As a young instructor, one of the biggest challenges that I have faced is bridging the gap between student age, learning styles, and ability. I work for a career college and teach Fundamental Writing. My student demographic ranges anywhere from the new high school graduate to the middle-aged career changer. One facet of the classroom consists of students that are young, lacking in life experience & maturity, yet needing to brush up on their writing skills, before proceeding with their academic career. The other facet would be the adult students who are mature, have much life experience, yet are at a loss to remember skills that they haven't used in years and might not have been proficient in to begin with. It is very challenging to develop cohesiveness and credibilty when there is such a vast dichotomy of differences. At times, there can be much tension between young students who take their educational experience for granted and adult learners who are very invested in their lessons. Does anyone have any advice in bridging these gaps and building a stonger sense of community within such an experientially diverse classroom?