The Osher Institute was created with the mission to educate lifelong learners by offering stimulating and informative courses that are catered to students ages 50 and better. Whether you want to learn about yoga, art history, Medicare, or a host of other current and historical topics, the Osher Institute at SDSU has a class for you. When you join Osher, you are entering a community of lifelong learners who are dedicated to staying active and informed.
Today, we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Hadley, a longtime Osher at SDSU member and lifelong learner. Learn more about Stephanie’s experience with our program and hear why she enjoys being a part of our Osher community.
What year did you first enroll in an Osher at SDSU Course?
I joined Osher during the Summer of 2022 – a few months before I met full eligibility for the program. Shhhh….don’t tell anyone. 🙂
What is your favorite or most memorable Osher class you have taken over the years and what did you most like about it?
I love the EdVentures! Experiential learning is something I have always loved and is the first thing I look for in the course offerings each semester. The Coronado EdVenture was fun because it was an opportunity to learn about local history. As my schedule allows, I look forward to taking additional classes or potentially planning my own EdVenture going forward.
I also volunteer on the curriculum committee and I really enjoy that. It was important to me to share a new person’s perspective to promote course offerings that are of interest to a wide spectrum of participants.
What is one thing, fact, or skill you have learned through an Osher at SDSU class that you might not have discovered otherwise?
I do not remember the presenter who said this, but I appreciated his sentiment: What do you still want to accomplish? This question has stayed with me because it’s a change in mindset—a change that I believe is healthy, productive, and vital to longevity. Too often with seniors, we talk about past accomplishments—but for me, Osher is not about what you’ve already done or learned. It’s about what you want to do or learn next!
What would you say to someone considering enrolling in an Osher at SDSU course? How would you “sell” someone on the value of the program?
As with any organization, you get out of it what you put into it. But, the opportunity is definitely there to connect, learn, volunteer, and just have some fun with a group of like-minded lifelong learners that value your perspective!
