If you asked me a few months ago about how long I hope to live, I most likely would’ve shrugged my shoulders and said an absurdly low number. For the majority of my life, I’ve viewed the aging process as a debilitating, soul-diminishing process. Maybe because of my own naivety, or maybe because of the ageist media I’ve been bombarded with which pushes the narrative that youth is the only time humans can lead fulfilling lives. Maybe because our society is so age-segregated that I’d never had deep, meaningful connections with elders. I’m proud to say that I’ve come a long way since then.
The first few weeks of the course have transformed my perception of the aging population. By speaking with elders from diverse backgrounds, I’ve been able to leave the La Jolla bubble which so many UCSD students unfortunately fall prey to and broaden my understanding of the needs and issues of elders throughout the city. At the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, I had the pleasure of speaking with Henry*, an elderly man from Tijuana who had been living out of his car for the past 8 days while undergoing dialysis treatment at a nearby clinic yet kept such a wide smile on his face. At Sara Frances Hometel, I heard the story of Justin*, who described the extreme age-unfriendliness of prison and the insanely long waitlists for affordable housing units in the area. At North Park Senior Apartments, I listened eagerly to Al as he fondly recalled the camaraderie between members of the LGBT community back in the 70s in New York. Each conversation left me with a greater understanding of housing and income inequalities faced by seniors in San Diego and made me more empathetic towards the senior experience. Most of all, these conversations have shown me how enjoyable and peaceful the aging process can be, if someone has sufficient financial resources and is well-integrated into a community with whom they can connect with. It’s the responsibility of our generation to ensure that those older than us have access to housing, which is a basic human right, and comfortable company.
In my “When I’m 80” exercise from our LCS retreat at the start of the quarter, I wrote about wanting to be a lifelong learner and exist without regret — all of the seniors we’ve met thus far have taught me that not only is it possible to do so, it’s incredibly common. I’m looking forward to seeing what awaits us in the coming weeks, and I’m thrilled to experience it all with such a wonderful group of inspiring classmates.
*Pseudonyms for anonymity
The first few weeks of the course have transformed my perception of the aging population. By speaking with elders from diverse backgrounds, I’ve been able to leave the La Jolla bubble which so many UCSD students unfortunately fall prey to and broaden my understanding of the needs and issues of elders throughout the city. At the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, I had the pleasure of speaking with Henry*, an elderly man from Tijuana who had been living out of his car for the past 8 days while undergoing dialysis treatment at a nearby clinic yet kept such a wide smile on his face. At Sara Frances Hometel, I heard the story of Justin*, who described the extreme age-unfriendliness of prison and the insanely long waitlists for affordable housing units in the area. At North Park Senior Apartments, I listened eagerly to Al as he fondly recalled the camaraderie between members of the LGBT community back in the 70s in New York. Each conversation left me with a greater understanding of housing and income inequalities faced by seniors in San Diego and made me more empathetic towards the senior experience. Most of all, these conversations have shown me how enjoyable and peaceful the aging process can be, if someone has sufficient financial resources and is well-integrated into a community with whom they can connect with. It’s the responsibility of our generation to ensure that those older than us have access to housing, which is a basic human right, and comfortable company.
In my “When I’m 80” exercise from our LCS retreat at the start of the quarter, I wrote about wanting to be a lifelong learner and exist without regret — all of the seniors we’ve met thus far have taught me that not only is it possible to do so, it’s incredibly common. I’m looking forward to seeing what awaits us in the coming weeks, and I’m thrilled to experience it all with such a wonderful group of inspiring classmates.
*Pseudonyms for anonymity