35 minute read
New Beginnings Tips for Older Students
NEW BEGINNINGS
Tips for Older College Students
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Amy Sweezey ‘Tis the season for backpack and crayon sales. Teachers are busy navigating through another pandemic school year, this time mostly in person, helping students settle into school and getting back to “normal.”
It’s not just children who are eager to move forward with a new school year. Many adults are going back to college. With online courses and new technology constantly being developed, the opportunities are endless and adults are taking note.
But what is sparking the trend? Even before the pandemic, adults in their 40s, 50s and beyond were returning to school. Each individual has a personal motivation, but there seem to be a few common reasons why older adults return to the classroom:
For adults looking to develop new skills, a degree is often the way to pursue a second chapter. Decades into a career, some employees realize they want to do something completely different. Some may retire and find themselves bored or in need of extra income. Some jobs may be outsourced or rendered obsolete by new technology with workers suddenly finding themselves out of work. Starting a new career Sometimes, after many years of working in a particular field, people discover they love the work but want to branch out and be their own boss. Running your own business can be rewarding, but it takes a lot of work. Training can help with launching a new company. Becoming an entrepreneur
Meeting a lifelong goal
It could be for personal fulfillment or to inspire others by saying, “I did it,” but some adults return to college to finish what they started or to complete something they always wanted to do.
Creating opportunities to learn and grow
Even adults who like their jobs and feel secure with their current employment can have a desire to keep learning. Going back to school can be a way to challenge yourself and enhance personal development. Learning new ideas can provide new perspective and enthusiasm at work.
Finishing a degree
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSC), six out of 10 college students who begin a degree will not finish within six years. Some start families and find it too difficult to keep up with their studies. Some can’t afford the tuition. After the children are grown, and more money is available, some adults decide to complete their schooling.
Going back to school later in life may not be the best choice for everyone, but it’s an attractive option as career shifts become more common and the workforce becomes more competitive. If you are one of the adults pursuing higher education, you are not alone.
Tips for returning to school later in life:
TALK TO YOUR LOVED ONES. If you are married, have children, or have other people who depend on you, going back to school will be an adjustment for you and your family. It’s important to communicate from the beginning what this will mean for you and what it means for your loved ones. Explain the long-term benefits to alleviate some of the tension that may arise from changing schedules and financial burdens.
MAKE A PLAN AND A SCHEDULE AND STICK TO IT. Staying organized will help you and those around you. Make sure everyone knows when you plan to study, work, sleep and eat. And let them know when you’ll have family time and free time. Including study time in an already busy schedule can add extra stress. If you plan your time, you will be ahead of the game. Juggling everything won’t always be easy; but in the long run, it will be worth it.
In numerous fields, it’s easy for skill sets to become outdated. Many companies choose to hire younger people rather than investing in retraining their current workforce. Often older adults are at a disadvantage, especially in technology careers. Going back to school is a good way to develop expertise to stay competitive. Polishing skills in a competitive workforce
DON’T STRESS OVER TESTS. It can be overwhelming if you haven’t been a student for a long time. Homework, projects and tests can feel daunting. Just remember that exams are only meant to ensure you know the material. If you retain the knowledge, you will be fine. Also, remember this time around you are taking courses you WANT to take. The less you stress about it, the better you will be at remembering the information for the tests.
LOOK FOR FINANCIAL AID. Financial aid isn’t just for first-time college students graduating from high school. Anyone can qualify, regardless of age. Adults can apply for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and seek scholarships as well as other financial aid. You won’t know what money is available unless you apply.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: EAT HEALTHY, EXERCISE AND SLEEP WELL. Major life changes can add stress to an already busy and stressful life. It’s easy to forget about taking care of yourself. Getting enough sleep and staying healthy is essential to succeeding as a student, no matter how old or young you are.
Making more money is a priority for many people. Adults going back to school can increase their earning potential. Some jobs require a certain level of education for managerial positions or other leadership roles. Returning to school makes practical sense if it can open the door to better financial opportunities. Increasing earning potential
The Right Thing To Do
Marc Middleton
HARRIS ROSEN'S IMPACT ON HIS COMMUNITY
Harris Rosen starts every day with a one-hour swim. It’s a routine he has maintained for decades, and it’s more important than ever as the 77-year-old president and chief operating officer of Rosen Hotels and Resorts navigates a pandemic that has devastated the hospitality industry.
