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Ted Johnson
Candy Foss sent this intriguing idea. I told her i'd post it for her. If anyone is moticvated to pursue it, the website is capable of accomodating the kind of questionnaire involved in at least the first pass.
The Reunion party is over, but the stories are still in the air. With many more conversations to share and many questions still floating around, an undefined thought arose. It’s just a thought, but it seems it will take me 3 pages just to write it down! Here is the thought….
In addition to the very generous and successful financial contributions to the Scholarship, is there another kind contribution the Class of ’63 could make to Central High School? Would there be any value in leaving a legacy of life stories? If Actor’s Studio met StoryCorps, would students benefit? If there is a final product from those stories, could the profits benefit the Scholarship Committee?
Back four decades ago there was a book called “Whatever Happened to the Class of ’65?” It was a fun read then, but the perspective was only about 10 years after graduation. Our enhanced 50-year perspective could reflect upon our experiences, offer insight, lessons learned, hearts touched, inspiration, humility, humor, how-to, etc. Like the famous nurses study, we have a group. A large enough group to be very interesting. A large enough group that seems enthusiastic and so willing to share and contribute. We could mine this treasure!
You’ve seen Actor’s Studio on TV where James Lipton interviews one actor in front of a student audience using questions previously researched and prepared specifically for that actor. In a different format, and perhaps you have heard them on NPR, StoryCorps ( www.storycorps.net ) tapes one person in an interview from a private booth using questions designed by an interviewer who is familiar to the person telling his/her story. Quite often, those interviews capture only certain stories from a lifetime, and do so before people pass on. Some of the stories, widely different and very touching, have been included in books & CDs. The one I have is called “Listening Is an Act of Love”. Storycorps has won awards for their work. There is something about hearing the voices…..it’s hard to put into words, but it adds to the understanding.
Telling the stories of the Class of ’63…… What questions? Would anyone respond? What format would be used? Would current students be involved and in what way? Would there be a final product and what would that be? Who would edit? Class of ’63 has all the resources.
Would students be interested? Is a story relevant to them? Would it catch their attention? Storytelling can be a powerful tool and sharing conversations can be a worthy endeavor.
Any interest???
Candy Foss Thompson
ccthompson33@gmail.com
From the many, here are some sample interview questions…..
Education:
What did you think when you were 16?
What kind of student were you?
Did you play sports? Do you still play that sport? What did you like about being on a team in high school or college?
Did you participate in any extra-curricular activities (theater, orchestra, etc.)? Tell me about that.
Did you get into trouble when you were in school? What was the worst thing you did?
What did you think your life would be like when you were older?
Can you tell a classic story from your high school or college days?
What were your best memories of high school?
What did you do for fun?
How would your classmates remember you?
Was there a teacher or teachers who had a particularly strong influence on your life? Tell me about them.
Do you remember anyone stepping in to help you during these years? What kind of help or advice did you get? What words of advice do you wish you had heard?
Did you connect your school classes directly to your future?
Did you feel that you were in charge of your own life in high school or college?
What would you say if you could say one thing to yourself of 50 years ago?
Family:
What were your parents right about?
How did you meet your husband/wife/partner? How did you know he/she was “the one”?
What were the best times?
Did you ever get divorced? Can you tell me about it?
What advice do you have for young couples?
What lessons have you learned from your relationships?
How has being a parent changed you?
What are your dreams for your children?
What traditions have been passed down in your family?
Military:
Were you in the military?
Did you go to war? What was it like? How did war change you?
During your service, can you recall times when you were afraid?
What lessons did you learn from this time in your life?
Work:
What do you do for a living?
What was your first job/career break?
Tell me about how you got into your line of work.
How did this (whatever it is) come to you?
Do you like your job?
What did you want to be when you grew up?
What lessons has your work life taught you?
What was the proudest moment in your career?
Did you have more than one career?
Did you ever get laid off? How did you deal with that?
Do you plan on retiring? If so, when? How do you feel about it?
Health & Illness:
What factors contribute to staying healthy over a lifetime?
Have you faced grief? Can you describe it and tell me how you found strength to go on?
Can you tell me about your illness?
Do you think about dying?
Are you scared?
Do you regret anything?
Do you look at your life differently now from before you were diagnosed?
Do you have any last wishes?
If you were to give advice to me or my children, or even children to come in our family, what would it be?
How would you like to be remembered?
General:
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
Is there something about yourself that you think no one knows?
Tell me about a time when you were the most scared you’ve ever been.
What were the books that changed your life?
What keeps you up at night?
What do you always make time for?
What are you currently reading?
Tell me about a prized possession and how it came to you.
What is your personal philosophy?
When did you finally feel at home with yourself?
What do you not take kindly to being told how to do?
What makes you truly happy?
What is one thing you can do now that you couldn’t do 50 years ago?
What is the cause you are most passionate about?
Conclusions:
Is there anything we didn’t talk about that you would like to add?
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