Have you ever sat down and talked to your grandmother or grandparents and wondered about their experiences and the difference between generations? It is quite fascinating.
I asked my grandmother, Dawn Hightower, what high school was like when she was growing up and to describe the experiences and hardships she faced growing up.
What is life after high school like? What have you learned throughout life as an adult?
“Try to know what you want and strive for it, regardless of what it takes to accomplish it,” Dawn Hightower said. “Remember where you came from: we are all human and deserve to be respected and treated fairly. Start putting money away early for retirement, which is very important for this generation. Do what you have to do to live the life you can and don’t expect others to do your job for you.”
I asked my grandmother to describe what her childhood was like. “[I had]A lot of brothers and sisters. The boys were mean and girls were relied heavily upon, but I could handle doing the boys’ jobs. I took care of my siblings and kept our family together,” she said.. “My grandmother chased me out of bed at 5 am every morning because my mom would go off to work. And I would help my younger siblings get ready for school and feed them and eventually walk them to school. During lunch hour, I would help my youngest siblings settle down for a nap.”
My grandmother showed a great amount of adaptability and Integrity. No matter the situation, she always made sure her family was in line. She adapted to meet the needs of her family, being a role model for her younger siblings while still being in high school.
Next I asked my grandmother what her mother acted like while she was growing up.
“My mom was a hard worker,” she claimed. “She always made sure we were taken care of, always on time for work. She had a lot of jobs ranging from grocery stores to bakeries and was a deli manager for a long time. She had to walk home 5 miles from work with food and snacks in heels to our house. She always had Christmas presents for all of our siblings. Every Easter the guys got a new suit and the girls got a new dress. She had 11 kids throughout her lifetime”.
My grandmother reflected on how her mother created a great model for her through Adaptability and communication. She showed her daughter how to be a positive critical thinker with the ability to keep her family together, which is a great trait my grandmother inherited from her.
“How would you like to be remembered?” I asked my grandmother. “Don’t remember me. Just remember the things me and you did together, all of the car rides and dressing the 3 of you guys alike so I could recognize you guys in public,” she explained.
She communicated to me that her grandchildren are very important in her life and the experiences and memories she has had with them in her life have led to some great memories and joy.
“How has being a mot
her changed you?” I asked my grandmother curiously. “It made me realize how independent I could be and how no matter the circumstances I could raise children on my own and do what I had to do to succeed,” she said.
She emphasized the significance of being a mother. She described the risks and circumstances it takes being a mother and the independence she developed raising three children.
“What were your parents like growing up?” I asked. “I really don’t remember my father, he died when I was five,” Dawn said. “My stepfather was not a great person–showing the strength and courage of my mother”.
I then asked my grandmother about her experience in school.
“School was okay,” she stated. “I didn’t mind going to school, and I wasn’t in love with it until after I graduated. I realized I wanted to go to college after being in the workforce. 10 years later and three kids later, I decided to attend classes, and 20 years later I graduated college with no student loans.”
My grandmother taught me that life isn’t always planned after high school and you can live life the way you want to and to make decisions that you feel are necessary and not others.
“What’s your advice for seniors or people moving into adulthood?” I asked my grandmother the question that has been on my mind for months and the question many teenagers wonder. My Grandmother wisely stated:
“Try to know what you want and strive for it, regardless of what it takes to accomplish it. Remember where you came from; we are all human and deserve to be respected and treated fairly. Start putting money away early for retirement, which is very important for this generation. Do what you have to do to live the life you can and don’t expect others to do your job for you.”
She explained that life isn’t planned because it’s your life and your path will not be the same as others. But she stressed it’s important to be yourself and you do what you want to do. Don’t be afraid to do what you desire regardless of what others think. According to my grandmother’s wise words, having a positive mindset is a great way to approach life and your future. She believes you need to work hard for what you strive for: don’t be afraid to chase your dreams.