“We've had to do some things that I never imagined I would ever have to do: furlough people and then actually let some people go who have been with me for 10, 15, and 20 years,” Rosen said. “It's emotionally difficult, but sometimes it's necessary.”
One stroke after another, literally and figuratively, Rosen is battling back while continuing a quest he began 30 years ago after hearing a voice.
“It said very clearly, ‘Harris, it's time for you to say, “Thank you, God,” and to offer a helping hand to others. You've done very well. You will continue to do well. Take a deep breath.’"
Rosen’s “deep breath” has changed the trajectory of thousands of lives. He adopted two disadvantaged, crimeridden neighborhoods where he provides free education to every child from pre-school through college, all expenses paid: books, supplies, mentors, tuition, room and board, travel — everything. The results have been stunning: 100% graduation rates from high school, 78% graduation rates from college, neighborhood crime is down 80%, and home values have increased over 30%.
Rosen has proven a significant return on his investment and has actively encouraged other wealthy individuals, big corporations, and major foundations to step up and do the same. And yet, no one has replicated the program.
“We don't understand why,” Rosen said. “The data is so amazing. A child who graduates from high school will earn, over a lifetime, a million dollars or more. If they graduate from college, add another million dollars. They will spend it in the private sector. So, if I own a company of any kind, I'm going to benefit in some way. Why don't others understand that?”
Rosen took another bold step 30 years ago when he created RosenCare, a self-insured healthcare plan for thousands of his employees and their families. RosenCare has its own 12,000-square-foot medical center with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, a chiropractor, nutritionist, and on-site pharmacy. Lab work and diagnostic testing are all done in-house. Employees can get check-ups, screenings, and treatments on company time, including free fitness and wellness programs designed to help them quit smoking and lose weight.
“If you work for me, and you're an hourly associate, you pay $850 a year for healthcare,” Rosen said. “No deductibles; 90% of all pharmaceuticals are free. Our whole premise is very simple: If you keep people healthy, you save money on healthcare. Our little company has saved about $500 million when compared to the traditional costs. We have all the data that proves that, so why aren’t more companies doing the same thing?”
Rosen’s desire to make a difference in his community and beyond has few limits. He donated $10 million and the land to build the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, the largest hospitality program in the nation. And for over two decades, he has provided water filtration systems and supplies to hospitals, orphanages, and schools in Haiti, helping impoverished residents attain self-sufficiency.
That brings us to the pool and fitness center, which now bears his name. Despite all his other commitments, and with the pandemic threatening his entire business, Rosen was asked to save the center from demolition when the YMCA could no longer support it.
“I can't. I'm getting killed,” Rosen said, recalling his first response. “I've got two neighborhoods I’m supporting. I've got the Rosen College. I've got the Jewish Community Center. I've got Haiti. I can't.”
But the voice spoke to him once again, reminding him that the facility, a community center of health and wellbeing, is used daily by Special Olympians and swimmers of all ages. So, once again, Rosen extended his helping hand.
“I had a conversation with our finance folks, and I said, ‘Guys, I'm going to do it. I know I'm crazy, but I'm going to do it.’ So, we did it.”
After his daily swim, Rosen heads to his office. It’s the same one he has occupied for nearly 40 years — a small, converted room in the Quality Inn that he purchased decades ago with a $20,000 down payment from his life savings. Even after all his success, he doesn’t surround himself with extravagance, just personal reminders of the things he loves: the family he cherishes and the causes he believes in.
Why does he do it?
“The simple statement that I will offer is that it’s the right thing to do,” Rosen said. “That's not very complicated.”
GROWING BOLDER WITH
Jackie Carlin
Debbie Allen
71
When Debbie Allen was 12, she was denied admission to the Houston Ballet Academy because of the color of her skin. Several years later, her application to a major university dance academy was rejected because her body was “unsuited” for ballet — a comment commonly used in years past to discourage Black dancers.
