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Ten years ago, the class of 1961 filled out a survey with queries ranging from career to children to catastrophes.
The results were delightful, sometimes doubtful, and caused me to happily remember having spent four years with such an interesting, perceptive and -yes- entertaining group of people.
This year we've sent out a survey with an updated set of questions. Enjoy these survey responses from your Whitman colleagues.
Sixty years has given us wisdom and sometimes the humor we lacked when we were 20!
Come to see and experience this “renewal” on September 24, 2021 in Walla Walla.
Click or tap on a question to see the results below.
In the last decade what has most surprised you, disappointed you or caused you to cheer?
What do you look forward to in the next ten years? How will it be different from the previous ten?
How did your Whitman experience prepare you for this stage of life?
Was there an event in your life where you realized how important your Whitman experience was? Describe briefly.
Do you believe a liberal arts education is still the best preparation for life and future endeavors? Why or why not?
What is the most important advice you would give to the younger generation?
Is America a better place now than it was in 1961? Why or why not?
What do you think is dividing us as a nation?
What common values and strategies do you think could unite us?
Has technology improved your life? (Don’t ask Alexa!)
Do you exercise regularly? (When we asked the same question 10 years ago, at least 60% of us worked out at least 3 days/week.)
Recommend a TV/Video Series you’ve watched during this pandemic year.
How else did you cope during the pandemic?
Recommend some books you’ve read recently.
List the top three things you want to be remembered for.
What are your living arrangements now?
Are you happy with your present living situation?
| In the last decade what has most surprised you, disappointed you or caused you to cheer? |
|
| 1 |
How life unfolds. |
| 2 |
Our failure to address climate change is beyond disappointing; it's terrifying. |
| 3 |
DISAPPOINTED BY the Trump era and cheered when Biden and Harris were elected. |
| 4 |
Being retired. |
| 5 |
The advancement of technology via satellites. (Come on spell check, Did I get it right?) |
| 6 |
covid 19 disappointed. |
| 7 |
The election of D.Trump was the worst thing that happened. |
| 8 |
Surprised and happy with the friendship and support of family and friends. |
| 9 |
Cheered: Change in our government. Hope for better, more reasonable times ahead.
Disappointed: Division in country's values and lack of common fervor to help the unfortunate.
Surprised: Downturn in births. |
| 10 |
Thumps election, Thump, his loss. |
| 11 |
The thing that most surprises and disappoints me is having a child, a Whitman graduate, who is a conspiracy-believing, Trump-supporting anti-vaxxer. |
| 12 |
Surprise: reliance of so many on the internet. Disappointment: political hyper-partisanship. Cheer: Opportunity to travel and learn (until COVID hit). |
| 13 |
Surprised by the overwhelming presence of technology. It enhances our life in many ways but makes us vulnerable to many new threats.
Disappointed by the ongoing and ever increasing polarization of our political system.
I cheer every time I get to have another birthday. |
| 14 |
Finally an acknowledgement what settlers did to Native Americans. Lack of concern about the deteriorating environment. Lack of common values and strategies. Diversity is the future. Support for Black Lives and some changing attitudes cheered me on. I have been demonstrating on a neighborhood corner for over a year. |
| What do you look forward to in the next ten years? How will it be different from the previous ten? |
|
|
| 1 |
Being about to stay healthy and keep busy and independent as possible. |
| 2 |
I look forward to mending the divisions in our country which the previous ten have exacerbated. |
| 3 |
Some sense of stability and cooperation with people working together as opposed to accentuating differences. |
| 4 |
I hope nothing. |
| 5 |
Watching my family grow, enjoying the outdoors, watching my trees grow and produce fruit, playing lots of piano and eating chocolate. It will be different because my husband passed away in February and I will have to rely on myself for most things. |
| 6 |
Hope - for a more caring society. |
| 7 |
Just living. I did lots of traveling in the past 10 years and am so glad that I did. |
| 8 |
Look forward to more spare time. |
| 9 |
More boating until our children take away our "keys".
