Explain Why I Chose Gerontology

The primary reason why I decided to reapply to the USC Davis School of Gerontology because I have had a long term interest in this field and I have taken positive steps in pursuing this interest. In addition to the primary reason, I have a few other reasons why I have chosen this program to further my education. The first reason is because I previously attended to the program and I have received a Certificate in Gerontology. After completing the certificate program, I realized that I wanted to earn a Master’s of Arts in Gerontology. Secondly, I desire a career in this field and not just another job to support me and my eight year old son. Therefore, earning a degree from this program would be beneficial to the both of us. Thirdly, I enjoyed …show more content…
My personal experiences consisted of interacting with older adults in a nursing home and interviewing a friend who is a clinical supervisor in a hospital facility. The nursing home, I visited was called St. Claire’s Nursing home, which is located in Sacramento, California. My experience at this nursing home was on a volunteer basis through a local church I attended. I participated with a group of women every Sunday to bring gifts, speak encouraging words and to pray for the residents there. This type of interaction was a new and rewarding experience for me. During this experience, I learned how to communicate with a diverse group of residents and how to work with other individuals who were concerned about helping older adults emotionally and spiritually. In addition to the previous experience, I believe that my experience interviewing a friend would be useful to be in this program. The experience would be useful simply because my friend has described on different occasions what the environment is like working in a hospital setting with older adults and their families. My friend, Dee Lewis, who is a clinical supervisor for the Hospice Unit at Mercy General Hospital, located in Sacramento, California. I have known this woman for years and I have bonded with her family as well. Since I have known her for quite some time, I had chosen to interview …show more content…
The courses that I have taken through the distance learning program through the USC Davis School of Gerontology also provided me with a valuable experience. I have completed several courses that have given me the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of students from all paths of life. The opportunity to interact with students who were new to the program, students who were professionals working in the field, and students who resided in various geographical locations and cultural backgrounds was a gratifying experience. The USC Davis distance learning program for the Gerontology department has taught me one of the most valuable lessons. The lesson I learned from being how to collaborate with various groups of individuals with different cultural upbringings on a professional level. My overall experience has inspired me into apply for this program because I will acquire the knowledge that will help me make a contribution to the lives of older adults in my community.
The leading educational goal that I have is to attain a Masters of Arts from USC Davis School of Gerontology through the distance learning program. I have taken four of the required courses that are essential for this degree. However, I need to take three additional courses in order to fulfill the total requirements. Additionally, I would like to earn graduate with honors. After some time working in the field, I would like to enroll