Appreciation and Understanding

The fundamental thing that has changed the way I think about generations is becoming more appreciative and understanding of the cultural and environmental influences that define generational differences. It was hard to put into words exactly what I saw in before coming to this class, but now I can appropriately identify what cultural factors and how socioeconomic elements influence different generations. I’m glad I took this course, because it has helped guide me in how I approach living a more satisfying life in understanding people in different generations and the cultural influence on different generations’ lives. I was inspired to take this class when my grandma passed away. The family dynamics changed first with me being the last kid in the family to be in college and my oldest brother moving out, living on his own. This is also the first time someone close to my mother has passed away; living in an environment where creating a supportive atmosphere in the way it would most help efficiently for all family members is hard to manage, especially in times of grief. My brothers and I have ended up shifting this family culture by being more present and elaborative with my parents. With taking this class, I was hoping to find a better understanding of how my mother was grieving, and a more general understanding of how the culture within and between generations are different especially with different ethnic backgrounds. Now, I’m more considerate and curious as to where a person comes from, and in the long term of things I feel like my approach to finding understandings among the development of generations has helped me open up more to learning of other perspectives in different environments such as the sociocultural atmosphere or the economic world.