Tuesday morning, a group of white-haired people played with sticks between the two Health & Human Services buildings along Deukmejian Way at Cal State Long Beach.
They were students in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), a learning organization for seniors, participating of the longevity stick class, a Vietnamese style exercise.
There presence on campus reflects a growing trend, according to a recent article in the Seattle Times, of seniors attending higher education classes. It is a good chance for young students to see that their parents’ and grandparents’ generations are interested in learning by joining the senior university.
Roz Steiner, who lives in Seal Beach and is more than 80 years old, was once the oldest student in her class studying for her bachelor’s degree at CSULB and is now a student in the OLLI.
Steiner came to the OLLI four or five years ago to take bridge and computer classes, and stays occupied working as a volunteer on Wednesday mornings as well.
“I love it. The work isn’t so exciting, just routine task, but the atmosphere, I like it very much,” Steiner said.
Steiner said she is very attracted to the functions of the computer and enjoys the technology. Now she reads online, e-mails, writes and most often plays games on her computer.
However, Steiner said she still prefers to talk to friends over the telephone or face-to-face.
Steiner said going to the senior university is one way to get a social life through learning.
“Being involved in the university is a great, great thing,” she said. “You are never too old to learn.”
OLLI was established in 1996 with the help of community members, the director of gerontology program, the CEO at community hospital and professionals in the Long Beach area. The financial sources are tuition, donations and the Osher Endowment.
Only two positions, the office administrator and coordinator, are paid, while the instructors and other staff volunteer their time. OLLI charges an annual membership fee of $40 for each enrolled student. The lecture class fee is $10 and computer class fees are $45 each semester.
Kay Rennison, a Westminster resident in her 70s, is a student and a volunteer like Steiner.
She said she thinks that seniors should go out and find interesting things to do rather than staying home like vegetables. After Rennison found OLLI, she said she felt younger and more adventurous.
Mark C. Barnett, a 57-year-old Seal Beach resident, is a volunteer instructor at the OLLI. He teaches religion and history.
“Lots of times, [students] have their professions and their experiences that add to the class,” Barnett said. “When you add all the years they live and learn, there are hundreds of years of experiences. It is a wealth of information.”
Past research has shown that it is healthier for seniors to recharge themselves with learning and meeting people of similar ages with similar interests.
Steiner, Rennison and Barnett said that life is about learning and this makes them become more positive and prosperous.