Fast forward six decades. Allen is a legendary choreographer, actress, director, producer and one of the most powerful executives in Hollywood. Her many awards include three Emmys, a Golden Globe, 10 Image Awards, the prestigious Olivier Theater Award; and most recently, she was named a 2020 Kennedy Center Honoree, the nation’s highest artistic award.
Allen’s big break came in 1982 with the TV show “Fame,” in which she was both a star and choreographer. She has appeared in TV shows ranging from “The Love Boat” to “A Different World,” a show she also directed. She also has directed or produced “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Scandal,” and countless others. Since 2011, she’s had a recurring role on “Grey’s Anatomy,” where she also serves as Executive Producing Director.
Despite her remarkable success, nothing has come easy for Allen. She has had to overcome the sexism and racism prevalent in her industry. Now, Allen is also encountering ageism.
“I respond to challenge with passion, persistence and energy,” she told Growing Bolder. “I’ve been told many times that my energy level is off the charts, which I think diminishes any negative perception that one might have about working with a 71-year-old actor, director, choreographer or producer.”
Allen says she takes care of herself physically and makes it a point to be around people with positive attitudes.
Allen doesn’t think about the future and won’t venture an opinion about what she’ll be doing in her 80s or 90s.
“It’s all about the here and now,” she said. “That’s where I live and that’s what I focus on. I have no intention of slowing down and resting on my laurels, because there’s so much more to do.”
With a legendary career that has spanned four decades, Allen is still going strong.
“To make things happen, you must believe in yourself; and you must continue working to expand your talent and your technique, because just when you think you’re there, you’re not. There’s always something else you can learn. I’m still a student, and that’s what makes a difference.”
John
Stamos
57
For someone long known as a father figure, thanks to his longrunning role as Uncle Jesse on “Full House” and its recent reboot as “Fuller House” on Netflix, it took John Stamos a long time to hit what he calls “the jackpot” — fatherhood.
Stamos always wanted to be a father. He said he just had trouble finding the right woman. That changed several years ago when he met and married model and actress Caitlin McHugh. Now they are the proud parents of 3-yearold William (Billy) Christopher Stamos, named after John’s father.
Stamos said he’s always taken care of his health, but fatherhood has inspired him to slow down and really make sure he’s making the right health and lifestyle decisions.
“I drink the blood of Rob Lowe, that helps,” he said jokingly to Growing Bolder. “Beyond my diet, I do exercise quite a bit. Also, the heart is important to take care of, and I don't just mean with eating nutritiously. I [try] being a good person because the world — it has changed quite a bit and gotten a little darker. So, put the love out, that's it, put the love out.”
Music also keeps him active and engaged. This summer, Stamos joined his longtime friends, The Beach Boys, on the road. That included his high-profile performance of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice?” on CNN’s “Fourth in America Special.”
“Boy, did people miss live music!” Stamos said. “That's another exercise that I do because it's two-and-a-half hours on stage. Mike Love just turned 80, and he buries the rest of us on stage. I'm not kidding. He's mad if we try to cut the set, ‘No, no, no. We got to do two-and-a-half hours.’”
With a new role on the Disney+ series “Big Shots,” and a new passion for life, Stamos said the best is yet to come. He said like most of us, he learned some valuable lessons from the pandemic.
“Things that we thought were so important really aren't, at the end of the day. The silver lining was that I got to spend so much time with my son the last year and a half, which I probably wouldn't be able to do. Also, we have no control. We never had control really, that's the thing that I learned. What we can control is love and being there for other people.”
CULTIVATING CURIOSITY
Wonders, Dangers Of Underwater Caves
Amy Sweezey
Jill Heinerth has one of the world’s most dangerous jobs: exploring underwater caves and water-filled conduits — often in places where no one has ever ventured.
It was curiosity that drove Heinerth to take her love of adventure and turn it into a career. The former advertising agency owner explained: “I loved my work, but I didn’t want to be inside a claustrophobic room only teaching scuba diving on nights and weekends. I took a big pay cut. I grabbed the creative and artistic parts of my job and took them underwater to a place I could feel free and alive and renewed.”
