X-Gen goes back to college, part III: A Team of One.

So you’ve decided to return to college and get that film degree that you hope will be your launching point into the world of film and video production. At your first class you look around and realize that you are nearly twice the age of the majority of your classmates. They look at you with suspicion and curiosity, wondering why you are sitting in the audience as opposed to standing at the front of the classroom teaching. Soon it becomes obvious that you are not a professor but a student, there to learn just like the rest. It is here that the similarities between you and your classmates end and where the age difference and generational gap between you begins.

Being a Generation X in an I-Gen world can be discouraging given the almost instinctual mistrust that the younger generation has for its predecessors. It’s nothing personal, and chances are you had similar feelings towards your elders when you were in your early 20s and late teens. But it does make it challenging when you are expected to work with the I-Gens in order to complete your coursework objectives. The key to your success will depend largely on how you approach your fellow classmates and in your ability to work independently.

Over the past three years, I have run into several Gen X that struggled to gain any real benefit from teamwork assignments because they were too afraid to engage their younger counterparts. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed, they often looked to their professors for assistance only to be once again frustrated by the seemingly universal lack of support. As a result, they were left out of important opportunities to participate in various hands-on and group oriented exercises.

Since much of the knowledge we need to graduate can only be acquired through collaboration, it is important to bear in mind that, regardless of your age difference, you and your classmates are there to learn. Thus it is crucial that you focus on the task at hand and not worry about winning any popularity contests. Moreover, don’t expect your professors to intervene on your behalf, as it is likely that they are equally puzzled by your presence and unwilling to show any favoritism, despite being closer in age. It is up to you, therefore, to decide your level of involvement. If you are respectful and yet refuse to be excluded you will find it much easier to get what you need from a learning perspective, and may even garner some good will on the part of your fellow classmates.

Of course, sometimes you are going to be on the outside regardless of how hard you try. The primary reason for this has more to do with the fact that college is, for better or worse, still a young person’s culture. While you are at home taking care of your adult responsibilities, your classmates are formulating friendships and liaisons that extend well beyond the confines of the classroom setting. It is in these moments of extracurricular association that the students begin to develop the network of support that they will use throughout their college tenure, and more specifically, to produce their senior thesis. Thus, you may find yourself having to work more independently at times, but don’t be discouraged! Having lived two decades longer than most of your classroom contemporaries gives you an important advantage in that you are most likely better prepared, more disciplined, and better organized. These skills, along with sheer determination, will prove invaluable especially during those times when you find yourself at the helm of a team of one.

The college experience for older students is often a mixed blessing. The age difference between you and the other students, the ambivalence of the professors, and the general lack of support, can sap your enthusiasm for learning. But again I say, do not be discouraged! If you can keep your eyes focused on your goals and remain resilient in the face of adversity, you will succeed. Never forget that no matter how awkward you may feel being the oldest one in class, your classmates are probably just as self-conscious as you are. Reach out to them, engage them, but don’t be too disappointed if your efforts prove unsuccessful. Ultimately, you are there for a purpose far more meaningful and important than the acquisition of friends from amongst the I-Generations.

The Monster We Created: GenX goes back to college part II.

My first foray into higher learning was over two decades earlier when I was in my early twenties. Back then most students did not have a cell phone or a laptop. AOL with its creepy, “You’ve got mail,” sound notification, was the number one content provider on the web. Netscape was in a serious battle with Microsoft for browser dominance, and Yahoo was just starting to establish its reputation. Apple was only a niche player in the PC business, known primarily for its excellence in graphic and sound editing, and its commitment to academics; it was by no means considered mainstream.

Fast-forward to today and the world of higher education has changed dramatically. Technologically speaking, the kids are a lot more savvy as a population than we were in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Unlike all other generations before them, they were raised with an awareness of the Internet. Many of them have had email accounts, their own computers, even their own cell phones, since they were in their early teens. It is not unusual for college students today to have a laptop, or a tablet, and of course, they ALL have cell phones and use them obsessively.

As for manufacturer of choice, Apple is king. Their decades old strategy for selling into the educational market and their marketing of that segment have been brilliant and lucrative. While Apple has always had a strong presence in academia, the popularity of the IPhone, IPad, and applications like IMovie and Rock Band, amongst the Internet-generations* (I-gens) has given the brand an even greater foothold into the creative mind space of that population. In other words, Windows may still rule the business world but not if the I-gens have anything to say about it.

The reason I emphasize technology is because higher learning, and its student population, have become so technology-centric. Everything from registration, admissions, financial aid, and even the coursework, is conducted online. As a result, much of the communication that occurs between students and professors, and students and their classmates, is electronic. At times this makes life as a student easier, especially when you have familial or work responsibilities in addition to your academic tasks. However, it can also make things more challenging on a personal level when relating to your younger classmates.

While I have no statistical evidence to support my claim, my own sense is that the emphasis on digital methods of communication has stunted the ability of our young people to effectively communicate face-to-face. I have literally sat at a table conversing with a half-dozen 20-somethings during which time not one of them took their eyes off their cell phone displays for more than a few seconds at a time. Thus, the increased role of technology in higher education can be a blessing and a curse.

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of returning to school was the realization that the gap between X and I has increased dramatically. Even though we, as Gen-X, have helped to influence and establish many of the fundamental cultural elements of I-gen, the fact is that we are not contemporaries. The age-old rule of “trust no on over 30” is still alive and well. Despite our numerous, cultural similarities, the bottom line is that the kids don’t trust anyone who is the same age as their parents. Changing your style of dress or personality to better fit in does not work; if anything, doing so will probably make them even more mistrustful of you.

So how does a Gen-X navigate through the technological and cultural changes and challenges prevalent on today's campuses? How do they succeed in this environment given that they will more than likely need to rely on their I-gen classmates to get a good grade? That will be the topic of my next post in this series. Enjoy your week.

*Internet-generations refer to all generations who have been raised with an awareness and practical understanding of the modern Internet.