CAS Writing Class Connects Terriers with Older Adults, One Story at a Time
In Community Writing, BU students and Brookline residents come together to exchange perspectives—and, along the way, form unexpected bonds
CAS Writing Class Connects Terriers with Older Adults, One Story at a Time
CAS Writing Class Connects Terriers with Older Adults, One Story at a Time
For many Terriers, it can be challenging to find opportunities to meet residents living in the surrounding neighborhoods. But in the Boston University College of Arts & Sciences course, Community Writing, students get to know older adults who gather weekly at the Brookline Senior Center on a first-name basis.
The upper-level writing class, taught by Jessica Bozek, a master lecturer in the CAS Writing Program, focuses on “life writing.” Over a period of five or six weeks, students—both BU upperclassmen and the older individuals—learn to write creatively about their own experiences. From there, they converse with each other, sharing their viewpoints on different topics and ideas.
“The conversations give students the benefits of communicating with other people, but also exposure to more perspectives—often perspectives of people who they would not encounter in their daily lives,” Bozek says.
Gerardo Vega (CAS’27) says the chance to discuss the variety of cultures represented in the room brought everyone in the class closer together.
“I was able to connect with a senior, her name is Tang, and she gave me some really good advice,” Vega says. “Especially with my grandparents, and how I should live my life.”
For many of the older adults, getting to share their wisdom and give advice to the younger generation is an exciting opportunity. Often, getting to chat with students makes their day.
“I love, love, love this class,” says Sandra Boris-Berkowitz, a Brookline Senior Center visitor. “It’s the third time I’m taking it. To be with college students is a real gift.”
In the future, Bozek hopes the class can expand to other Boston-area senior centers. She says the class is a win-win for everyone.“So often, before we start going to the senior center, the students are convinced that they have all of this stuff to teach the seniors. And very often it ends up working out in a surprising way, where they discover that they have a lot in common,” says Bozek.
In the video above, watch as students and older adults connect about different cultures and food during the Community Writing class.