How long have you been enrolled in the SMC Emeritus program?
I have been enrolled for 16 Years.
What was your occupation prior to retirement?
I am a retired Early Childhood and Elementary Teacher.
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?
- SMC has provided me with the opportunity to continue learning, sharing with friends, old and new, and giving greater depth to things I experienced and learned when younger. For instance in traveling the world in my 20s I visited places that I am now learning more about in both my art appreciation and currents events classes. Much has changed in 50 years.
Pearls of Wisdom: What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
- Keep believing you can make a significant, positive difference in the world. You don't have to join the Peace Corp. You can do it in your own community.
What are some of your biggest accomplishments in life?
- I was a good teacher.
- I made a significant difference in the lives of my students and their families.
- Reading, writing and arithmetic are the tools you use to express experiences.
- I exposed the children to hands on experiences in art, culture, environment and life. Something as simple as an apple can open a whole new world to children. You can look at a picture of one or you can read stories about them, hold all different varieties of them, compare them, cut and taste them, graph them, bake with them, create stories and art projects with them.
- They learned to love learning instead of learning to take a test. I still hear from many of my former students and they still talk about how much they loved experiential learning.
The SMC Emeritus Program has helped me as a lifelong learner because it has allowed me to broaden and deepen understandings of past travel experiences, educational opportunities and both the appreciation and creation of various art forms. Also I grew up in a politically active family who taught me the importance of being an informed voter and participating protester. The current events classes have provided a place to discuss, to agree or disagree, to clarify, and to keep abreast of national and world news. The Emeritus Program continues to help keep me and other seniors active thinkers.
The best part about being an SMC Emeritus student is keeping active, involved and sharing time and knowledge with friends old and new. I have also appreciated getting to personally know and enjoy friendship with faculty members of the Program.