Information: Seniors Enriched Living at www.selroswell.com
Director Dick Higgins at sel@pobox.com or 770-587-3750
The joy of learning is alive and well among North Fulton area seniors. Some may relax in retirement, but many also participate in stimulating classes while interacting with peers.
I had a chance to see this for myself with an educational program called Seniors Enriched Living of Roswell and Alpharetta. I came away impressed and inspired. SEL, a non-profit, non-denominational, interfaith organization hosts an array of programs meant to nurture the mind, body and spirit of seniors.
Modeled after a similar program in the Atlanta perimeter area, SEL has existed for over 20 years, said director and educator Dick Higgins, who has steered its evolution since 1996. Its affiliates include several churches and temples throughout the area.
I found SEL classes intriguing. Specific topics in science, history, literature, theology and art are uniquely crafted to illuminate time periods. For creativity and fun, students practice studio art or games of bridge and mah jongg. Practical sessions in finance and smart driving are also options.
SEL’s mission is to empower residents aged 55 and older of all races, religions and backgrounds to lead productive, creative and independent lives, said Higgins. Registration is $50 for two days of classes held in eight-week intervals.
Tuesday classes meet at Roswell United Methodist Church. Thursday classes are held throughout the day at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Alpharetta, with a hot lunch option between sessions. Newcomers are welcome, and participants may change classes based on interest.
Higgins recently invited me to see the program in action in Alpharetta. Nearly 300 seniors signed up for the fall session, so the halls bustled. Participants wore name tags for easy identification. Higgins and his wife, Mary Anne, directed students as they arrived.
“It’s sort of like being back in high school,” Higgins joked. Yet the scene was also poignant: here were our older residents, with the wisdom of life experience, still making an effort to learn. I noticed many in a class on World War II.
“A lot of our participants don’t feel like they’re a part of the culture any more,” Higgins explained. “This is a haven for them. When they’re discussing World War II they’re in an environment that they’re familiar with.”
I wouldn’t know which classes to take. Options range from “Spirits of the Great American West” to eclectic courses on vintage humor, Southern literature, and hot topics up for discussion. Roswell morning classes are equally interesting; including a topical one on “Campaign Issues for the 2016 Presidential Election” led by a group of seven facilitators.
Accomplished instructors keep Seniors Enriched Living a quality program, Higgins said. They’re experienced professors, authors, religious leaders and professionals with a passion for their subjects. They give of their time because they love to teach seniors – who always come ready to listen and learn.
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