We had a presentation and discussion of the book This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite. This book provides well-researched evidence and philosophical questions to challenge the misrepresentation of aging that our media portray. Prior to reading this book, I did not realize how our policies are hostile to the older populations and how our fear of aging is essentially an aversion to our future, inevitable selves. I used to associate aging with negative stereotypes like decline in health and independence, but this book has convinced me to embrace the aging process and take pride in aging. The presenting group did a great job critiquing the book and connecting it to the previous book, Selling the Fountain of Youth.
After discussing the NAP project and preparation for the upcoming dances, we had the other half of the class, including me, present the Oral History projects. Through this project, I learned more about my dad’s background and how it influenced him to become the person he is today. I sometimes forget that before my dad took on the role of a father, he was once a child and a teenager who made the same mistakes as I did. As I wrote my dad’s memoir of his adolescence, I realized that his experiences were much more relatable to me than I previously thought. My dad was very excited about the project; he was happy that I wanted to interview him and write a memoir of his life. I planned to write the memoir in Vietnamese so my dad can read it, but my dad suggested that I write the memoir in English so his grandchildren, whom he dedicated the memoir to, can read it in the future. Both my dad and I enjoyed the project, and I plan on writing a memoir for my mom in the future.
After discussing the NAP project and preparation for the upcoming dances, we had the other half of the class, including me, present the Oral History projects. Through this project, I learned more about my dad’s background and how it influenced him to become the person he is today. I sometimes forget that before my dad took on the role of a father, he was once a child and a teenager who made the same mistakes as I did. As I wrote my dad’s memoir of his adolescence, I realized that his experiences were much more relatable to me than I previously thought. My dad was very excited about the project; he was happy that I wanted to interview him and write a memoir of his life. I planned to write the memoir in Vietnamese so my dad can read it, but my dad suggested that I write the memoir in English so his grandchildren, whom he dedicated the memoir to, can read it in the future. Both my dad and I enjoyed the project, and I plan on writing a memoir for my mom in the future.