From the cliffs above picturesque La Jolla shores beach, we had our Life Course Scholar retreat. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day with clear skies and a light breeze, and great setting to engage in team building and learn more about the overall life course. Upon arriving and after enjoying a light breakfast of pastries, fruit, juices and coffee, we began the first of our team building activity’s. We were each given a word that was placed on our backs that we were supposed to guess by asking questions of our peers. This was a great activity, as our words matched in some way with one other person whom we talked with and saw what commonalities with shared. In doing this, I was able to become more comfortable and more sociable with the other LCS scholars.
Once we completed that activity, we were then given a great lecture by Professor Lewis and Professor Bussell on aging. We were able to learn more about the aging demographic in the United States, and how it will impact the future. Another thing that interested me, was that we were able to dispel some myths about the aged, which I once believed. By having this lecture, it allowed myself to develop a better picture of the older population that we will be engaging with and learning about through this program. This lecture led to another team-building activity unto which we all participated in a life course board game. This game involved rolling dice that corresponding to how much you aged, and along the way any setbacks that may have occurred. Most important was that each player was given a card detailing if they were advantaged or disadvantaged based on socioeconomic and race at birth, which allowed for the class to see how setbacks can be more drastic for those already disadvantaged. Thus further showing that the continued cycle of one step forward and two steps back can be strenuous and harmful for one’s health.
After completing this game, we were given a lecture and workshop in preparation for our oral history project. The author of 7 memoirs, the book we will be using in creating our memoir for our project led the workshop. Here my classmates and I were able to better understand the process one takes in speaking with their extraordinary person and creating a memoir for them. We were even able to practice using a photo our own with another classmate, thus to better prepare us for the eventual conversations we plan to have with our EP. We ended the day with a meditation walk where we envisioned what it would be like to have to navigate the terrain as an elder. This culminated in each one of us creating two drawings one that depicted our life as a river, and another of what we plan to be like at 80. We were able to discuss and share our drawings, and see which values were most important to a person at the end of their life course. The retreat was a great kickoff to the Life Course Scholars program and I’m excited for what’s to come.
Once we completed that activity, we were then given a great lecture by Professor Lewis and Professor Bussell on aging. We were able to learn more about the aging demographic in the United States, and how it will impact the future. Another thing that interested me, was that we were able to dispel some myths about the aged, which I once believed. By having this lecture, it allowed myself to develop a better picture of the older population that we will be engaging with and learning about through this program. This lecture led to another team-building activity unto which we all participated in a life course board game. This game involved rolling dice that corresponding to how much you aged, and along the way any setbacks that may have occurred. Most important was that each player was given a card detailing if they were advantaged or disadvantaged based on socioeconomic and race at birth, which allowed for the class to see how setbacks can be more drastic for those already disadvantaged. Thus further showing that the continued cycle of one step forward and two steps back can be strenuous and harmful for one’s health.
After completing this game, we were given a lecture and workshop in preparation for our oral history project. The author of 7 memoirs, the book we will be using in creating our memoir for our project led the workshop. Here my classmates and I were able to better understand the process one takes in speaking with their extraordinary person and creating a memoir for them. We were even able to practice using a photo our own with another classmate, thus to better prepare us for the eventual conversations we plan to have with our EP. We ended the day with a meditation walk where we envisioned what it would be like to have to navigate the terrain as an elder. This culminated in each one of us creating two drawings one that depicted our life as a river, and another of what we plan to be like at 80. We were able to discuss and share our drawings, and see which values were most important to a person at the end of their life course. The retreat was a great kickoff to the Life Course Scholars program and I’m excited for what’s to come.