Central High School students were given a unique opportunity on a recent field trip to the West Park Village retirement home. A mix of Sophmore and Junior students interviewed residents to write memoirs as part of a class project. Under the guidance of teacher Mrs. Rude, the project highlighted storytelling as a way to show empathy and build relationships.
“In class, we talk about stories as a way to build empathy and connection,” Mrs. Rude said. “What better way to experience this than to sit with others who have such different life experiences and try to understand their stories through the lens of writing?”
The students anxiously prepared by writing personal narratives and practicing techniques such as active listening and asking follow-up questions. Though some students rode silently in nervous anticipation to the retirement home, the bus ride home was filled with chatter discussing the exciting new stories they had just heard.
“Get this—my person was in the Cowboy Hall of Fame!” one student said. Another told the unbelievable story of a resident who lived through the Yellowstone earthquake with a one-day-old baby.
The residents were receptive and even returned for a second session, so they could meet more students. Many were appreciative of the opportunity to share their stories. Not only were the residents excited, the students were deeply impacted by these stories.
Mrs. Rude hopes the experience deepened students’ understanding of memoir as a genre and taught them the value of listening and empathy. “Memoir isn’t just about retelling events-it’s about capturing the emotion and theme in someone’s story,” she said. “That’s a skill I hope they take beyond this project and into all areas of their lives.”
The project shows how storytelling can create meaningful connections while enhancing students’ learning and fostering a sense of community.
