Old thoughts

I like being young. I have never really given so much thought to what it will be like when I get old, but now I can't help but wonder that. My other entrance exam material consists of six articles regarding social sciences and the one I read today was about ageism or in other words discrimination based on age. Every single word and sentence of that 30-page article was there for a reason and mostly it concentrated on senior citizens.

Age is just a number, people say. You reach opportunities, you gain responsibilities with it. But when enough time passes from the moment you take your first breath, it becomes a burden. What especially makes me want to change the world is the fact how many lonely senior citizens there are. Especially those who live the fourth age, time after those golden years of just being retired and travelling the world and being active, get my sympathy. Being dependent on other people, strangers, who visit you only because they are doing their job, sounds a little scary. What is even more scary is forgetting. Dementia takes away who you are, what you know and what you can do. 

Many old people would have so much to give us. They have wisdom that can be gained only from life experiences and therefore they could give crucial notes to decision-making. They have done their part in society so we should give them the respect and support they need. I know it is not always the case; sometimes the story of one's life has too many bumps on the road and that person ends up being bitter and incapable of healthy life physically or mentally. Even in this situation we can't ignore them.

I want to live a long life. I want to grow old and be happy about the way I lived and to be able to enjoy my life until its very end. Therefore I want to use every chance I get to help someone else have that as well. I honestly think I could work with improving the status of senior citizens in society, which is definitely a sign that I am applying for the right education for me. I want to make a difference and in this matter I found one channel to do it.

Once again a song for you, not really related to my thoughts but the sentence "and though you're dead and gone, believe me, your memory will carry on" is something I would want every single person on this planet to leave behind.