Heinerth laughs when she describes herself as a “30-year overnight success.” Her desire to change careers wasn’t an instant decision.
“It was a process,” she said. “I was withering internally and needed to be doing what I love. So, I sold everything I owned, including my ad agency, packed a suitcase and moved to the tropics to start working toward my goal.”
To most people, diving deep underwater into pitch-black darkness is a terrifying thought; but to Heinerth, it’s like entering a museum of natural history.
You can hear the excitement in her voice as she explains: “There is information about Earth’s past climate, which are portals to the underworld. It’s civilizations that have left behind remains in the doorways of caves. There are bones of extinct animals.”
Heinerth managed to turn her passion for cave diving into a hybrid career, serving as the eyes and ears of scientists. She works with climatologists, archeologists and engineers helping them better understand the Earth and environment.
“Sometimes I gather samples,” Heinerth said. “Sometimes I do surveys so people can understand where their drinking water is running inside the Earth. I capture images on still photos and film. It’s liking swimming through a crystal chandelier.”
Heinerth calls it “an amazing privilege” to be able to combine her creative side and artistic experience with her passion for diving underwater.
“I find comfort underwater. It’s inspiring for me to be the first to see these places,” she said.
Heinerth recognizes that what she does for a living is extremely dangerous.
“I’ve lost more than a hundred colleagues and friends through the course of my lifetime who have been involved in cave diving and technical diving,” she said. “It requires a lot of training, equipment and proficiency. It’s definitely not for the ‘weekend warrior’ to go check out. If you don’t embrace your fear, you will spend your entire life running from it.”
Heinerth’s book, “Into the Planet, My Life as a Cave Diver,” focuses on the topic of chasing fear.
“I am afraid every time I dive,” she said. “I want to dive with other people who are afraid because it means we both understand the risk.”
JILL HEINERTH
Heinerth said when she finds success in a fearful environment, it is incredibly empowering for other areas of her life, noting: “When we step into the blackness in whatever we do, we have the opportunity to increase our capabilities for the future.”
That includes learning to make the most out of personal setbacks in her work.
“I’d like to remove the stigma from the word ‘failure,’” she said. “When I don’t achieve a particular goal, it only means it’s an opportunity to discover something new. Everything bad has a lesson attached to it that informs us how to do something better next time.”
And she added this advice: “Don’t concentrate on what you can’t change. Concentrate on what you learned from the experience that will help you move forward to a better outcome.”
It’s the kind of life lessons that come with time. Heinerth feels more confident now in her 50s than she did in her 20s. “The wisdom I’ve gained to get me this far has made me smarter, stronger and more able to adapt to change. I would never want to turn back the clock.”
FROM THE GB BOOKSTORE:
Read Jill Heinerth's fascinating and enlightening book, Into the Planet: My Life As A Cave Diver.
GROWINGBOLDER.COM/BOOKSTORE
TAI CHI:
George Diaz
MEDITATION IN MOTION
I never had tai chi on my life bingo card. I’ve always been a workout guy focused on heavy metal in the gym, mixed in with cardio on the stairstep or the treadmill.
Crank up the ear buds, the Stones or Springsteen, and I was good to go.
But then I started listening to my body. The wear and tear started piling up. Sometimes it was a “good hurt,” as they say; but more often, I was just achy. And bored, too, quite frankly. Three sets of an exercise. Rinse and repeat.
Then, nearly five years ago, my path toward a healthy, physical lifestyle took a fortuitous turn. I ran into James Taggart, a buddy who used to bartend, at a group lunch. He was now an instructor at the Martial Arts Center for Health in Altamonte Springs. He talked glowingly of his transformational flip-of-the-switch.
He had dealt with severe back issues after falling off a horse as an adolescent. Now he was fit, strong and flexible.
The flexibility thing was an “aha” moment for me. I remember once doing a media event with former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick in 2016. We met at a studio for a yoga class in Daytona Beach.
“In terms of flexibility, Danica Patrick is a pretzel. I am a frozen popsicle,” I wrote in a column for the “Orlando Sentinel.”
