can only be acquired after engaging with those who have walked a lifetime of experience.

After just a couple of sessions, we see this realization emerge. The students really start to appreciate the history their storyteller has witnessed first-hand; the trials and triumphs they’ve endured, the love and loss they’ve felt, and it all just clicks. It starts to really mean something to the 18- and 19-year-olds who then begin to self-reflect on their whole life ahead. It’s a powerful perspective students don’t expect to gain from what they assumed was going to be “just another assignment". But it’s a sneaky assignment, this intergenerational project. It’s a project where we all benefit - and that is the beauty behind Connecting Generations.

"This week, my storyteller gave me advice that really made me think. He said, “Figure out who you are and figure out what you want, then go for it.” It was simple, but made me feel powerful. His advice mattered to me because I’ve been feeling a little lost about my future, and it helped me realize that it’s okay to take a step back and think things through."

"This week, my storyteller talked about how learning to adapt to change has been one of the most important lessons in his life. He shared that as he got older, he had to adjust to things like retirement, losing loved ones, and even changes in his health, but staying positive helped him get through it. This advice meant a lot to me because I have always struggled with change, and hearing how he faced it with strength and positivity gave me a new perspective."

"During this week’s interview, my storyteller gave me further advice about being patient with life and not rushing through things. He talked about how, when he was younger, he always wanted things to happen quickly, but now he sees the value in slowing down and enjoying the moment. This really stuck with me because I find myself often in a hurry to finish school, find a job, and move on to the next step."