Enjoying old friends post covid restrictions.
Being able to enjoy grandchildren events.
How different: Moving slower and more perspicaciously. (Did that word come from Whitman?) |
| 10 |
Watching my grandchildren grow and I expect health issues will be different. |
| 11 |
I look forward to watching the grandchildren bloom and grow. |
| 12 |
Good health and opportunity to travel. Not much different than the previous ten years. |
| 13 |
More birthdays. Seeing my grandchildren choose their course in life.
Putting off downsizing as long as possible. Best scenario is for the hearse to roll up to my door when necessary.
Not as much international traveling. Airports and air travel are ever more of a challenge.
Not as many outdoor adventures as opportunities have diminished or gone away. |
| 14 |
Traveling again, keeping in touch with Russian relatives, being physically active. Good health. Struggle for equity. Reading has certainly increased my awareness of the issues Americans are facing. Going back to the movie theatre! Getting decent haircuts again. |
| How did your Whitman experience prepare you for this stage of life? |
|
|
| 1 |
Friendships. |
| 2 |
It expanded my horizons, deepened and widened my point of view. |
| 3 |
It taught me to think. |
| 4 |
Lots of interests and resulting areas of inquiry. |
| 5 |
I had a good teaching job, I gained confidence and could forge ahead with what life presented. |
| 6 |
Humanity has a broad spectrum of people with diverse interests. |
| 7 |
Lots of friends from Whitman. |
| 8 |
Perspective. |
| 9 |
It made me more flexible in my thinking and more sure of my values and beliefs. (Dr. Ball encouraged me to take myself seriously.) |
| 10 |
Life long friends. |
| 11 |
In counseling my children, grandchildren and the high school students I taught, l drew upon the memory of my first two years studying away from home at Whitman, compared to the next two years attending the local university. Living together in a dorm or house, eating and studying together added much extra value in terms of fun and friendship. |
| 12 |
An appreciation for the many different aspects of the world affecting our lives. |
| 13 |
Hard to say. Who knows what challenges we will face at eighty when we are twenty? In fact, I didn't think about it much until I made it to sixty and it seemed like more of a possibility. Give Whitman some credit for social and academic maturation, enabling me to move on with life. |
| 14 |
I think at Whitman we were in our little cocoons, rarely off campus without a car, not exposed to various cultures. My major in French, however, led me to France and exposure to other cultures. I still correspond with people I met during various trips. Film club introduced me to the international scene. |
| Was there an event in your life where you realized how important your Whitman experience was? Describe briefly. |
|
|
| 1 |
No. |
| 2 |
No one event, many experiences and relationships. |
| 3 |
When I had to apply for jobs and realized I could adapt to many different situations. This happened more than once. |
| 4 |
Graduate school. |
| 5 |
When I was much younger I felt like so many people my age were not very knowledgeable. There were a few times when I thought, How could someone who graduated from college be so ignorant. |
| 6 |
No seminal event. |
| 7 |
Just day-to-day living. |
| 8 |
Yes - Taking classes in other institutions made me appreciate the quality of Whitman. |
| 9 |
Marrying my Whitman sweetheart after four years of post-college gallavanting. Can't describe briefly! |
| 10 |
Professor Sims helping to write. |
| 11 |
|
| 12 |
Many. |
| 13 |
Not that i can recall. Life is a river that keeps flowing and our early experiences give us the ability to keep moving downstream. |
| 14 |
In teaching, not just one event. |
| Do you believe a liberal arts education is still the best preparation for life and future endeavors? Why or why not? |
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|
| 1 |
It's a great preparation but not necessarily the best for everyone |
| 2 |
Absolutely! It teaches you to think and respond and grow and embrace change, not fear and reject it. |
| 3 |
Yes, it still is, despite the emphasis on technical fields. However, the same education might be available at less cost and for a shorter period of time as educational facilities change. There will be more online learning and specialties still pay more than general education in the short run. |
| 4 |
Absolutely. I was in business until I retired: some large corporations, and ending up in a small partnership. My Whitman education taught me to write, think and critically analyze challenges and opportunities. In addition, it gave me a basis for understanding the human condition. This was vital in my resulting success in business and life in general. |
| 5 |
