There are dozens of people with whom we all come into contact every day who can share with us their experience if we will open ourselves to it. Many of them are significantly younger than we are.
I learned this important lesson at the tender age of 22 when I began Irish Step Dancing. The next oldest in the class was 10. I probably wouldn't have asked her advice on managing my love life or my retirement fund, but she had been dancing for years, she was calmly confident in her skill, and for months she maneuvered me through the expectations of a demanding instructor who didn't have time to individually instruct each of us.
I like to think that I have a degree of maturity equal to my age. But I long ago stopped believing that just because I'm older I'm supposed to know more than my students about everything. Kids often have a lot to teach if we'll only get past ourselves and respect what they have to offer. And, when we do, we will find them significantly more open to what we have to teach them. Respect of experience is a two way street.
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