Blog 5: Mentorship and Research Reflection

1. Mentorship Question: Describe your experience in how you found your mentorship.

• Over the summer I was in search for a place to get some community service hours, and my parents recommended that I volunteer at my local senior center.  I really liked the environment at the center. Volunteering was fun because the staff was nice and I had interesting conversations with seniors. I had such a great time that I decided to do my mentorship at the center. In June I was still undecided about my senior project. I never would have thought that my senior project would be on City Senior Center Services, but I am glad that I decided to volunteer at the center because I really enjoy it.

2. Research Question: What has been the most important article you have read so far?

• The most important article I have read so far is "The Evolving Role or Seniors in the 21st Century" by Ronald H. Aday Ph. D. Aday is a professor and has studied Aging and Social Gerentology. 

• This article was based on a study of several senior centers throughout the United States. The article provided information and statistics of these senior centers. There was information on the purpose of senior centers and the effect they have on seniors. There was also a section on the key to "successful aging". This article has helped me build a foundation on my topic so I can now decide on which area to focus more on. I now have an idea as to why senior centers are so important and what these centers can do to improve.