Hello everyone! My name is Shaiquetta, but I usually go by Shai (Shy). I am originally from Tuskegee, Alabama, but I have lived in Georgia for the last seven years. I am the second oldest of eight children. I am the first of my siblings to attend college. I was raised by my grandmother, which gave me a firsthand look at the changes people face as they age. Although I have not professionally worked with older adults, I chose to take this course in hopes of improving my understanding of the challenges they encounter.

Social work has always been a career path I’ve had an interest in, but I was never quite sure of the direction I wanted to take. After working in healthcare for a few years and observing the frustration individuals experience when navigating the system while sick or injured, I decided that I wanted to pursue Medical Social Work, specifically as an Oncology Social Worker. I have witnessed the toll the disease takes on both the patient and their families, and experienced it firsthand when my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer in October 2022 and passed shortly after in March 2023.

Most of my volunteer work has been with children’s programs, and in my current role as a Workers’ Compensation Coordinator, I interact with people of different ages; however, I rarely interact with older adults.  To be more prepared and grow in this field, I know I will need to expand my knowledge of the physical, emotional, mental, and social challenges they face. I believe this course will allow me to not only gain that understanding but also challenge my own assumptions about aging, so I can better support patients and their families.

In the past, I used to think of “older adulthood” or “later life” as the retirement years, a life of traveling. However, as I became an adult, attended college, and paid attention to the world around me, I realized how challenging it can be to achieve the lifestyle I had imagined. When I think of these terms now, I imagine people around 60 and older. I’ve noticed that’s when significant changes in my family members’ appearances and health happen. However, these terms bring to mind wisdom, legacy, and leadership. To me, those who live to older adulthood become the roots that hold families together through these qualities.

I believe that I will begin to identify as an “older adult” around the age of 60. By then, I think I will have spent decades working, raising children, and hopefully watched them graduate and begin their own lives. I do think I will struggle initially with the idea of growing older, and the idea of losing my youth, health, or independence can be scary. However, I also believe I will eventually come to embrace it. Physically, I imagine I may begin to notice gray hair and changes in my energy, but I hope to still feel confident in how I look. I pray for good health and the ability to remain active and independent, since I value being able to care for myself and others. In later life, I imagine spending my time travelling, enjoying family gatherings, and volunteering in ways that allow me to continue serving others.

I fear losing my independence as I age. I have always valued being able to care for myself and support others. The thought of relying on others for daily needs is concerning. I witnessed some of my family members struggle with their health as they age. I understand that support is necessary at times, but I hope to remain as independent as possible for as long as I can. This terrifies me the most because you lose your ability to go places and do things for yourself freely, aspects I believe are closely tied to dignity and quality of life.

Overall, I believe that aging is not only about physical changes but also about preparing for the final stage of life with peace. I hope to find peace and joy in watching my children succeed and being surrounded by family. Although I may feel nervous or uncertain about what my later life will look like, I trust that when the time comes, I will be grateful for the years I’ve lived to and ready to embrace whatever comes next.