Tarmac Online

By Andrew Dargento ’28

This past week, I made an appearance on a radio show to discuss Chaminade’s newest club, Bridging Generations. When I was invited to speak on Will You Trust Me? on 103.9 FM with Mrs. Valerie Shivers, I didn’t expect the conversation to make me think so deeply about why our club exists. That discussion reminded me how this idea began—not as a grand plan but as a simple desire to bring people together.

During my time at Chaminade, I’ve realized that many of us want to serve others but sometimes don’t know where to start. I thought about the elderly residents in our community, people with entire lifetimes of stories and wisdom who often go unseen and unheard. I wanted to create a way for students to connect with them, to listen, to share, and to learn. That’s how Bridging Generations was born.

The process of building the club taught me a lot. With help from the Office of Student Life and Mrs. Amanda Pandolfo, I wrote a proposal, outlined our mission, and began recruiting members who shared the same vision: to form meaningful relationships with seniors and remind them that they are still valued and remembered. We partner with Sunrise of East Meadow, where our members visit residents, spend time talking, play games, and simply be present. These interactions may seem small, but they’ve proven to be powerful for everyone involved.

Our mission is straightforward: to bridge the gap between young and old through empathy and connection. Yet each visit has shown me that the results are anything but simple. Every conversation is different, and every story teaches us something about patience, strength, and gratitude.

Timothy (TJ) Ezagui ’29 summed it up best when he said that even the smallest interactions “completely change the way I see others.” Leonidas Karakostas ’28 added that his time in the club helped him see service not as an obligation but as “an opportunity to connect with people who have so much to teach us.”

For me, starting this club has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. It allows me to help others, but more importantly, it gives my peers the same opportunity. Watching students form genuine friendships with the residents shows that compassion is contagious.

At its heart, Bridging Generations is not just a club—it’s a reminder that kindness can be shared across every generation. By listening, learning, and caring, we’re not just visiting seniors; we’re building a stronger, more connected community. I encourage any student who wants to make a difference to join us. You’ll discover how good it feels to brighten someone else’s day and how much you can grow by doing it.