Lessons on bridging the intergenerational gap

Interview: What do you feel like is one misconception about your generation that you would like to clarify?

Peggy: There’s a lot of misunderstanding between generations. One thing is that the sixties were all fun and games -- that there are a lot of things that we didn't do, like we didn't address climate change.

I think there's a lot of criticism. Some younger people think, “Oh, your generation didn't do anything. Look at all the problems we have.”

Well, look at all we did. We ended the war in Vietnam. We got the Voting Rights Act.

We're all different. We're all individual people, and we all have different experiences from each other.

And I'll tell you what the people of my generation think.

We had beef with the millennials. No work ethic! No work ethic. They come in late to work. They didn’t want to work that hard. I don't recall a lot of political activism. Their music sucked as well.

Music is very important to me. Reading is my great one. I'm a reading addict. But music is my second. I'm on Youtube all the time because I like watching performances. I went to a lot of concerts in the sixties.

But I think a lot of us, my age bracket, need to know more about you.

And to understand your issues, what you find important, culturally. How you fit in. How you think you fit in. It’s all about communication and making connections. Whether it's academic or whatever. 

That's important.

Things have changed. Education has changed. Techniques and how people are taught now.

 Interviewer: I feel like this gap between generations, even if only one generation apart, is very difficult to break.

Peggy: You know, there are forks in the road and life experiences that affect your lives. But I think one of the things that would be useful for you to think about is mentors.

They are so important.

I've got many during my career, men and women.

This is when I was in my twenties. But throughout my career, they advised me, they taught me. There are special teachers that you particularly like or enjoy. Well, that's what a mentor is.

Somebody who can show you the ropes no matter what organization you're with. A teacher who can be your advisor. It’s very, very important.

Think about that when you're pursuing a career.