On Wednesday, April 4, 2018, the Life Course Scholars cohort met for its first class meeting after spring break. During class, the cohort discussed plans for their Healthy Aging Projects (HAPs). Although I was not present at this class meeting, I began work on my HAP.
For my HAP, I am partnering with Jackie to create a blog that will showcase the Oral History Projects from both the current LCS cohort, as well as the past LCS cohorts. Jackie was particularly inspired by the Oral History Projects that were presented to us last quarter, and she wished to carry on the OHP through this blog.
I feel that this project is important, as it provides a platform for elders to tell their stories. Although elders have many fascinating, compelling, and relevant life experiences, the division between people of different ages in American society means that elders often do not have an avenue for sharing their stories and wisdom with younger generations. I am aiming to provide elders with that platform through this blog. In addition, I hope that the blog will provide younger readers with insight into the lives of elders.
This blog includes my grandmother’s Oral History Project, which is personally beneficial for me and my family, as it allows us to record her stories to share with future generations in our family. However, I feel that other people can learn from my grandmother’s experiences as well. The suicide of my great-grandfather and its impact on my grandmother’s life is relevant today, as suicide and mental illness are highly stigmatized subjects in American society, as well as the topic of passionate conversation in movies, and on television and social media, as well through awareness campaigns through social activists and mental health professionals. By reading the stories of other elders, I believe that younger generations will realize that elders’ experiences are not much different from their own in the present day. In some cases, such as that of my great-grandfather’s suicide, it can also provide insight into how certain social issues, such as suicide and mental illness, have progressed over time.
This HAP will be a major focus of the coming quarter. I look forward to seeing this project take shape, as well as providing an avenue for many fascinating elders to let their voices be heard.
For my HAP, I am partnering with Jackie to create a blog that will showcase the Oral History Projects from both the current LCS cohort, as well as the past LCS cohorts. Jackie was particularly inspired by the Oral History Projects that were presented to us last quarter, and she wished to carry on the OHP through this blog.
I feel that this project is important, as it provides a platform for elders to tell their stories. Although elders have many fascinating, compelling, and relevant life experiences, the division between people of different ages in American society means that elders often do not have an avenue for sharing their stories and wisdom with younger generations. I am aiming to provide elders with that platform through this blog. In addition, I hope that the blog will provide younger readers with insight into the lives of elders.
This blog includes my grandmother’s Oral History Project, which is personally beneficial for me and my family, as it allows us to record her stories to share with future generations in our family. However, I feel that other people can learn from my grandmother’s experiences as well. The suicide of my great-grandfather and its impact on my grandmother’s life is relevant today, as suicide and mental illness are highly stigmatized subjects in American society, as well as the topic of passionate conversation in movies, and on television and social media, as well through awareness campaigns through social activists and mental health professionals. By reading the stories of other elders, I believe that younger generations will realize that elders’ experiences are not much different from their own in the present day. In some cases, such as that of my great-grandfather’s suicide, it can also provide insight into how certain social issues, such as suicide and mental illness, have progressed over time.
This HAP will be a major focus of the coming quarter. I look forward to seeing this project take shape, as well as providing an avenue for many fascinating elders to let their voices be heard.