Inspired Education

Each of the four seasons are different from each other. In the spring, trees are green, healthy, and bright. In summer, trees get dry but are still green. In fall, the leaves  drop from trees and, in winter, trees look dark, sad and some even die. Trees help remind me of life. Everyday people change just like trees. One day a tree could look green and tall, and the next day a tree could look dry and small. This reminds me of elders. Throughout life people change and It can be hard. You never know when it might be the last time you see someone. Spending time with seniors is important to give them company. I am grateful to attend a Jewish Day School where we visit elders with a special program called Better Together. At Hillel we call it Dor L’Dor, or from generation to generation. Better Together has helped me understand to make the most of the time you get because time is precious and you never know when it might run out.   

Throughout the time I spent with seniors I understood to make the most of the time I got with them. With every visit, each person felt different. It reminded me of the seasons. Some seniors seemed happy and bright like summer, but some seniors looked tired and sad, kind of like winter.  With each visit I gained more and more respect for seniors. During my first visit at Jewish Senior Life I connected with Marvin. At first it seemed like he was stuck in winter, quiet and wanting to leave. When we talked about our families I learned that we both had a twin. That seemed like a turning point into spring. I enjoyed learning about his family, trips that he went on, and traditions. My second visit was just as special as my first! During that visit I met Amelia. I quickly connected with her. Her smile was as big as the sun, it reminded me of summer. We played bingo, dreidel, and sang Hanukkah songs. Amelia told me that she used to love making latkes, it reminded me of all the times me and my grandma make food together. In conclusion, During these Dor L’Dor experiences I realized the importance of making the time I spend with seniors count.

In the book, Merci Suarez Changes Gears, by Meg Medina, the theme of appreciating time and change from elders is clearly shown throughout the book. For instance when Merci, Papi, and Lolo were working on the paint job at the beach club house, Lolo walked away and Merci went to go find him. Due to his Alzheimer’s, Lolo got confused. Merci didn’t know what was going on because she didn’t know he was sick. This shows that appreciating time is important because one day someone can look and act fine and another day they could be confused. Similar to when winter begins lots of plants die. Another example is when Mami is talking to Merci and she starts to understand that change is part of life and to cherish the moments you have. Mami says to Merci “‘Things happen over time, Merci,’ Mami finally says. ‘We grow older and older. We need to respect how things change and adjust’” (Medina 202). Mami helped me understand that overtime people change and that there is nothing you can do about it, you just have to take advantage of the times that you get. The book Merci Suarez Changes Gears connects to my wonderful experiences at Dor L’Dor teaching me to cherish the moments that I have, like changing through seasons.