For many Otterbein Granville residents, learning is a lifelong pursuit — particularly for independent living resident Jan H.
“I’ve always been a naturally curious person,” Jan said. “Even in high school, there were so many classes that I wanted to take, but just couldn’t because we had requirements for graduation and there simply wasn’t enough time. I think a curious person needs to keep learning, and if that need isn’t met, it is a detriment.”
She added, “You know, you don’t necessarily need to go deep; you can dabble in many areas of interest to keep life exciting. Time flashes by so quickly, and if you remain stationary, you miss a lot.”
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Continuing Education for Everyone
According to the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of older adults consider themselves lifelong learners. This includes everything from taking a course (in person or online) about something of interest, reading self-help books or magazines about a new topic, or engaging in vocational training to prepare for a promotion or a career change.
The reasons to learn something new are varied, but personal enjoyment, feeling more confident, and making new friends are always at the top of the list!
Continuing education is a long-time American value. In 1963, AARP’s founder, Ethel Percy Andrus, Ph.D., announced the creation of the Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI), calling it a “grand experiment, an informal school offering courses to our members to meet their intellectual needs and to enhance their skills and talents.”
The Institute played a major role in shaping national attitudes about education beyond the normal 12 to 16 years; rather, it taught that education can continue throughout a lifetime. In 1977, the Institute of Lifetime Learning closed its schools and gave local sponsors total responsibility for its chartered extension Institutes.
Jan H: A Lifelong Learner
Jan has been involved in the local chapter of the Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) since she moved here to Otterbein Granville in 2012. Some of the topics that Jan has explored since moving to Otterbein Granville include dinosaurs, archeology, geology, and more.
Affiliated with the Central Ohio Technical College (COTC), LLI is an organization for seniors, managed by seniors, to provide a broad range of educational options on topics such as:
- Art
- Literature
- Philosophy
- Science
- Languages
- Technology
- Spirituality
- Economics
- World affairs
- And more
Jan has served in a leadership role for the past five years and currently serves on the Steering Committee. In fact, Jan and her late husband Virgil even taught a two-day course called DNA and DNA as a Toll in Genealogy.
Jan epitomizes the attitude of many Otterbein Granville residents who are always engaged in something, because as Henry Ford said, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether they are 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps learning stays young."
Other Lifelong Learning Opportunities at Otterbein Granville
In addition to the classes available through LLI, Otterbein Granville residents also have access to courses taught on the campus of Denison University. Residents may enroll as community scholars and audit classes in a variety of subject areas (with the professor’s approval) for a nominal fee.
Otterbein Granville is a resident-directed life plan retirement community, and the Residents Association brings many talented, knowledgeable programs to campus on a regular basis. Both an entertainment committee and a speakers’ committee are led by residents who seek out great performances or dynamic lecturers.
The relationship with local educational institutions and cultural organizations is symbiotic, and our residents get the best of all worlds. In the past, residents have had field trips to the Supreme Court of Ohio in Columbus, Denison’s lectures and Vail Series programs, and programs in local museums and galleries.
Are You Looking for New Ways to Challenge Yourself?
Learning is one great way to challenge yourself daily. Visit our Lifelong Learning page to find out more about all the educational opportunities that await you at Otterbein Granville.
Discover Lifelong Learning at Otterbein Granville
