“How I overcame the misconceptions of becoming a ‘senior’”
Rosie Hersch, 68, is a retired pharmacist, whose hobbies include studying, cooking and theatre.
Quite a few years ago my late mother and father-in-law were very busy seniors, darting from one U3A lecture to another. I used to arrogantly think this U3A is just for old people. I am young and vibrant and enjoying my career, my children, my busy full life, I will never go to this U3A, it’s just for old people and it must be very boring.
How wrong could I have been!! In the blink of an eye, almost at the speed of light the children went from kinder to school to university to living independently to marriage to having babies and suddenly I was also older, an empty nester, retired with none of the intellectual input and satisfaction I received from my professional work that was my brain food. Ok, at the start of my retirement it was nice to sleep in, not to have the pressure of work commitments and there were the grandparent duties but there was really nothing to keep my mind from disintegrating. My brain going to mush and not knowing how to fill the gap of long working days gone by scared me and so after researching the history of U3A, I capitulated and with great trepidation decided to bite the bullet and join U3A.
I had no idea if I would enjoy it or where to start but of course the answer was obvious, Mr Google. Google listed every U3A in Melbourne and the country areas. First I had to decide what sort of things I was interested in. I have always liked writing poetry, though not of late and am a creature of habit so I started looking for a writing course, not one of those 6 week courses but something I could get my teeth into over a whole year. I started to search all the local U3As near where I lived and even further. I was not having any luck till I stumbled across a course at U3A Melbourne. I really was not intending to go as far as the CBD of Melbourne but this U3A was the only one that included a year’s writing course. So with nervous apprehension I joined U3A Melbourne and applied for Monday Writers.
Of course not everyone likes to be committed to a year’s course. We all have different lives and different routines. Some people just like to have a variety just like my mother in law did. There are many short courses and one off lectures over such a huge range of subjects, then there is let’s do theatre, let’s do food, let’s do books and even belly dancing lessons. For those athletic types there are bike-riding groups and there are plenty of invitations to extra lectures and activities. There is no shortage of interesting subjects and things to do if that’s your bag. Of course volunteers for duties ranging from helping in the office to assisting in other areas when the need arises are always welcome and if you have expertise or knowledge in a certain area you may wish enquire at a U3A to start a class yourself.
I was so nervous the first time I went into town to start the writing course that of course I got to Ross House in Flinders Lane early and went straight to the room assigned. There were a whole lot of people, very welcoming and the leader gave me all these sheets. I remember saying, “Excuse me but these notes are all in Spanish,” to which she replied, “Well, this is the Spanish language class. Monday writers begins in here at 12 noon.” I was totally embarrassed and left instantly. I only tell this story to illustrate to some readers of this article who may feel too shy or intimidated to join U3A. U3A is not a chore or something to be afraid of it is simply to enjoy.
From the minute I started Monday Writers I was hooked. The people in this class were so pleasant and encouraging. Our writings were not corrected. You just read out a new story each week to the rest of the group so there was no pressure. The idea was to have fun and relax. I have just re enrolled again and this is my fourth year in this course. Most of the people that I started with are all still in this group. There is a genuine camaraderie. We are all different, come from different backgrounds and are a variety of ages. We even have one gentleman in his 90s who at one time was the leader of this course. We have a lot of laughs and sometimes a bit of sadness and nostalgia may creep into a story that someone has written based on truth. Although four topics are given to choose from each week if you have writers block and can’t think of anything you can write something else. Your story can be fiction, historical, biographical or can even be in the form of a poem. The course also gives one confidence because you have to read your story to the other members. Last week I asked other members of my group to tell me why they like U3A as you will read further on. Most of them do other courses but because of my nana duties I am limited to this course and a pastel painting year long course that I do as an associate member at Glen Eira U3A
At Glen Eira U3A, once again I have re enrolled for my fourth year in a pastel painting course. The atmosphere is as congenial as that at U3A Melbourne. There are many short and longer courses to choose from and as with other U3As, well run and offer a range of things that would interest anyone. U3A is good for the self esteem of us oldies because out there I think sometimes to the younger generations we may appear invisible but belonging to U3A reminds us that at our age we come with a lifetime of experiences and wisdom that young people cannot possibly have attained and that we still have a lot to offer.
U3A started in France at the Faculty of Social Sciences in Toulouse in 1973. By the early 1980’s the scheme had reached the UK where its nature was radically changed to a more self help organisation under the influences of its founders. The model is now used in Australia and many other countries. Australia’s first U3A was U3A Melbourne, which commenced in 1984. To celebrate the Thirtieth Anniversary of U3A Melbourne a fashion parade was held at the Melbourne Arts Centre. I am proud to say the convenor of this affair was one of my Monday writer colleagues who herself was a model and a boutique owner in the UK in her younger days. The models were all U3A members, some from my group and the event hit the news and television stations. It was a first for any U3A across Australia and it demonstrated that the community does take notice of U3A and it has become an important part of Australian senior culture.
There are over 250 U3A’s and about 100,000 members in this country. U3A is a great way to keep the brain active as we become more senior, make new friends, learn about things you knew nothing about but most importantly it is treating yourself to a world of sharing knowledge and becoming more than you thought you could become at our stage of life. Aristotle purportedly said “Education is the best provision for the journey to old age.”
Here are some of the comments from some of the members of U3A, firstly from my group at U3A Glen Eira. “It’s a different outlet for me”; “It stretches my mind”; “It provides a social outlet, its casual and relaxing”; “It gives me something to do” and “I like the company of the other seniors”.
My friends at U3A Melbourne had other comments. In fact our topic for our five-minute write last week was “Why do you like U3A?”. I could not list everything they wrote as this article would go on for pages but here in brief are their comments. “U3A classes are great, enjoyable, interesting, offer endless opportunities, opens a world of challenge and wonder, a fantastic invention, disciplines me from becoming lazy, U3A is the mortar between the bricks of knowledge, classes are flexible, there are no financial barriers, gives me hobbies to fill the gap left by retirement, a chance to join one of the many social clubs to meet like minded people who are still young at heart and full of life.”
So now I hope you can realise why I thoroughly recommend that you join a U3A wherever you live in Australia. Even if you are busy with grandchildren or do charity work, travel or work part time reward yourself and add colour, comradeship and wisdom to your life.
Related links:
How to beat the retirement blues
4 tips to ensure a happy and health retirement
From walking groups to tai chi, top 4 ways to stay active