This quarter has been a fantastic experience so far that has broadened my knowledge and scope regarding healthy aging. Coming into this course I knew I had an interest in serving the elder, but as the weeks have progressed I’ve learned more regarding the stereotypes that must be unlearned, the services that are available and offered to the elders, and how the individual aging experience is for everyone. During this last week in the Life Course Scholars Program, me and some of my classmates fleshed out some ideas and plans for our mini-capstone project. I’m excited for this project but I still feel like there are many logistics me and my group need to plan out. The past Saturday we hosted a Love, Connect, and Care event at the Gary and Mary West Senior Center. It was really great to see everyone so involved especially with the pandemic. This is something that is so important knowing that connection and a sense of belonging are critical to health and well being across the life course. This past Wednesday, we visited Barrio Logan. Me and my group looked at features of the building, physical and social environments including trees, parks, greenery, shade, common spaces with seating, libraries, community center, sidewalks, businesses, and art. We tried to observe these factors through the eyes of an older version of ourselves. However, didn’t see any older residents walking around though to ask them about their experiences as an older adult living in this neighborhood.
It’s week 5, meaning we are halfway done with the quarter! I recently completed my Oral History project with my grandpa, and we had a great time working on this together. As I reflect on my interactions with my EP I realize how lucky I am to grow up in such a privileged environment. Although it was hard trying to find time to meet with my EP in a different time zone, it was worth the wait. Prior to this weekend, I knew very little about his past;t however, this project allowed me to trace back to my roots and understand life better. My grandpa has been my idol since my childhood, and his drive to succeed is what motivates me in my life. This project gave me the opportunity to zoom into his life from when he was a child to the peak of his career as a college principal. I started to realize that he’s the product of his value systems but, more importantly, a series of opportunities he tagged along the way. Our class has weekly discussions about the assigned readings and the main takeaways. Essentially what guided our conversation were the questions we individually created during our reading reflections. We then split up into breakout rooms and are assigned different questions to talk about. In my latest breakout room, I remember we had an insightful conversation about healthy relationships and how to maintain them. This is ultimately based upon love languages, individual values, and the willingness to receive and give help. This conversation allowed me to reflect on my relationship with my elder family members. Especially since my grandparents would also offer me support with anything, I needed like food, clothes, and many other gifts. A lot of what they’ve done for me inspires how I practice healthy relationships with my peers as well.
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Tanmayi AmanchiTanmayi Amanchi is a Human Development major with a minor in General Archives
March 2022
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