Students Tell Seniors’ Stories

At 92, Mildred Harrington has plenty of stories to tell and for the fourth year, she is talking to some local sixth-graders about all that she has seen and done.

Harrington is one of a handful of seniors who has volunteered for “Days of Our Lives 2012,” for which they tell their stories to a group of talented and gifted sixth graders from Canton Intermediate School.

“These kids are exceptionally bright,” Harrington said. “They’re very interested. And they ask good questions. I find it a lot fun.”

For the program, the students interview the seniors one day a week for six weeks and then write a biography. The stories are placed into a booklet and in most cases two students write about each senior.  

Sometimes students and seniors exchange gifts. Harrington treasures a drawing she got a few years ago that detailed the interests of one student.

The seniors do enjoy hearing about the kids’ lives as well and the first week often consists of the students sharing some of their own stories, said Debi Althen, Enrichment Specialist at Canton Intermediate School.

During the following weeks they delve deeper into the seniors’ lives.

“The students see the spark in the seniors’ eyes when they start talking about their lives,” Althen said. “I think there’s something to say about putting the generations together.”

In some cases they find common ground. Ray Kinch, a Korean War veteran found out that one student interviewing him lives on his street.

“They're interesting, fun kids,” he said.

Harrington said she only wishes more adults would volunteer for the program.

Another senior, Ben Holden, has fun with the assignment and asks students for a writing sample. He also enjoys sharing something with the students.

“Every group asks different questions,” he said. “Some of them get very creative with their projects.”