Mr. Frozen Popsicle signed up for classes at the center. Five years later, I am still there and on the precipice of getting my first-degree black belt. I am no Kung Fu Ninja, and that’s part of the philosophical push at the center. It’s more about lifting people up than beating them up.
I have the center’s T-shirt to prove it: “Oneness. Clarity. Happiness. Peace of Mind.”
Now I’m somewhere in between a popsicle and a pretzel. Progress.
Tai chi is an important part of the training. I love it because it teaches me discipline and pushes my memory buttons. Remembering eight steps evolved into remembering 16 steps. Eventually, I moved to 32. That number will increase to more than 80 steps as I progress in my training at the center and more keys are unlocked. That said, there are many different forms of tai chi. It’s a proven method dating back to around 1670 in China — the ultimate old school moves.
Tai chi is often described as "meditation in motion.” Slower is better. At one class in 2020, we spent an entire hour practicing the first movement, under the guidance of owner Tom Curtin. Breathing properly, attention to detail and focus — all come into play.
As we all navigated our respective COVID-19 bubbles, I found tai chi to be a soothing balm in in my new world order.
Other benefits?
Wellness experts report: “Many practitioners of tai chi use this technique to enhance physical and mental health, as well as to improve posture, balance, flexibility, and strength. In addition, tai chi is said to boost mood, alleviate pain, strengthen the immune system, and improve heart health.”
Life. Health. Bingo.
The Joy of Grandparenting
Lesley Stahl
I don’t just like being a grandparent; as my granddaughter would say, I love it. After thinking those days were over, I have fallen madly in love with my granddaughters. And I’m not alone.
For my book, Becoming Grandma, I interviewed grandparents around the world, and discovered that we all fall deeply, emotionally, joyously, helplessly in love.
Because these feelings are so universal, I suspected something deep within us, perhaps something biochemical, happens when we become grandparents.
My hunch was right. I discovered that when we hold our grandchildren, we start secreting what experts call a bonding hormone, which rewires our brains. And strangely — and amusingly — one of the things that happens is our ability to say the word “no” is disabled!
In the process, we all, automatically, turn into these indulgent mushballs. We may have been strict parents, but boy, we’re such pushovers with these grandkids. Amongst ourselves, all grandparents joke, “What happened to us?”
These feelings aren’t exclusive to biological grandparents. If step-grandparents or surrogate grandparents are in the picture when the grandchild is born, they feel the exact same connection and feelings of falling of love as the rest of us.
The title of my book may say “Grandma,” but I also know many grandfathers, including my husband, who experience these same feelings of love and devotion.
Sadly, not every grandparent gets to experience these relationships. During my interviews for the book, I heard heart-breaking stories of the many grandparents who never see their grandchildren — because they’re not allowed to, or their visits are rationed. It hurt me to hear these stories.
Thankfully, for the vast majority of us, we’re so transformed by these kids that there’s a huge trend going on. After retiring, more and more people are picking up, selling the homes they’ve lived in for decades and moving to wherever their grandchildren are so that they can be in their lives.
There’s no question that technology is a game-changer for grandparents. I live across the country from my grandchildren, but I am still in their lives in a very visual way.
Little kids have trouble communicating over the phone, but with new video technologies like FaceTime and Skype, you can hold face-to-face connections. And, if your own kids are patient enough, they can turn their phones or computers around and let you watch the grandkids playing.
As they’ve done with so many things, Baby Boomers are reinventing grandparenthood. We’re relatively young grandparents, and we’re a little more involved with taking care of the grandkids. We do more active things, like take the kids to the park. It’s funny; I used to hate doing that with my own kids, but for some reason, I don’t mind at all with my grandkids!
Our generation is also spending much more money on grandchildren. In fact, we spend seven times more today than grandparents of just 10 years ago spent.
And we’re not just buying toys and clothes. Many grandparents are picking up big-ticket items, including things like the crib, car seats, medical bills, education, braces and so much more.
People say all the time that it’s the best thing in the world to be a grandparent. But you can’t fully understand the depths of those feelings until it happens to you. For the vast majority of us, we’re fundamentally transformed in the best possible ways.
