Each year Beloit College in Wisconsin prepares a snapshot of the incoming class (this year the Class of 2015). The purpose of the list is to remind professors to review and revise their notes and references to make certain they are not outdated. The list is always surprising and fun to read. You can see the complete list here.
Here are some of the mindset items in no particular order.
THE MINDSET LIST FOR THE CLASS OF 2015
- Ferris Bueller could have been their father
- The only significant labor disputes in their lifetimes have been in major league sports
- "Don't touch that dial" they ask "what dial?"
- Say "Amazon" and the first thing they think of is not the river in South America
- Life has always been like a box of chocolates
- OJ Simpson has always been looking for the killers of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman
- Music has always been available via free downloads
- "Yadda, yadda, yadda" has always come in handy to make long stories short
- There have always been altar girls
- Refugees and prisoners have always been housed at Guantanamo
- They were 3 when Tickle Me Elmo was the hottest toy around and their parents might have battled for one
- The school's "blackboards" have never been black.
- Women have always been from Venus; men from Mars
16 comments:
One of the (VERY) few drawbacks to retirement is lessened contact with young people. It's impossible to feel completely like a fossil when they are constantly feeding you the latest pop culture developments. But I knew I was headed into geezerdom when I asked "who's Lady Gaga?"
Excuse me but I think a walker might be needed to get me to the door. Yikes.
And I swear they were born knowing how to use computers, cell phones and any technological gadget around!
This list presents such an interesting perspective. Really expresses the constantly shifting state of reality.
Wow. (And even that word dates me.) The Ferris Bueller thing stopped me cold. Really? I thought. Wow.
OK, I have to admit that I didn't even know that there are now alter girls. Yes, I'm a recovering Catholic whose family has all switched to other churches.
My husband recently discovered that college students have never heard of the "I Love Lucy" show. Hard to imagine...
He's also searching for a dial telephone to have on his desk at the university as a conversation-starter.
Oh my gosh....this is so funny to read. Times have changed dramatically haven't they???? Just think what 18 more years will bring us!!!
xo
I've always enjoyed reading Beloit's lists, but they sure do have a way of making me feel old.
This weekend I was explaining the old party line system we had - answer on one long and two short rings. Having the neighbor lady listen into my teenage talk to a special young lady..grrrr
They were amazed - now I am amazed at how they communicate.
Mike should really review this list extensively - his students never get his references :)
Let's hope the students take history. . . but no, I will not watch MTV in response!
My talking about a way to feel older, just reading this partial list did it for me!
Being in the AA program for the past 22 years has kept me in contact with the younger generation. I'm not so sure that's always a good thing but at least I have an idea of what they're talking about ... and just think how weird I must sound to them sometimes !
Food for thought, that's for sure:)
Since our computer tech guy was always three weeks away from the classroom, I'd get my 7th grade volunteers to get my computer operational again. :)
Thanks for you comments, everyone.
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