All of my experiences have shaped what I believe is important. Love, commitment, and volunteering adds to happiness. Worrying about superfluous short term gratifications detracts from one's satisfaction with life.
My hobbies include learning, traveling, and tending to my 1962 Corvette. I currently volunteer at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington as a Visitor Services Information Specialist. I greet visitors from all over the world and I try to make their "American experience" more enjoyable.
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Beautiful car!! And I love the Air and Space Museum!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on not being the "typical college junior." I think it is awesome that you are going to college. I was wondering...what made you want to go to college now and what is your major?
ReplyDeleteYou must have some great advice for those of us who are still new to the real world. I hope when I reach your age I will still love learning and will go to college for a hobby, if that matches what you are doing. How long have you been a volunteer at the NASM? I love the movie Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian because I can actually relate since I've been there a few times. Your car is a charm and I would love to hear more words of advice like the one you have on short term gratification!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to fly an airplane. Do you think you could hook me up with an L-5 Sentinel? I hear they've got one on display at the museum.
ReplyDeleteWow- I appreciate the responses and questions!
ReplyDeleteSarah- I was inspired to go back to college by 3 people. My 2 daughters are UMBC grads- biologists- now middle school science teachers.I was so proud when they walked across the stage & I decided then that I wanted to get a degree one day. A neighbor of mine graduated from U of B at the age of 56. She showed me that it could be done. I received my AA degree from CCBC- Catonsville last December- 42 years after I started there. I have 2 majors- Political Science/ American Studies.
Christina- I've volunteered at NASM since March 2009. One of my daughters took her class there on an evening field trip. I accompanied them & decided that night to apply for a volunteer position. I had been looking for someplace to volunteer. It is great to be close to all of the major artifacts of America's air & space programs. People ask me which one is my favorite. There is a new display of a satellite named Stardust. This object flew to Comet Wild II and collected real stardust from the comet's tail. It traveled 1.5 billion miles each way. When they opened it up in a sterile environment they found Glycine, which is one of the basic amino acids necessary for life!!! Also, there were compounds present that are changing how the scientists believe our solar system was created.( http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html)
Samantha- We do have an L-5 Sentinel on display at the Uver Hazy Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport. It's a great airplane.(http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19600309000)
I'm majoring in "Management of Aging Services" and I can tell there are many, many, many people in my classes who are "not your typical students". The entire major is pretty much the study of Baby Boomers and how society can help their adjustment into seniorhood so seeing a baby boomer going to college to get a degree is pretty inspiration and kind of validates what I've been learning in my aging classes
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing car. I've always wanted to have a car that makes everybody jealous, but I don't think that my future job as a teacher will bring in enough money to buy one.
ReplyDeleteMy mom says that when she retires she wants to go back to college and take classes that spark her interest. She's really interested in the workings of the human brain because of my eating disorder and depression, and she wants to learn about the geography of the world. I think that furthering ones knowledge at any age is a great idea.
Jim - I like the car, looks like you take very good care of it. I have a model of that same body style on my shelf at home.
ReplyDeleteYou had me going for a second. When you said that you were a college Jr I was expecting somebody my age automatically. Then you stated all of your experiences and one of them was the Vietnam War. But it is also cool that you volunteer at the Smithsonian. Nice car by the way.
ReplyDeleteJust to be clear, I did not serve in Vietnam. A lot of my friends did and they all were changed by the experience. I tried to join up, but I was deferred for physical reasons. The anger I felt was pretty typical for most young Americans. We lost over 50,000 troops over there, about 12 times as many as we have in the Middle East wars.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great major! My family and I are really into politics. I'm sure you're interested in all of the Primary elections now and the General elections coming in November!!
ReplyDeleteI'm also looking at CCBC to take a Sign Language course since it's not offered at UMBC.