I’ve learned a lot since I began as a volunteer instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute program in Lewes.
Deciding to volunteer and committing to developing a curriculum has resulted in me reading 15 books, watching several documentaries, viewing several online interviews, having personal discussions with three authors, learning PowerPoint, learning and using the Drives and Sites tools available to anyone with a Gmail account, gaining access to the University of Delaware and the Interdisciplinary libraries, getting up and out of the house, meeting a lot of new people, and having interesting and stimulating conversations.
I’m 78 years old now and many of my friends are either gone or living at great distances from me. I think one of the challenges that age brings is finding ways to break out of the isolation that often comes with age.
Having the time and resources to be able to volunteer is a blessing. Volunteering keeps me on my toes. It helps me remain relevant.
OLLI is a wonderful resource for both those who wish to volunteer and those who wish to simply engage in continued learning and growing. The staff is friendly, welcoming and supportive.
Imagine setting out to learn for the sake of learning. There are no tests. There are no grades. There are no degrees or diplomas to be had. There’s just an opportunity for community with others who’ve lived full lives and are happy to share.
The facility and classrooms are all readily accessible.