The Mindset List

Every year at this time Beloit College releases its Mindset List. I've been reading it for years -- it's a great reality check of the college freshman's frame of reference.

It's especially poignant to me this year. The baby is on campus and going through freshman orientation.

Here are a few of my favorites from the list:

What Berlin wall?

They've never "rolled down" a car window.

They have grown up with bottled water.

Pete Rose has never played baseball.

Wal-Mart has always been a larger retailer than Sears and has always employed more workers than GM.

Stadiums, rock tours and sporting events have always had corporate names.

Fox has always been a major network.

They learned about JFK from Oliver Stone and Malcolm X from Spike Lee.

They never saw Johnny Carson live on television.

Food packaging has always included nutritional labeling.

It's a fun list to read but boy, does it make me feel old! Living with the oldies quickly gives me a different perspective. Imagine the changes they've seen and endured.