As the end of winter quarter is upon us, our cohort was able to reflect on what we have learned from our current event presentations, oral history projects, book reports, and healthy aging project proposals. We were able to identify the challenges and hardships the elder population experiences daily whether it be about food/housing security, healthcare issues, technology use, etc. Also, we found a new understanding and admiration for the elder population. Aging is a process that is diverse, and everyone experiences this process differently based on intersectionality such as racial background, socio-economic status, health status, etc. The elder population should be appreciated for their hard work and perseverance from their lifetime, and we should cherish those we have relationships with to ensure we show support and care for them. We discussed how on a federal and local government levels, there should be an implementation of healthy aging policies to help the current and future generations when they age so it will not be such a difficult process. As I was listening to everyone’s reflections, one stood out to me the most, it was how much our perception of aging is what truly affects our lives. Clearly ageism presents the problems of implicit bias for job interviews and cultural stereotypes. The production of anti-aging creams and medicine has created a false reality of aging to be a “disease” that has to be prolonged as much as possible. If we perceived aging as a process of character growth and development, our world would be a happier place. One main lesson I learned from the concept of aging is to live in the present and do what makes you happy now cause waiting for the future will just leave us in a state of sad aging.
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Katlyn marie MonteKatlyn is a Molecular and Cell Biology major from Eastvale, CA. Fun Fact, in her free time, her and her grandma cook Filipino food together. Archives
April 2021
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