Going into the quarter, expecting the worst in absolutely everything, I drove back to San Diego the night before LCS Retreat Day full of regret for making myself return to school a day earlier than the rest of my friends. However, regardless of how much I dreaded waking up for the retreat day, I ended up having a lot of fun and finished the day knowing it was the right decision to join a program as great as this one.
Not only were the people in the program super friendly and kind, but also they offered up perspectives on aging related issues that I have never heard before in the world of pre-med, biology students. Being a biology student myself, I was skeptical of taking USP course just because I wasn’t sure if it would fit my interests. But this retreat day proved that this program is the ‘something interesting’ I’ve been searching for the moment I committed to UCSD.
From lectures on demographics of the aging population and ways to better cities for the sake of all age groups, to walking around the beautiful coastline of La Jolla with the perspective of an older person, to playing a game where my group’s character was an extremely premature, socially-disadvantaged child, I had the opportunity to meet and bond with the LCS’ers and learn more about the program’s vision and goals.
The last activity, where the whole group reflected on what their lives would be like when they’re 80, stood out to me the most. Before I joined the program, I always envisioned helping those 65+ when thinking of ways to better the aging population. But this activity opened my eyes to see that though this course may have a focus on the current aging population, big picture, all age groups will become the aging population-- thus all age groups must be cared for in order to promote healthy aging. I am super excited for what this program will bring and all the things I will learn and be able to share afterwards.
Not only were the people in the program super friendly and kind, but also they offered up perspectives on aging related issues that I have never heard before in the world of pre-med, biology students. Being a biology student myself, I was skeptical of taking USP course just because I wasn’t sure if it would fit my interests. But this retreat day proved that this program is the ‘something interesting’ I’ve been searching for the moment I committed to UCSD.
From lectures on demographics of the aging population and ways to better cities for the sake of all age groups, to walking around the beautiful coastline of La Jolla with the perspective of an older person, to playing a game where my group’s character was an extremely premature, socially-disadvantaged child, I had the opportunity to meet and bond with the LCS’ers and learn more about the program’s vision and goals.
The last activity, where the whole group reflected on what their lives would be like when they’re 80, stood out to me the most. Before I joined the program, I always envisioned helping those 65+ when thinking of ways to better the aging population. But this activity opened my eyes to see that though this course may have a focus on the current aging population, big picture, all age groups will become the aging population-- thus all age groups must be cared for in order to promote healthy aging. I am super excited for what this program will bring and all the things I will learn and be able to share afterwards.