I am sixty years old. I
find it hard to believe, but I am. Yet, inside my mind and body I don’t feel
sixty, but perhaps I am a perpetual ostrich with my head buried deep in the
sand. However, I am reminded of my age frequently enough to have to face the fact
that I am indeed getting older – much older than my coworkers who average 30
years of age. And I cringe when I overhear them sharing their “cute” stories
about aging relatives who do not fully understand technology. In my head I am
screaming, “give us a break, we weren’t all spoon fed the internet, social
media or google and furthermore we have a wealth of experience that no YouTube ‘’how
to’ video can compete with”. At the same time, I also cringe when I hear
contemporaries sneer at the work ethic of millennials or shortchange their lack
of knowledge or experience in the “old” ways. Respect goes both ways, doesn’t
it?
When I was fifty-two I
decided to go back to school to pursue an education in journalism. Our class
was made up of people ranging in age from 18 to 53, only one person in my age
group. Yet, it was a fantastic experience. My classmates came from all over the
country and we became like family, a tight knit group that supported and helped
one another. My technology skills were rudimentary at best. I was positively
freaked out by the radio booth and especially the long control board with its
(seemingly) zillion buttons used to edit film. It was all a little more
high-tech than I had expected. I equated journalism with writing – period! I
could use word programs, Facebook, and, of course, email, but that was about
the extent of it. I became fast friends
with a young man just out of high school. He helped me with my steep learning
curve with technology while I assisted him with grammar, and other “old school”
skills.
After I finished
college I still hungered and thirsted for knowledge and elected to continue my
studies - online. I am happy to report I
graduated with a bachelor’s degree. I am grateful for the people I met who had
retired from one profession only to go back to school and later launch new
careers in totally different fields. I am grateful for the 90-year-old woman I
interviewed who had held several jobs spanning three separate careers in her
lifetime and was just retiring from her latest gig – that was a lively and
inspiring interview! I am grateful for all the support and kindness of friends
and family who encouraged my every endeavor.
I have heard it said
“learning is a life-long adventure”. I believe this to be true. You’re never too
old to learn something new.
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