I think a good liberal arts education is very important for general knowledge and maturity and self confidence. I do wish I had taken botany then because I've worked with tree varieties for the last 30 years at an agricultural research station and it would have been good to have that background. I'm currently the Avocado Specialist for the California Rare Fruit Growers. At age 21 you have no idea what will present itself in your future. |
| 6 |
For many but not necessarily all. |
| 7 |
Yes. You never know what you might end up doing and it enriches your life in many ways. |
| 8 |
Yes. |
| 9 |
Liberal arts is fine for most, too loose for some very focused individuals who know what they want to be. (They probably need it the most to widen their perspectives.) |
| 10 |
Critical thinking is becoming even more important. |
| 11 |
Yes. A liberal arts education provides a strong foundation and a wide perspective. Hopefully that will continue even after focusing in later on a specific field of interest. I think that kind of preparation makes one a better neighbor, friend, spouse, parent, and lifelong learner. In short, a better human being. |
| 12 |
Yes. For me it provided a broader base for understanding some of what is going on around us. |
| 13 |
Not necessarily. Exposure to many subjects was rewarding, but not needed for a career in dentistry. Friendships made and a secure social environment were positive additions to my growth as a person. |
| 14 |
Yes, more than ever. For an educated nation, we need more than technocrats or narrowly specialized citizens. Don't get me wrong I wish for myself I had also had training in the trades! |
| What is the most important advice you would give to the younger generation? |
|
|
| 1 |
Be true to your self and give service to your community. Be kind to everyone. |
| 2 |
Open your minds and hearts; trust process over products, love over fear. |
| 3 |
Learn to think with alternatives and challenge the norms. Don't be afraid to take some risks before settling for long-term security. |
| 4 |
Get a broad liberal arts education. Specialization can come about in graduate school or on the job. |
| 5 |
Take courses you like. If someone else says it is boring or too difficult beware. For you it may be interesting and give you a background that you will appreciate. |
| 6 |
Learn how to love others, have empathy and compassion. |
| 7 |
? |
| 8 |
Turn off your cell phone. |
| 9 |
Love every chance you get. You never know how many more chances you'll get.
You can't out give God. Be generous.
Read, read, read.
Walk outside 30 minutes every day. |
| 10 |
|
| 11 |
Learn to know yourself--who you are, who you are not and never will be, what you value, what you believe, what you will stand up for, what is important to you and what is not. Then give your all to becoming the very best YOU you can be. That is all anyone can ask of you, and all you can ask of yourself. |
| 12 |
Don't take yourself too seriously, respect and have tolerance of others and look for the good things in life and enjoy them. |
| 13 |
Follow your heart, even if it takes a while to get there. Be realistic about where you want to be in twenty years. It will go quickly. Use college as a time to continue growing in all facets of your life. |
| 14 |
Study hard, complete your education, maintain friendships, seek out variety, be physically active, travel. Enjoy the arts and nature. Eat well and grow a garden. Conserve. Read, read, read! Get rid of the lawn. |
| Is America a better place now than it was in 1961? Why or why not? |
|
|
| 1 |
Yes. |
| 2 |
I can't answer this one; my perspective in 1961 was too limited to Spokane, Walla Walla, and novels. |
| 3 |
In some ways. Racial minorities have more options but they still have a struggle. Things were simpler in 1961 and some believe that was better. Adapting to the complexity of life and choosing among the numerous options can be confusing. We have become more of a "me" generation than a "us" generation. |
| 4 |
This is hard to answer. It is different, with some good features in both years. |
| 5 |
It is better in some ways...better medical knowledge and cleaner air in Southern California but 1961 was wonderful with so many really great people in my life. I loved the farm where I had a horse and loved the farm animals, fields and garden but appreciate the scientific advances of the last 60 years. |
| 6 |
From a physical point of view - yes, but from a moral and ethical perspective - no. |
| 7 |
No. Each had or has its good points, Today there are better opportunities for women, and better and easier ways to communicate but life seems more complicated. |
| 8 |
Still the best place to live. |
| 9 |
America is in a Mess. It was messy in 1961 with the civil rights riots, the Vietnam War etc. etc. but the political peril was not at the heights we have now. We are so much more aware of strife due to constant internet advice and 24 hour news keeps the unrest front and center.
