Interview of a Successful Aging Adult Essay Example
I interviewed my neighbor, a 71-year old Caucasian male, who has the most
positive view of life in late adulthood. John spends most of his time at home, leading a
quite, routine existence. Never married, John receives visits from his two sisters every
few weeks, and some of her nieces and nephews stop by on occasion. John does not have
any children himself. When I asked him if he was happy, he said he was "quite happy".
John was born in California, Santa Clara. He still lives in Santa Clara. His native
language is English, and he also speaks a little bit of Spanish. John, who is retired, was a
professor of Sociology at West Valley College in Saratoga, California, where he was the
recipient of the College Distinguished Teacher Award. He was educated as an
undergraduate at Santa Clara University, from which he graduated with Honors, and
received a M.A in Sociology.
At 71, John rates his health as being “good" and doesn't place much stock in
doctors. "If they start poking around you," he said, "they'll only make you sick." John
does go in for a physical once in a while, but he hasn't been seriously ill since the time he
came down with appendicitis in 1960. "People ask me what I eat," he said, "I'm a
vegetarian, more or less. I never smoked. I don't drink either. That's one of my good
qualities. And I keep my bedroom window open 365 days a year." John eats healthy,
and catches a daily mass on TV, roots faithfully for the San Francisco Giants and loves
nothing more than a good night sleep. John said that he did not have any health
problems.
When I asked John what made it hard for him being his age, he answered,
"People's attitude about older people. People tend to be a little skeptical about your
ability. I don't like it when at gatherings, young people are always so courteous, and for
some reason think they have to kiss you
positive view of life in late adulthood. John spends most of his time at home, leading a
quite, routine existence. Never married, John receives visits from his two sisters every
few weeks, and some of her nieces and nephews stop by on occasion. John does not have
any children himself. When I asked him if he was happy, he said he was "quite happy".
John was born in California, Santa Clara. He still lives in Santa Clara. His native
language is English, and he also speaks a little bit of Spanish. John, who is retired, was a
professor of Sociology at West Valley College in Saratoga, California, where he was the
recipient of the College Distinguished Teacher Award. He was educated as an
undergraduate at Santa Clara University, from which he graduated with Honors, and
received a M.A in Sociology.
At 71, John rates his health as being “good" and doesn't place much stock in
doctors. "If they start poking around you," he said, "they'll only make you sick." John
does go in for a physical once in a while, but he hasn't been seriously ill since the time he
came down with appendicitis in 1960. "People ask me what I eat," he said, "I'm a
vegetarian, more or less. I never smoked. I don't drink either. That's one of my good
qualities. And I keep my bedroom window open 365 days a year." John eats healthy,
and catches a daily mass on TV, roots faithfully for the San Francisco Giants and loves
nothing more than a good night sleep. John said that he did not have any health
problems.
When I asked John what made it hard for him being his age, he answered,
"People's attitude about older people. People tend to be a little skeptical about your
ability. I don't like it when at gatherings, young people are always so courteous, and for
some reason think they have to kiss you