Lubbock Christian students connect with older generation through class project - fox34.com

The assignment grew out of a book the high school and college students read called "Theo of Golden," which centers on building meaningful connections across generations. After reading it, each student was paired with a Carillon resident and tasked with writing a paper about what they took away from the experience.

High school senior Paden McCuaig was matched with a resident named Scott Roberson. McCuaig admitted he was nervous going in, which is about as honest as it gets. "Always, but I mean, once you get to know someone, it's easy, like small talk. And I mean, once you get their story, it's just perfect," he said.

For people at Carillon, the visits offered something that does not always show up on a class syllabus: genuine attention from a younger person with no agenda beyond listening. For the students, it was a chance to practice something schools do not usually grade. Sitting with someone whose world looks very different from your own and finding common ground anyway turns out to be its own kind of education.

The project is a reminder that some of the most useful lessons in Lubbock classrooms are not happening in a classroom at all.