I can genuinely say that the Life Course Scholar Program was a great experience that taught me so much on not just the topic of healthy aging but about myself as well. The course granted me an opportunity to have intergenerational interactions with different population groups throughout the San Diego community, the two most noticeable ones being The Mary and Gary West Senior Center and the Casa de Manana Retirement home. The reason these two groups stayed pressed on my mind was due to the significant difference in barriers faced by the residents/attendees of these two different locations. The Mary and Gary West Senior Center being a community resource for underserved seniors in the San Diego community which helps serve meals, provide health services, and social interactions. The difference with the Casa de Manana Retirement Homes is that often times those residents come from a privileged wealthy background that allows them the opportunity to afford luxury living at a retirement age. The disparity gaps seen within these two different groups will leave a strong memory as it is unfortunate to see one group have a plethora of resources, while the other groups struggles to even access minimal and basic necessities.
Upon attending the last day of class as well as the Healthy Aging Symposium, I had the opportunity to reflect on all of my different experiences throughout the course, the most significant ones being the one-on-one conversations I sometimes found myself having with the seniors at some of our class outings. The conversations I encountered varied anywhere from how to decide the right career path to having silly discussions about relationships and significant others. Because of this, I had an opportunity to learn about different perspectives that each individual will carry and how to use this as an opportunity for growth.
Upon attending the last day of class as well as the Healthy Aging Symposium, I had the opportunity to reflect on all of my different experiences throughout the course, the most significant ones being the one-on-one conversations I sometimes found myself having with the seniors at some of our class outings. The conversations I encountered varied anywhere from how to decide the right career path to having silly discussions about relationships and significant others. Because of this, I had an opportunity to learn about different perspectives that each individual will carry and how to use this as an opportunity for growth.