Lesley Stahl is one of America’s most respected broadcast journalists. Her work on 60 Minutes has been honored with 11 Emmy Awards. Stahl was the CBS White House correspondent during the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan and George H.W. Bush and moderator of Face the Nation for nearly a decade. She’s the author of two books including her most recent, Becoming Grandma, in which she chronicles the joy of grandparenting.
Five Key Retirement Planning Tips For Women
Jean Statler, 65, CEO, Alliance for Lifetime Income
Many women face an uphill battle when it comes to retirement. While they statistically live longer than men in retirement, they also amass less in retirement savings, often interrupt their careers for family responsibilities, and tend to invest more conservatively.
And, thanks to the persistent gender pay gap, they have less to contribute toward retirement, resulting in lower lifetime savings and an increased risk of falling into or near poverty levels. Women are 80% more likely than men to be impoverished when they’re 65 or older, according to a recent report from the National Institute on Retirement Security.
The pandemic has further exacerbated this pre-existing disparity by disproportionately hurting women. Since February 2020, nearly 3 million women have left the workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The bottom-line is women need to be even smarter and engaged in retirement planning, especially when planning with a spouse or partner. With the U.S. fast-approaching “Peak 65” — the greatest surge of Americans turning 65 in the nation’s history — now is the time to prepare, educate and equip women with real, practical solutions.
Check out protectedincome.org for more free resources and information.
There are several steps women can take now to protect and live the retirement they want:
SAVE AGGRESSIVELY
If an employer offers a workplace retirement plan — like a 401(k) or 403(b) account — join it and contribute to it as much as you’re able. If your employer doesn’t offer a plan consider opening an individual retirement account (IRA). Tax-advantaged accounts can help your savings grow and compound investments over time. You should also have additional sources of retirement income such as home equity and stocks to ensure your essential expenses are covered for as long as you live.
CREATE A BUDGET
A retirement budget can help you plan how your money will be spent and you can update it as necessary to reflect any changes to your financial situation. First, understand how much income you need for essential monthly expenses. This will help determine whether you’re at risk of having a gap between your income and expenses. Second, find ways to help cover essential expenses with protected lifetime income from an annuity — income you count on receiving every month, for the rest of your life. When you Check Off the Basics, you can use the rest of your savings to enjoy the retirement you want.
CONSULT A FINANCIAL PROFESSIONAL
It’s a common misconception that financial advisors are only for rich people when great advisors are available for every budget and financial situation. Hiring the right financial professional can help you establish a plan and get your financial affairs in check.
THINK LONG TERM
Nearly 1 in 5 women have nothing saved for retirement, a 2020 CNBC/SurveyMonkey Women at Work survey found. Women often prioritize family saving and spending needs over their own retirement, leaving them ill-prepared for this next chapter in life. Chances are you could live 20, 30 or more years in retirement. Establishing long-term goals and a financial plan that covers those years is imperative.
EXPAND YOUR FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE
Basic financial knowledge is important for making informed decisions. The Alliance for Lifetime Income offers a variety of convenient and free resources, such as an Annuities Language Glossary, to help consumers understand annuities in simpler terms.
Is an Official Personal Finance Partner of Growing Bolder
A new season of Growing Bolder arrives this fall on public television stations nationwide. Check local listings and GrowingBolder.com/gbtv.
STARTING OCTOBER 16:
WEDU/Tampa,Saturdays @ 6:30 pm WUCF/Orlando,Saturdays @ 9:30 am WPBT/Miami,Sundays @ 12 pm WXEL/West Palm Beach,Saturdays @ 12:30 pm JAX PBS/Jacksonville,Saturdays @ 10 am WGCU/Fort Myers/Naples,Saturdays @ 2:30 pm WSRE/Pensacola,Saturdays @ 5 pm WFSU/Tallahassee,Sundays @ 11:30 am WFSG/Panama City,Sundays 11:30 am WUFT/Gainesville,Saturdays @ 3 pm
GAMING IS GOOD
Marc Middleton
Remember when you told your kids to stop playing video games because they weren’t good for them? Fast forward a couple of decades and it’s a world turned upside down. Young adults are now encouraging their parents and grandparents to start gaming because it is good for them. And they’re right.
