1. The deepest learning takes place through lived experience. It requires exploring our identities, learning from our mistakes, and having gratitude for our gifts.

During the circle talk, many people talked about the influence from their grandparents and how they’ve been inspired by their loved ones. Grandparents have been around learning longer than us and our parents, so there is much to learn from them. I remember always learning new things with my grandparents that I realized later had deep connections to my life and my story. I learn from my mistakes and see the connection between that and the wisdom I’ve been given from my grandparents, because they’ve been through life as well. We also talked about who we hope to be in the future, and becoming our ideal self is not a straight path. It comes with lots of ups and downs and trial and error.

1. How can this exercise build community? 

This exercise can build community since everyone got a chance to tell a part of their story, and community is all about accepting and celebrating how our differences bring us together. I don’t know a lot of people in this class, but I feel a little bit more connected to everyone after hearing different perspectives. It reminded me that we’re all human and we’re all in this together trying to find our way, and working together will make that a possibility. I hope in the future I will continue to have meaningful conversations with my peers to further connect.<–   My grandpa