The Black community is still concerned with voting rights but their problems are being heard and seen and dealt with a great deal more than in the 60's.
|
| 10 |
Yes a better place more access for women and people of color but still along way to go. |
| 11 |
I'm not sure. |
| 12 |
Different. Some better, some not so good. |
| 13 |
No! The drug culture that started in the late sixties has been a plague on our society. We did not have to deal with anything like that. Life has become increasingly complex and difficult for our youth to negotiate.
America has a multitude of factions, each with their own agenda, and all seeking to to be the one that is heard at the front of the line. Some are good and others quite the opposite.
I don't recall life being quite as complicated when I was at Whitman. |
| 14 |
It really depends on what "class" one is a part of. Poverty in education, health care, housing: all these factors make a difference in whether life is better or not. It is certainly not better for many folks considering the disparities in wealth. In the 60's we were starting the civil rights movement. Today it's the equity question. We must be hopeful. |
| What do you think is dividing us as a nation? |
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|
| 1 |
|
| 2 |
Greed, fear, and mis/disinformation. |
| 3 |
Economic disparity. |
| 4 |
Ignorance. |
| 5 |
Some people, some groups think their way is the only way and are not willing to listen patiently to other ways of thinking. Also some people make money and get attention by dividing people and causing derision. |
| 6 |
Our unwillingness to listen. |
| 7 |
Politics. |
| 8 |
Unwillingness to compromise. |
| 9 |
Religious intolerance, urban vs rural, individualism vs communal concern, No E Pluribus Unum. |
| 10 |
Confusing opinion as facts. |
| 11 |
Fear and greed. |
| 12 |
Political hyper-partisanship, lack of tolerance of other viewpoints. |
| 13 |
The inability to listen to others with a different view and compromise for the common good of all. |
| 14 |
Some people are living in the past and don't understand or want to understand how our country is changing. |
| What common values and strategies do you think could unite us? |
|
|
| 1 |
|
| 2 |
More equitable distribution of resources, less resistance to/fear of change. |
| 3 |
Focus on commonalities: health, safety, family economic security rather than social issues (gay life styles, abortion, etc.). |
| 4 |
A broad appreciation of the facts surrounding the challenges of the day. |
| 5 |
I try to live by these rules: 1. Be wise 2. Be kind 3. Make good choices 4. Have fun.
Rotary club's 4 way test is: 1. Is it the truth. 2. Will it be fair to all concerned. 3. Will it build better friendships and 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned. In Rotary we have all ethnic groups and political parties and it is rare that we have a problem with cooperation and getting along. |
| 6 |
Education and the value of caring about others that are different from me. |
| 7 |
None at this point in time. Too many crazies. |
| 8 |
Mutual respect and understanding. |
| 9 |
Social justice for all.
Equitable tax burden sharing.
Improved early public education for all schools, urban especially.
Less income stratification. |
| 10 |
More equality. |
| 11 |
Possibly a clear and present threat to Democracy. |
| 12 |
Too many choices and too many opinions. |
| 13 |
Respect and understanding of all views and ethnicities. This was not an issue in our Whitman days.
