Upon walking into the establishment, I was met with the warm face of the woman behind the counter. The community that has been built within the walls of the West Senior Wellness Center was one-of-a-kind. These older citizens had friends, and each had their table where they sat together. Playing games, participating in workout sessions, and watching movies together are only some of the activities that one could choose from at this location. The sense of community and belonging was felt in this establishment and it was the first time that I realized that there is so much to look forward to in the future. I was also amazed by the friendliness of the people who visited the center. I cannot count the amount of times that an older citizen greeted me and my peers visiting. They were all extremely friendly despite the variety of different backgrounds and history of each individual. While passing out the lunch for the day, everyone greeted me with a smile and thanked me for bringing them their food.
The absolute friendliness of the people at this center was apparent; something I was not expecting. The adults I spoke with loved talking to me and my peers, and I became invested in their lives and captivated by their stories and advice. Their willingness to open up to me and tell me about their lives made me feel comforted and grateful that they trusted me with their stories. I definitely felt wiser and more confident that these kinds of wellness centers are essential for older adults to exist and keep up with this ever-changing society.