Research has shown that the kind of novel cognitive stimulation required in gaming may delay or slow the onset of degenerative neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
Dr. Vonda Wright, M.D., a renowned expert on healthy aging, told Growing Bolder that the mental stimulation and social benefits of gaming and esports are significant for older adults.
“Gaming is a complex activity that can stave off the fogginess that can happen with aging,” she said, “and when done with others, it decreases social isolation, which is a problem for people as we get older.”
As the pandemic surged in 2020, and older adults were advised to stay home, one in three started actively gaming. According to research from the International Data Corporation and the Entertainment Software Association, more than 51 million Americans aged 55 and older are active video gamers — a number that represents 26% of all gamers. And expanding cloud technologies that make an endless number of games easily accessible online has resulted in 55-plus adults now representing the largest mobile gaming segment of all.
The pandemic in general, and new older gamers in particular, were responsible for an explosion in the growth for the global gaming industry with sales rising 20% to nearly $180 billion in 2020. The video game industry now makes more money than the entire global movie and North American sports industries combined.
Although a large and rapidly growing number of older adults now play digital games, few play games with others and don’t experience the important social benefits. And that is why Growing Bolder stepped up and entered the social gaming and esports arena with its Bolder X initiative. The BolderX Among-Us I-Gen tournament was the world’s first live streaming intergenerational social gaming competition. Two-person teams, one member under 50 and one over 50, competed for valuable prizes and bragging rights. “We did it to smash a few outdated stereotypes and expose older adults to the many health and social benefits of online gaming, e-sports and streaming,” said Tim Killian, producer of the event. “And we didn’t just do it, we did it big. The production value was unparalleled for a live, social gaming tournament. The competitors had a great time, the sponsors couldn’t have been happier, and we took a giant first step into an area we’re committed to having a major presence in.”
The BolderX Among Us I-Gen tournament was produced live at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, hosted by Growing Bolder Founder and CEO Marc Middleton and popular Twitch Streamer and Grammynominated rock star Matthew Heafy. The tournament was streamed worldwide on Twitch.
Matthew K. Heafy
Co-Host of the Tournament, Twitch streamer and frontman of Trivium
"This was amazing. It was great to see the relationship of the parent and player. I thought that was so fun. It makes me think to the future because I have 2-and-a-half year old twins and I’m thinking about what are we going to be into together? And it’s absolutely going to be gaming."
Smoodie
Winning under 50 coach of the Tournament "Just bringing my mom into my world of gaming was the best. To see her competitive side drawing out was hilarious and scary! My mom usually works 7 days a week and is a very active person who rarely sits still but I could see her really engaging with this and her gamer side coming out. Hopefully, this leads to more games together!"
SmoodMom
Winning over 50 player of the Tournament "I’ve been telling everyone at work how much fun I had playing the game and playing it with my daughter. I explained the game with a lot of enthusiasm and energy to my own surprise. I would tell them it is very fun and you can meet other people from all over the world. It's better than being a zombie just watching TV. Just try it and if you don't like it just walk away, but you're going to like it!"
Each week, Growing Bolder hosts fascinating conversations with gamers and more on its new channel on Twitch.
Follow us at Twitch.tv/GrowingBolder and be sure to turn your notifications on to find out when we go live.
Ordinary People Living Extraordinary Lives®
Bill Shafer
Quin Bommelje
A STEP AHEAD
It was a magical run, something no one expected. Quin Bommelje, a 71-year-old ballroom dancer made it to the semifinals of the hit NBC-TV show “America’s Got Talent.” But fame is fleeting, and everything comes to an end. After the studio emptied and the lights went out, the Florida dancer figured her moment in the spotlight was over.
Bommelje was proud of her remarkable achievement, especially considering she took her first lesson just 10 years earlier. After a slow, difficult start, dance became her passion. Step-by-step her body became stronger, her mind became tougher, and she began to excel. The celebrity judges at “America’s Got Talent” watched in disbelief at her ability to defy age and awarded her the coveted Golden Buzzer, which is given to outstanding performances. A fan favorite, 17 million viewers voted week after week to keep Bommelje on the program.
When the season finally ended, much to her surprise the accolades did not.
