Most people are afraid of the new and unknown. As a society, we generally reject things that are different from our perception of "normal", and try our best to conform and blend in. For special needs people, this isn't an option. They're what "regular" people gawk at, who are misunderstood or even forgotten. But at FMHS, the Circle of Friends program offers adolescents with special needs an inviting environment and opportunities to learn life skills. Two of the program administrators came to speak to our class yesterday, and they had much to say about the kids their experiences.
Mrs. Beasley introduced us to all of the kids they brought with them. She had an obvious love and connection with all of them, and described them just like you'd describe any other person, telling about their quirks and qualities, treating them, refreshingly, as the people the deserved to be recognized as. It was a reminder that what you see on the outside isn't necessarily what's on the inside. Mr. Humphreys helped us to try to understand what living with severe autism is like on a daily basis at school. Because people with autism have sensory issues that inhibit them from being able to isolate and filter out sensory input, he had the class begin to make a lot different noises, while also giving us directions that we needed to follow. It was really hard to focus, and quickly became frustrating. That clatter is what school is constantly like for an autistic kid. It made me appreciate the abilities that I have, and understand more about what kind of effect autism can have on a person. He also spoke to us about acceptance. He asked if our class would accept a special needs to kid to sit at lunch with us. We said we would, and he said that that was no different than accepting someone of a different background, religion, race, etc. That if accepting people with obvious, major differences was so easy, accepting each other should be as well. It was really insightful, they way he put it. It made sense, especially in a time when people are so quick to fight each other instead of being accepting and working together. Not only was it a nice sentiment, but a call to action for our class.
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Courtney Parnitke
Mrs. Greenlaw GT English 1 9 February 2017 What Older Generations Can Learn From Millennials The millennial generation is frequently labeled by preceding generations as “lazy”, “coddled”, and “self-centered”. They’ve garnered this reputation because of the personas and images projected by a small percentage of their generation, but the majority of America’s largest generation has much more to offer than this generalization can make older people believe. The millennial generation has the most influence and opportunity to change our society, and these “modern-day disrupters” actually have some refreshing ideologies and outlooks on life (Cole par. 1). Of course, young people can always learn from their elders, but there is much that older people can learn from millennials. Most millennials, despite being labeled as materialistic and greedy, actually value experiences over having the latest product. They tend to share homes with roommates and use car-sharing services like Uber because it allows them to save money to travel, visit friends and family, and invest more in themselves. They typically aren’t homeowners, and they don’t have expensive cars, because although “millennials are very aware of the power of investing money in things”, instead of being tied down by a mortgage payment or an accumulating pile of possessions, they realize they should invest in ways that make them happy both now and in the future (Kilts par. 11). Millennials are smart about prioritizing experiences that will guarantee them real satisfaction and happiness in the long-term. Older generations can learn the importance of focusing less on having everything they want and focusing more on experiencing everything they can, including spending as much time as possible with friends and family. Millennials value happiness over wealth, and this is evident in their career choices. Most of this generation grew up watching their parents, who despised their jobs and wished they’d chosen different career paths. Millennials have learned that “doing something just because it pays well” won’t satisfy them in the long run (Steinmann par. 9). As a result, most millennials pursue jobs that make them the happiest over jobs that that bring in the highest income. To them, this is “success...when you do exactly what you love everyday” (Schulten par. 5). And yes, older people can still learn from this as well, even if they’re already stuck with a career they don’t like. Another common belief among millennials is that people can reinvent themselves at any age, that the path they chose isn’t the path they have to follow if they decide they don’t want it. If they aren’t happy with something in their life, they have the power to change their future; so do older generations. As changemakers, millennials are less afraid of altering their plans or pursuing the ideas they've been told aren’t realistic. Older people can learn the importance of confidence as well as the belief in your own potential from this generation. Instead of encouraging younger generations to chase their dreams, “if you are young and you believe in your idea, older generations have a tendency to look at that and say…’you have a lot to learn’” (Cole par. 4). But of course they do! Everyone is always learning, even in their old age. Having confidence in your goals and dreams as a twenty-something isn’t arrogance, it’s optimism and fuel to achieve those goals. Older generations can and should learn to embrace this positive behavior, and to encourage it, especially in their children. In summary, despite the claims of those who judge the millennial generation, there are multiple lessons that preceding age groups could learn from them. “The mass stereotyping of an entire generation” is blinding us from the positive change and the new direction this generation is leading us towards (Steinmann par. 2). Older people who are quick to judge should spend more time listening to millennials and what they have to say. The largest generation in our country is capable of great things. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Works Cited Cole, Nicolas. "5 Traits Older Generations Don't Understand About Millennials (According to a Millennial)." Inc.com. Inc., 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. Kilts, Stefanie. "5 Useful Things Boomers Can Learn from Millennials." Sixty and Me. N.p., 21 Oct. 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. Schulten, Katherine. "What Can Older People Learn From Your Generation." New York Times. N.p., 7 Nov. 2013. Web. 7 Feb. 2017. Steinmann, Jeff. "What Old People Can Learn From Millennials." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 16 Sept. 2016. Web. 8 Feb. 2017. |
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