This semester, students in Ms. Rebek's Photo 2 PPP (Public Purpose Program) class collaborated with the OMI Senior Center on a project focused on connection and storytelling across generations. The effort began with interviews in which students spoke with seniors to learn about their lives. Following the interviews, the students offered their partners a brief camera tutorial to help them get started with photography. They then took portraits of each other, often outdoors, using backgrounds such as streets, murals, and flowers—whatever suited their vision.

The project wrapped up with a reception at the school last week. Students and seniors reunited to view the final portraits on display. The artwork is currently displayed in the photo studio hallway in the Library building, ensuring it remains a part of the school environment rather than just a distant memory.

Aiden ’27 reflected on how the project shifted his perspective, saying, “It went from just having to interview a stranger… to having deeper conversations,” and describing how meaningful it was to learn about his partner’s life experiences and global travels. He added that it changed how he thinks about older adults, reminding him that they carry “so much more experience than we do.”

Chase ’27 described how the process of taking portraits helped build comfort and trust between him and his partner. Over time, he noticed her “face lit up” as she became more relaxed in front of the camera. One of his favorite moments came when she successfully took her first portrait, an experience that made the process feel shared and rewarding.

For Maggie ’26, the most meaningful part of the project was engaging with people from different cultural backgrounds. She explained, “Most of the seniors at the OMI center immigrated from different countries in Asia, so learning from them and getting advice from them was my favorite part.” She also emphasized how the act of photographing someone deepened that connection, noting that portraiture requires sustained attention and that “a subject’s personality comes through a bit more when positioning them or witnessing how confident they are in posing.”

Throughout the project, things kept changing form—interviews became conversations and portraits transformed into visual storytelling. Currently, the images are displayed in the photo studio hallway, conveying the essence of this special collaboration. If you're on campus, be sure to stop by to see the results.