College freshman have diverse backgrounds and interests. They are united by little other than their pursuit of higher education and, for the most part, by a shared birth date. Most traditional freshman arriving on campus this fall – the class of 2014 – were born in 1992. Their lives span parts of two centuries and a myriad of experiences.
Those who teach and mentor freshmen often are older than the parents of the students in their classes. Consequently, their experiences and memories are different. That can create a generational divide that sometimes leads to unintended confusion and impaired communication. Reducing that gap is one way to smooth the transition from high school to college.
The annual Beloit College Mindset List is one way to address the problem. Faculty and staff at the Wisconsin school create the list to remind everyone that one generation’s landmarks and touchstones can be different from another’s.
The release of the list is eagerly anticipated and has a wide following. That’s understandable. It’s fun and it prompts individuals of various vintages to think about variations in experience and attitude. Here are some of the highlights from the list of truisms for members of the class of 2014.
Sam Walton, Sam Kinison, Bert Parks, Benny Hill and Tony Perkins have always been dead.