Accept the will of the majority and move on to change what you can if you don't agree. |
| 14 |
Nurture more Greta Thunbergs. I believe our young people are much more active and aware and will be a catalyst for change. Education. Education. Involvement in group discussions with a facilitator. |
| Has technology improved your life? (Don't ask Alexa!) |
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|
| 1 |
Sometimes |
| 2 |
Yes |
| 3 |
Sometimes |
| 4 |
Yes |
| 5 |
Yes |
| 6 |
Sometimes |
| 7 |
Yes |
| 8 |
Sometimes |
| 9 |
Yes |
| 10 |
Sometimes |
| 11 |
Yes |
| 12 |
Mostly |
| 13 |
Yes |
| 14 |
Sometimes |
| Do you exercise regularly? (When we asked the same question 10 years ago, at least 60% of us worked out at least 3 days/week.) |
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|
| 1 |
Yes |
| 2 |
Yes |
| 3 |
Inconsistently |
| 4 |
Yes |
| 5 |
I walk every day, usually about 2 miles and sometimes run. I don't run far or fast. |
| 6 |
Yes |
| 7 |
When I can... |
| 8 |
Yes |
| 9 |
Yes |
| 10 |
Yes |
| 11 |
Yes |
| 12 |
When I can... |
| 13 |
No |
| 14 |
Yes |
| Recommend a TV/Video Series you've watched during this pandemic year: |
|
|
| 1 |
Gardening webinars. I don't have TV 5 - 6 days a week. |
| 2 |
The Simpsons (very subversive sometimes). |
| 3 |
Atlantic Crossing, Frankie and Grace. |
| 4 |
I'd rather read. |
| 5 |
I watch Doc Martin on public t.v. and Nature and many Fox news programs. |
| 6 |
Blue Bloods. |
| 7 |
None. |
| 8 |
Seahawks. |
| 9 |
New Tricks on Am Prime, Durrells on Corfu. |
| 10 |
Too many. |
| 11 |
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Making of Country Musicians; Edwardian Farm. Stayed up later, watched more TV series, got up later. |
| 12 |
Watch little TV. |
| 13 |
NCIS. I don't watch much TV programming. |
| 14 |
Masterpiece Theatre and American Masters, Frontline, political shows, nature programs. PBS. |
| How else did you cope during the pandemic? |
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|
| 1 |
Taking care of the family farm. Got to see my little granddaughters 1 day a week.l |
| 2 |
Read a lot, play duplicate bridge online. |
| 3 |
Reading, playing music, driving to distanced locations and walking. |
| 4 |
One day at a time. |
| 5 |
I made contacts with people..phone, walked with, zoom meetings and email. |
| 6 |
Walks, reading, talking on the telephone and praying. |
| 7 |
Gardening, bird watching, communicationg with friends and relatives, eating. |
| 8 |
Puttering around the house and yard. |
| 9 |
Stayed socially active on Zoom, walked and read a lot more. |
| 10 |
Spent more time at my beach cabin. |
| 11 |
To bed later, get up later. More time getting groceries. More news monitoring. Streaming every evening. Family and friends gathering in the open-air garage with space heaters, heating pads, cushions and blankets. More cooking. Fitbit slave (gym closed). Normal yardwork, plus building a natural berm in the woods from fallen branches. Helping sister rehab infected knee by daily walking together, weather permitting. Support system for brother with heart trouble, diabetes. More phone communication with old friends and shut-ins. |
| 12 |
Hang out with family "pod", gardening, home projects and maintenance, reading. |
| 13 |
Maintaining my home and grounds.
Utilizing our golf course membership.
