April 10, 2024
Fifty and Better Student/Lifelong Learner
Submitted by Carol Denny
My sister introduced me to Cal Lutheran’s Fifty and Better (FAB) program at the beginning of Covid. Signing up for classes was a great way to have contact with others and to learn at the same time. And not having to take any tests – the best part. This program is so good in so many ways. There are people from all over in the classes. They are something to look forward to. What is the best part? The variety of the classes is a plus. The instructors and administrative folks are another plus. Dealing with CLU staff is so easy and fun because everyone is friendly. I have not had a bad instructor in any class. Some are PHDs, some experts in their field, and those that knew a business. Their knowledge is what makes them so great because they can talk about their topic in depth. The variety of class subjects is amazing. Early on there was a class that described who were the first North Americans. It was so fascinating because it was many millions of years ago but the anthropologist was talking about what they found in everyday language. After taking some of these classes it was fun to look for something I knew nothing about but wanted to learn. It was never disappointing. There was a class by Dr. David Parsons on the 50s, 60s, and 70s. One would think you would remember everything about the time but no. A lot I remembered but some I didn’t. It was also nice to hear reasons why things happened. One of the nice things in this class is that almost everybody had a story, a comment or something to say. Great way to make friends. Music is something that I really like but the industry never really interested me. Until I took a class from Cary Ginell. He really knows his music and can articulate all about it. He knows what was going on and why. The tidbits he talks about makes one feel like they know the singer(s). Again, so many people made comments all through the class so we got to learn even more. A lot of the people were ones that I had other classes with. Then there are the stand-alone lectures. They are usually one lecture sometimes two on something of interest. One was about NASA Space Telescopes. The graphics to show how the telescopes become real telescopes in space was wonderful. They to show how they work and what the scientist on Earth and around the world work together. I never wanted to go into space but this almost made me want to. But not quite. Herb Gooch and ‘The Long War: WW I and WW II’ was well done. And it came at a good time. Dr. Hensley’s ‘Judaism & Christianity’ class I found to be extremely interesting and well presented. There are several good parts to FAB. The instructors, topics, friends that are made. Having something that keeps the brain active to look forward to. And so much more. The best part is the relationship with Dr. Lisa Buono and Christina Tierney.