When I applied for this program, I came with the intention to learn and work for a population in our community that is often underserved and forgotten on a day to day basis. But as this quarter comes to a close, I have realized that I’ve been exposed to so much more. Through our trips to senior centers, I was able to speak with individuals and learn about their life experiences. I was able to see first-hand what it takes to have a center function (the funding, staff, volunteers, etc). Having the opportunity to interact with people that are not from my age group allowed me to break from my shell and also learn from their experiences. It granted me the opportunity to detach from common misconceptions about elders and humanize the agist issue.
This course has also granted me the opportunity to learn more about healthy aging and addressing the stigma against the older population. Through our book discussions, common issues regarding the media, the medicalization of aging, SES, and culture played a role on how aging was perceived. It was refreshing to have a platform to discuss the what issues are commonly faced with this community and discuss what we can do as individuals to reduce ageism.
I appreciated the Oral History Project the most. I had come to realize that this project allowed us all to learn more about our families/friends and also about diverse life experiences. I feel that it is important to do this because aging does not look the same to every person. Aging comes in different forms across different ethnicities, cultures, and health statuses. Understanding that this process is different for all, it brings us one step closer to reducing the gap of misconceptions between our communities.
This course has also granted me the opportunity to learn more about healthy aging and addressing the stigma against the older population. Through our book discussions, common issues regarding the media, the medicalization of aging, SES, and culture played a role on how aging was perceived. It was refreshing to have a platform to discuss the what issues are commonly faced with this community and discuss what we can do as individuals to reduce ageism.
I appreciated the Oral History Project the most. I had come to realize that this project allowed us all to learn more about our families/friends and also about diverse life experiences. I feel that it is important to do this because aging does not look the same to every person. Aging comes in different forms across different ethnicities, cultures, and health statuses. Understanding that this process is different for all, it brings us one step closer to reducing the gap of misconceptions between our communities.