Center 50+ Teen Summer Internship Program Reflections: Dimphina Swarm

This summer, Salem high school students took part in the Center 50+ Teen Summer Internship program, which fosters meaningful connections between teens and older adults through shared activities. For the next few days we're sharing the personal reflections of the teens themselves.

By Dimphina Swarm

Being a part of the Center 50+ Summer Teen Internship Program was an experience that helped me grow both personally and socially while also teaching me more about the importance of community and intergenerational connections. One of my highlights of the internship was listening to older adults share their experiences, interests and insights. It was fascinating to hear their different perspectives and learn about the lives they have lived. Their stories showed me how much people of different generations can learn from each other's experiences when they take the time to connect.

One important lesson I learned was that many older adults are genuinely curious about younger people and are interested in building intergenerational relationships. However, they may not always feel welcome or know how to begin those connections. This made me realize that younger people can play an important role by reaching out, starting conversations and creating opportunities to socialize.

I was surprised by how welcoming the people I met were. They were not only open to talking and building new connections, but many were actively seeking opportunities to build meaningful relationships within their communities.

This internship also helped me become a stronger communicator and encouraged me to face my fears about socializing. One moment when I felt especially proud was after I went door to door in my neighborhood to talk with my neighbors. I was nervous about approaching people I did not know well, but I chose to challenge myself. To my surprise, everyone I spoke with welcomed me openly. That experience helped me become more confident and showed me that reaching out to others can lead to positive connections.

For my community event, I served lemonade with a variety of fruit purées from my family's converted van. The event was designed to bring neighbors together through something simple and welcoming: sharing drinks and spending time talking. The best part was seeing people connect and realizing that there was a supportive community around us. Being able to share life updates, conversations and experiences without judgment can be very meaningful for people's sense of belonging and overall wellbeing.

Since the event, several neighbors have waved to me, and I feel like I am now part of something truly meaningful. I believe the event helped open the door to future gatherings and social activities while creating a more welcoming neighborhood. Sometimes, one small connection can lead to another. Once one person starts waving or saying hello, others may begin doing the same. I have already seen those positive effects in my neighborhood, and I hope they continue to grow and blossom into real friendships.