“I am astounded that so many people keep reaching out,” she said. “I now have new friends and fans all over the globe,” and perhaps none more important than those in Thailand where she was born.
“I visited a few months after the show ended and was given an incredible welcome,” she said. “It was so special to me.”
You might expect that this storybook ending would have been the perfect time for Bommelje to hang up her dancing shoes and ease into a life of leisure, but she has not. Now 74, she is just as motivated and active as ever.
“I have a saying that I follow: 'When things are going well, work harder!'”
Bommelje is expanding her dance repertoire by learning two new styles: international Latin and cabaret.
“Cabaret is an acrobatic form of dance that includes many dangerous lifts and spins,” she said. “I’m working with two incredible partners, and we will be competing in the U.S. Dance Championships in September.”
Bommelje continues to shatter many misconceptions about aging. She is an inspiration to many because her success at this stage of life has come not just from genetics but from hard work, meaning it is possible for anyone.
“My typical day is very different from my friends my age,” she said. “I get up most mornings at 4:30 a.m. to pray, meditate and study. I juice fresh vegetables and ginger, eat a tiny bit of oatmeal and drink hot green tea. I grow most of my own vegetables. I love to garden. Four days a week I either go to the dance studio or the gym. In addition, I run 2.5 miles on the trail and spend an hour stretching.”
And on those mornings where she just doesn’t feel like getting up?
“I know to accomplish my goals I can't lay off,” she said. “That’s when the magic happens. Because once I walk through the gym door, it all goes away, and I can’t wait to work out. You just can’t give in because where the mind goes the body follows.”
Most people at 74 spend their time looking back. Bommelje’s eyes are squarely on the future.
“I want to find ways to have a positive impact on others,” she said. “I’m proof it’s never too late to find your passion. That will lead you to your purpose, and that is where you will find your power. At 74, I love my life and cannot get enough of it!”
Designed for Success
How A Father And Son Share Talent, Respect
Amy Sweezey
Meet Mike and Clark Orr, a father-son design team with a common passion for creating.
Mike learned the sign business from his dad and now Mike’s son, Clark, carries on the Orr tradition in his own way. Clark told Growing Bolder that when he was young, he told people his dad painted signs for a living. While that was true, Clark never thought of his dad as a graphic designer or commercial artist. It wasn’t until Clark went to college to study design that the realization hit him.
“Oh, my dad does basically the same thing that I do,” Clark said. “Only I’m doing the 2000s version of it.”
Mike started painting signs in the 1970s in his hometown, DeLand, Florida, near Daytona Beach. That was long before computers created digital graphics.
“I hand-painted signs and cut out vinyl letters and shapes,” Mike said, “but I drew the line at transitioning to digital. Because I have the ability to still hand-letter, I don’t need to make digital graphics.”
When Mike did need a digital graphic, he called his son, Clark, who owns his own design business just outside Orlando. Growing up in his dad’s sign shop exposed Clark to graphic art from an early age.
“I wanted to be involved in the punk community in high school, but I couldn’t sing or play an instrument,” explained Clark. “The next best thing I could do was design their album cover or a shirt or poster. That was my way into a subculture I wasn’t fully a part of.”
Mike’s pride in his son is evident.
“He is a really fantastic graphic designer. He’s nationally known,” Mike said. “He’s done big work for Target, Johnny Cupcakes, Nike, Under Armor, NBC, Universal, the Discovery Channel — just tons of big and important jobs.
“I’m just a small sign shop in a small town,” Mike said.
Mike shared his philosophy of sign design, and life in general this way:
“Minimize, prioritize and emphasize,” he said. “Get rid of what you don’t need to say. Figure out what’s the most important and least important, and then emphasize whatever is most important.”
The father-son duo work separately most of the time, but they collaborate on a few projects each year.
“One of the things my dad taught me at a young age is to figure out what you’re passionate about and figure out a way to make a career out of it,” Clark said.
Mike, who turned 70 this year, found a way to follow his own advice.
“I could retire at any time, but I still enjoy what I do,” Mike said. “So, I’m going to keep doing it to some degree for a little while longer.”
CLARK ON LIFE LESSONS
