Back to school season is finally upon us again, and one new trend has children holding creative fill-in-the-blank boards detailing facts like name, age, graduating class and more. The trend makes for an annual photo op that will be cherished for many years to come.
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Inspired by this, staffers with Garden View Assisted Living in Carroll, Iowa took to Facebook to post photos of seniors all in their 80s and 90s flaunting personalized “back to school” boards of their own.
The seniors in the photos include Gladys, 86, Arnie, 81, Marie, 97, Loretta, 94 and three-quarters and Jim, who will only describe his age as “young at heart.” Many of the residents graduated in the 1940s and 50s, and they encouraged today’s young people to always “do your best” and “pay attention to your teachers.”
“Get as much out of school as you can; it will be very handy later!” wrote resident Helen, 87.
“Read a lot and enjoy your time!” added 89 year-old Jim.
The photos have since gone viral, being shared over 41,000 times!
“This is wonderful! I am a teacher, and I have saved your post to show to my students,” one Facebook user commented, with another adding. “We have so much to learn from generations that come before us,” another echoed.
“Must be such a great place to retire!” a third user wrote. “They all seem so happy and healthy.”
“What an amazing post! Thanks for sharing your wisdom with all of us,” fourth person commented. “We all keep learning no matter how old we are.”
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