A famous, Italian opera singer. Working with Neil Armstrong on the first Apollo moon landing. A month-long, cross-country motorcycle trip to witness some of America's great landmarks. Meeting Pope John Paul II on a church choir trip to Rome.
These were but a few of the tales recounted during "A Night of Stories, Seniors on Display: Living History," put on by Isabella Bouzari, a senior studying Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Education, Health and Human Services.
The event took place at the Streetsboro Senior Center where Bouzari interned. She also worked as an activities assistant at a skilled nursing home. Afterwards, she spent two years as an in-home caregiver for Portage County. When it came to an internship, she knew she wanted to work with seniors.
"During the last semester of college, I felt a strong need to stay involved with the elderly after graduation," she wrote in a blog post. "It was my goal to find a senior center to collaborate with, which is when I found the Streetsboro Senior Center."
Bouzari used her creativity to provide a meaningful experience for those at the center. What started out as a detailed presentation turned into multiple marketing flyers that turned into a commercial to promote "A Night of Stories." The event allowed seniors to reflect on a meaningful or sentimental life experience with exclusive interviews to tell their stories. Participants found a nostalgic item like a family heirloom, a memory, personal story, or hobby to discuss in detail.
"My end goal...was to invite the public and community in for a story exhibition on display as a way to connect the seniors with the different generations in our community," Bouzari explained.
What started out with just half a dozen sign-ups quickly morphed into 25 stories with an audience of 200. Bouzari made sure there was something for everyone. Many seniors with compelling, heartfelt stories to tell. Many from the community with open eyes and perked up ears.
"Everyone just instantly connected, which is something that you cannot plan to happen," said Bouzari. "It is something that just happens organically. That night, the community and seniors proved that we are all connected in more ways than we may realize."