Reading. |
| 14 |
Walked most days with a friend. We enjoyed watching the garden and remodeling projects since we were on foot. The flowers and trees were just outstanding this winter and spring. It was heartening to see families in front yards or walking in the streets or having meals and Happy Hours outside. I met more neighbors. Squirrels who dug up my newly planted seeds, dogs, labradoodles with names Izzy, Fozzy, Ozzy, and crows were everywhere. |
| Recommend some books you’ve read recently: |
|
|
| 1 |
All my reading is about gardens and gardening. I teach classes. |
| 2 |
Where The Crawdads Sing, The Overstory; Her Again:Becoming Meryl Streep; The Soul of an Octopus. |
| 3 |
Deep River by Karl Marlantes. |
| 4 |
H. W. Brand's, "Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a Traitor to His Class." |
| 5 |
I read several magazines cover to cover and have been reading Morrow County History books finding out more about the backgrounds of people I grew up with. Next I am going to look through all my old Whitman annuals and see who I remember. |
| 6 |
Caresharing by Marty Richards. |
| 7 |
Widows of Malabar Hill, Triple Package, Giver of Stars to name a few. |
| 8 |
"Oregon Trail" by Rinker Buck. |
| 9 |
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson,
Red Notice by Bill Browder,
Pilgrimage to Eternity by Tim Eagan,
NoNo Boy by John Okada,
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. |
| 10 |
|
| 11 |
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towle, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Less by Andrew Sean Greer. |
| 12 |
American Harvest, Eisenhower at War, The Language of God, The Color of Law. |
| 13 |
Books by Ken Follett are entertaining and informative. Look for the Pillars of the Earth trilogy and the prequel "The Morning and the Evening."
Fiction by Patterson, Balducci, Jance, and the Clancy series provide light relief from the day's activities. |
| 14 |
Books related to the Black experience from Dubois, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Twain, Baldwin, Ellison to more contemporary writers Kendi, Wilkerson, DiAngelo. The most moving for me was Bryan Stevenson's Just Mercy. Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year relates to the present.. Now I'm ready to switch to Russian literature! |
| List the top three things you want to be remembered for: |
|
|
| 1 |
Being kind and caring. Making my community a better place. |
| 2 |
Generosity ;Intelligence; Sense of Humor. |
| 3 |
Being fair and caring with others. Dealing with adversity. Encouraging learning by young persons. |
| 4 |
A kind and loving father and husband, a good provider, and a good neighbor. |
| 5 |
My contributions of music...piano students and playing piano for things including 49 years of being pianist for one Rotary club, 34 years for another and my getting new and unusual avocado varieties in many yards from my years in the avocado variety collection, and grafting and donating 100s of trees over the years to California Rare Fruit Growers plant sales and public speaking to many garden and CRFG clubs. Mostly I want my kids to think the best of me as I do to my wonderful parents and relatives. |
| 6 |
I cared about others, even though imperfectly. |
| 7 |
Traveling, great daughters, being a decent person. |
| 8 |
|
| 9 |
I was a woman of faith, who believed Jesus came to give us Life to the Max.
I was (mostly ) kind and tried to be helpful.
I was optimistic and generally upbeat and loved my family best of all! |
| 10 |
|
| 11 |
1. For being fun to play with, especially Password and Fishbowl. 2. For the two books I have written. 3. For being a kind person. |
| 12 |
Was part of a family that contributed to improving our communities. |
| 13 |
Honesty, loyalty, and the ability to be helpful and inclusive. |
| 14 |
Curiosity, interest in foreign cultures and other people, cooking and enjoying good food and nature. |
| What are your living arrangements now? |
|
|
| 1 |
My own home plus the family farm ( I live 2 places) |
| 2 |
House |
| 3 |
Retirement Facility |
| 4 |
House |
| 5 |
House |
| 6 |
Retirement Facility |
| 7 |
House |
| 8 |
House |
| 9 |
House |
| 10 |
House |
| 11 |
House |
| 12 |
House |
| 13 |
House |
| 14 |
House |
| Are you happy with your present living situation? |
|
|
| 1 |
Yes |
| 2 |
Yes |
| 3 |
Yes |
| 4 |
Yes |
| 5 |
Yes |
| 6 |
Yes |
| 7 |
Yes |
| 8 |
Ask me later |
| 9 |
Yes |
| 10 |
Yes |
| 11 |
Yes |
| 12 |
Yes |
| 13 |
Yes |
| 14 |
Yes |
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