Page 99 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021- Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES SENIOR RESOURCES

THE JOY OF LEARNING

OLLI Opportunities by Marilyn Garrett

LLI (the Osher Lifelong A great number of seniors got and love. We often take for granted
Learning Institute) is a to learn some new technology, the very things that most deserve
Osmorgasbord of opportunity and classes continued. With free our gratitude. I’m so grateful for the
for adults, 50+ years of age! This tuition and computer access, we OLLI opportunity!
is the time in our lives when we got to enjoy continued learning and
can expand our boundaries of connection. The online version and
knowledge, dabbling in all kinds the on-site versions have led to a • Archaeology
of topics and interests that had to hybrid of both. Now, seniors who • Geography
take a back burner throughout our have not lived close enough to one • Photography
working and child-rearing years. of the five sites can join many of • Art
Although the program comes the live classes online. Voila! Three • Health & Wellness
out of Texas Tech, the courses are choices! • Religion
short, fun and inexpensive. There • Artists and film series
are neither exams nor research This fall, OLLI returns in full • Law
papers – just the joy of learning and force, with numerous options of • Readers’ Circle
socialization. classes both online and in person. • Book clubs
Membership for a year is only $35
I discovered OLLI through a friend, per person, and the classes are • Literature
• Sports
and since then, I have taken “field offered at minimal cost, many free. • City tours
trips” to the 6666 Ranch and the The catalog of all the offerings and • Lunch series
museum in Amarillo; I’ve cooked registering for courses can easily be • Technology
(and eaten) amazing dishes in a found at olli.ttu.edu. And there is • Cooking (and eating!)
chef’s home; I’ve learned about something for everyone! • Music
weather and watercolor, both • Weather
American and local history, According to Daniel Johnson, • Economics
essential oils and the art pieces at marketing manager, OLLI is • Opera
Texas Tech. expanding even further into social • Wine and food tasting
media channels, such as Facebook,
OLLI began with Bernard Osher, Instagram, and YouTube. What a • Films
• Philosophy
a gentleman from California, who wonderful chance to go back and
established the Bernard Osher access some of the 2020 classes; you
Foundation, giving large grants can find them on YouTube.com/
to many universities, launching a OLLITTU.
program for seniors to continue
to learn. Presently, there are five In our senior
sites for the hands-on version years, balance
connected to Texas Tech: Lubbock, in life is a
Abilene, Marble Falls, Jefferson, and key concept:
Fredericksburg. body, mind
and spirit.
Then COVID happened, and That calls for
seniors were about the last people movement
who needed to get together and and exercise,
socialize! Change often leads to learning and
innovation, and OLLI went online. study, faith

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