How long have you been enrolled in the SMC Emeritus program?
4 years
What was your occupation prior to retirement?
Telecommunications sales
What was your highest level of education?
Earned College Bachelor Degree or higher
What are the top reasons why you value the SMC Emeritus Program?
- Stimulating class subjects
- A student body willing to learn and who desire to be there
- Sensitive and encouraging instructors, who provide appropriate feedback
Pearls of Wisdom: What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
- Never stop learning
- Continue to add new challenges to your bucket list and then conquer them, then add more
- Never have just a plan A; have a B, C and sometimes a D plan
- Travel, travel, travel
What are some of your biggest accomplishments in life?
- Traveling to almost 30 countries and 20 states
- Running a marathon
- Successful sales at work that positively altered companies' operations
- Winning a division level Toastmasters speech contest
- Providing caregiving for my mother and uncle who both lived out a happy end of life
- Mentoring a young person, who later went on to graduate from college
- Being a positive example and inspiration to others
The SMC Emeritus Program has helped me as a lifelong learner because It has allowed me to try new things, like various art forms and improve on interests I already dabbled in like writing and photography.
The best part about being an SMC Emeritus student is that different new worlds open up for me. I get to continue to learn and experience new ventures.