Occasionally I take time to reflect on the privilege I have to spend time with the traditional college-age students. When I do, I am always stunned by how lucky I am. These young folks belong to what is called Gen Z (Generation Z). It is likely most people my age don’t even know what to call them. Adults are aware they are Boomers or Millennials, but who knows about the young ones! Gen Z means they were born in 1996 or later. No doubt, you smiled when you read that!
The younger ones in my classroom were born this century. This means Bill Clinton was just finishing his presidency when they were born. Their first memories of a president were George Bush. One can go on about the culture in which they have grown up. That is why I don’t pretend I understand that much about them. Saying that does not mean I am dismissive or discount who they are. Being like me is not desirable anyway!
I feel privileged because they help me see things from a different perspective. Even if they are religious or, as some claim, spiritual, they do it differently than I did. The church in which they grew up is not like the very small town Quaker church that was mine. Churches that sing those old hymns don’t have young people. And churches that do have young people are not singing the “oldies, but goodies.” There is so much difference between them and me. I have much to learn.
And yet, because we are all human, there is so much in common. They want a life that is meaningful and has a purpose, just like I do. They want to love and be loved and that is not surprising. The big majority of them want to help others and somehow make the world a better place. I won’t be surprised to see them do much better than my generation. But like all young people, they have some learning to do. They have not been tested yet. There has not been too much suffering in the sense of going to war, etc.
However, as I spend time with them and get to know them at a deeper level, I realize they have a great deal going on which I don’t think I had to handle as a kid. There seems to be much more mental issues. I remember having enough---so I would not have said we were poor---but I see so much economic fragility these days. There are the really big issues; climate challenges, pandemics, artificial intelligence and it goes on. I did not have too much question about how I would make it in life---even if I did not have the specifics. For the young, how will I make it looms as a big question.
My job, as I see it, is to help them learn to read, to think and begin to figure out how they want to create a meaningful life. This seems so innocuous as to make most wonder why anyone would pay me to do that! After all, they know how to read. And kids learn to think when they are about one year old! That is where assuming things causes trouble. Of course, they know how to read. And yes, they know how to think---at the general level.
But they don’t. In the first place, too many college students simply don’t read. They have always had computers, cell phones and the like. They are connected, but too many are too superficial. I am not critical; so are adults! When I assign four or five books in a semester (which I believe is still a bit on the light side), they comment they have not read four books in four years. So I teach them to slow down and read for understanding and, then, for analysis. That takes time.
And thinking is difficult, I agree. No wonder so many don’t think! I want them to think, as in ruminate, ponder, try different angles, etc. Learn to ask questions. Really listen. These are so simple. But if you pay attention, their parents don’t do such a hot job either. My critique of our culture is that it does not want readers, thinkers, etc. But that is a different topic.
I love to make students into my spiritual partners. I want them to read, think and use their experience to articulate things that challenge me, make me think and live more deeply and fully. I want to join them in the process of learning and growing, so we are all better human beings. I realize that so many students keep making this dream come true.
As I read their papers, I feel satisfied. For example, just yesterday one student finished her longish reflection paper with these words. She wrote that being in class “brought me new friends and new ideas, but it has also given me a new outlook of appreciation which I hope to carry with me into this next chapter whatever it may hold.”
This is a Gen Z who is going to make the world a good place for my grandkids. Thanks partner!
The younger ones in my classroom were born this century. This means Bill Clinton was just finishing his presidency when they were born. Their first memories of a president were George Bush. One can go on about the culture in which they have grown up. That is why I don’t pretend I understand that much about them. Saying that does not mean I am dismissive or discount who they are. Being like me is not desirable anyway!
I feel privileged because they help me see things from a different perspective. Even if they are religious or, as some claim, spiritual, they do it differently than I did. The church in which they grew up is not like the very small town Quaker church that was mine. Churches that sing those old hymns don’t have young people. And churches that do have young people are not singing the “oldies, but goodies.” There is so much difference between them and me. I have much to learn.
And yet, because we are all human, there is so much in common. They want a life that is meaningful and has a purpose, just like I do. They want to love and be loved and that is not surprising. The big majority of them want to help others and somehow make the world a better place. I won’t be surprised to see them do much better than my generation. But like all young people, they have some learning to do. They have not been tested yet. There has not been too much suffering in the sense of going to war, etc.
However, as I spend time with them and get to know them at a deeper level, I realize they have a great deal going on which I don’t think I had to handle as a kid. There seems to be much more mental issues. I remember having enough---so I would not have said we were poor---but I see so much economic fragility these days. There are the really big issues; climate challenges, pandemics, artificial intelligence and it goes on. I did not have too much question about how I would make it in life---even if I did not have the specifics. For the young, how will I make it looms as a big question.
My job, as I see it, is to help them learn to read, to think and begin to figure out how they want to create a meaningful life. This seems so innocuous as to make most wonder why anyone would pay me to do that! After all, they know how to read. And kids learn to think when they are about one year old! That is where assuming things causes trouble. Of course, they know how to read. And yes, they know how to think---at the general level.
But they don’t. In the first place, too many college students simply don’t read. They have always had computers, cell phones and the like. They are connected, but too many are too superficial. I am not critical; so are adults! When I assign four or five books in a semester (which I believe is still a bit on the light side), they comment they have not read four books in four years. So I teach them to slow down and read for understanding and, then, for analysis. That takes time.
And thinking is difficult, I agree. No wonder so many don’t think! I want them to think, as in ruminate, ponder, try different angles, etc. Learn to ask questions. Really listen. These are so simple. But if you pay attention, their parents don’t do such a hot job either. My critique of our culture is that it does not want readers, thinkers, etc. But that is a different topic.
I love to make students into my spiritual partners. I want them to read, think and use their experience to articulate things that challenge me, make me think and live more deeply and fully. I want to join them in the process of learning and growing, so we are all better human beings. I realize that so many students keep making this dream come true.
As I read their papers, I feel satisfied. For example, just yesterday one student finished her longish reflection paper with these words. She wrote that being in class “brought me new friends and new ideas, but it has also given me a new outlook of appreciation which I hope to carry with me into this next chapter whatever it may hold.”
This is a Gen Z who is going to make the world a good place for my grandkids. Thanks partner!
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