Intergenerational friendships are essential

liza COOPER

Sometimes, I think my grandma is the person who understands me the most.

This shouldn’t make sense. She’s 81, I’m her opposite — 18. She was born in a time when Frank Sinatra was at the height of his career and poodle skirts were just about to skyrocket in popularity. When the guns of WWII were still firing and Winston Churchill was still alive.

But as a Gen Z, Taylor Swift, 2004 social media baby, I oddly feel like she understands me on a level that no one else does. I cherish her valuable insight, even on problems that are inherently modern.

And she needs me too — I help her figure out how to use her phone and shop for Christmas gifts.

This exchange of ideas, values and advice proves why intergenerational friendships are crucial.

As we go about our everyday lives, however, we experience a phenom- enon called age segregation. This term refers to the separation of Americans into groups based on age. Think about it — in school, students are separated by grade and nursing homes are almost always filled with people over the age of 70.

While age segregation makes sense, as we tend to stick with others who are similar to us, it is necessary to step outside one’s demographic to gain valuable perspective.

The rich experiences people like my grandma have had equipped them with essential life skills. Even though I feel like I know everything at 18 years old, the older generation helps me realize this is certainly not the case. I am still young and figuring things out, and that’s okay. Intergenerational friendships provide the advice of someone who has “been there, done that,” which definitely helps me figure things out a lot more.

On the other hand, young people have an advantageous impact on the older generation as well. The presence of young adults and children in the life of an older person can greatly decrease the feeling of loneliness that generally accompanies getting older.

Interactions between generations can also improve or maintain the cognitive functions of people in older generations.

So the next time an older relative has a long story to tell or the elderly woman who works at your favorite restaurant strikes up a conversation with you, stop and be an active participant. It is truly a gift to have people in this world who

wisdom to generation.

sections are unethical and have adverse environmental impacts, the many medical and scientific benefits outweigh the negatives. Students in a science or anatomy class can not only learn about body systems and organs, but also how to respectfully and properly treat dead animals. The research done through the careful dissections of different animals can teach us things about not only the human body but also veterinary sciences. Reform needs to be done in terms of the pre-care and upbringing of certain animals, but the scientific benefits encourage hands-on learning and teach the value of life.

About 75-80% of North American students will dissect an animal by the time they graduate high school.

Information from Encyclopedia Britannica

Upon first glance, animal dissections may appear to further scientific development and enhance the learning of students in high schools. However, the intended purpose of these dissections are never carried out. Students often poke fun at the activity and disrespect the animal which completely negates any educational benefit. The lack of respect for dissections can further the idea that human beings are superior to other species. In higher education, the use of animal dissections is more appropriate and integrated into students’ majors, but at the high school level, there is no need.