As we near the end of the quarter, I am really appreciative of all the conversations I’ve had and for having learned so much. I feel like I have become a completely different person as I have gained a new perspective on aging and the life course. I now realize that before taking this course I was unconsciously ageist and succumbed to ageist stereotypes. I am now very aware of certain ageist comments and ideas and even call others out when I hear them. I really had no idea what I was expecting when applying for this course, but my expectations have been exceeded. I have felt so much joy and contentment from my conversations with older adults and volunteering at events. I’ve never felt so satisfied! This course has also made me more curious about future careers where I am able to work with older adults as I’ve enjoyed it so much this quarter. These past few weeks have been especially fun as we have been working on our mini capstone project. As I conducted interviews with older adults, I never stopped smiling. The first few interviews were held at National City where we volunteered at a community event for older adults and helped with the karaoke station. This volunteer event was so cute, and I enjoyed all the activities we had done this morning, including a quick workout and dancing. Attached below is a picture of me and Anthony, one of the older adults I interviewed for my mini capstone. We were also able to interview older adults at Casa De Manana. Casa De Manana took my breath away. It was everything one could want and more. I wish this type of community was accessible for everybody. As I leave this course, I hope that the future becomes more equitable for people across all ages, especially those at the end of the life course.
The trolley ride to Barrio Logan is almost an hour long. I've rode the trolley many times prior to this but this trolley ride was different. In the hour of overhead speakers reciting each stop, I caught myself wondering how many elders were riding, how many of them were homeless, and how the accessibility ramp took a little long to open up. This may be due to me taking this class and opening up a new perspective on life or simply the sheer fact that we were on our way to do a neighborhood health assessment. Either way, these thoughts embed themselves in my everyday life and I am forced to wonder how we could improve everything! From neighborhoods, to accessibility, to policies, every minor detail strikes a fire in me that wants to learn how to fix things. These embedded thoughts were no different as we walked around Barrio Logan. It was a beautiful community where you could truly feel the love and camaraderie as you turned every corner. Attached below is one of the many touching art memorials at the Chicano Skate Park. Although there was an abundance of art and culture, there were not many elders walking around which pretty much summed up our neighborhood health assessment. This was a stark contrast to the event we held on Saturday, where elders were flowing in and out all morning at the Gary and Mary Senior Wellness Center. This event was truly one of the best experiences I've ever had. It was so much fun and my heart was so warmed that we were able to provide a little bit of comfort to these amazing folks. Attached below is a picture of two elders in a warm embrace as they watched their peers take a polaroid picture. This picture captures all the warm and lovely feelings I experienced this Saturday morning.
From crying during the oral history projects to taking a tour of the Mary and Gary Senior Wellness Center, it's been an enlightening couple of weeks! I genuinely enjoyed hearing about everyone's EP's and found them very endearing. Hearing a few of the projects brought me to tears, as I could really tell that that person presenting had formed a deeper connection with their EP and was so excited to share with us. It was so fun hearing so many different stories and seeing everyone's pictures. Everyone's EP's also had great advice and I think we all gained a bit of knowledge that day. Overall, I am really happy that we all got to partake in this project. It has taught us so much, while also being an enjoyable experience. Just a few days ago, we visited the Mary and Gary Senior Wellness Center. I had no idea of what to expect, as I had never visited a senior center before. I was also quite confused as I realized this senior center was in the middle of downtown San Diego. But, as we learned that the majority of seniors who attend this center are homeless, I realized that this was an actual ideal spot. We also learned that this served more as an activity center that serves breakfast and lunch and focuses on case management, but it made me wonder where the older adults went when the center closed their doors at the end of the night. It made me sad seeing all these older adults and getting to know them, because why is systemic homelessness normalized? It's a complex issue that requires a lot of people, time, and money and one that I would like to prioritize in my future career. But, for now centers like these are a great first step and makes me hopeful for future policy changes.
It's been so interesting these past few weeks learning about the life course and older adults as they enter a new period of their lives. A period we are all so afraid of entering, but why? Society has made us think that aging is an end to all and that for some reason our lives are over once we reach a certain age. We all have our own internal biases on aging and older adults, and it isn't our fault, but we must choose to recognize them and fight against them. One day, we will become those older adults we all so fear and all of our peers will become one as well. Our life spans are lengthening and community ties are severing, so we must uplift communities of older adults now and hope that generations will follow. It's also been heartwarming to learn about the different perspectives of older adults and how different they process their emotions compared to younger adults. It's been very inspiring and has eased my anxieties about getting older. It makes me happy knowing that older adults report being happier than that at the age of 20. They live the last period of their lives without worrying too much or being upset over small things, instead they only do activities and surround themselves with people that bring them the most joy. We have so much to learn from this age cohort, we just need to reach out. It's made me want to talk to my grandma more often, as I learn something new about life with every conversation we have. So let this be a reminder, reach out to the older adults in your life, learn a thing or two, and most importantly, let them know you appreciate them. Pictured below, is me and my 80 year old Grandma - my inspiration for this class and my life!
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Hannah ChoiHannah Choi is a Public Health major with a concentration in Public Policy and Management, she is Archives
March 2022
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