Joining OMA Brought Hope Back Into My Life | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Joining OMA Brought Hope Back Into My Life

OMA is an intergenerational program for people with dementia.

144
Joining OMA Brought Hope Back Into My Life
Brianne Safer

Hope has been the key to happiness in my life. Lows happen; troubled times are inevitable. But when I can hope that what hurts will be healed and that difficulties will be overcome, I can be happy. Hope is something we can hold onto in difficult times and know, trite though it sounds, that the dawn follows even the darkest nights. I have also learned that hope sometimes arrives in different and unexpected packages.

During my sophomore year of college, I hit my personal low. I was drowning in depression and anxiety. Simply making it through the day was a feat in itself. I lacked purpose, and I even questioned my will to live. Hope seemed just beyond my grasp.

During this time, I was introduced to a program called Opening Minds Through Art ("OMA"). OMA is an intergenerational program for people with dementia. Its guiding principle is that people with dementia are capable of expressing themselves creatively. We break down cognitive and generational barriers by using art as the medium. College students visit nursing homes once a week and partner with someone who has dementia. The students are trained to assist the elders in failure free activities, while allowing the elders to be active agents in their own creative process.

My first partner was Peggy. Peggy is the most positive, outgoing, bubbly person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. The very first thing Peggy asked me was, "Do you like dogs?!" She then told me a story about her dog. It's a great story and one I know by heart because Peggy told me that story approximately every 15 minutes, each time as if it were brand new. I watched Peggy create beautiful artwork every week. Her eyes would light up every time she saw me, even though she did not remember me. She made me feel like we had always been friends. Each week, I was able to leave my own world, and enter Peggy's – a world filled with joy, positivity and selflessness.

Peggy's impact on my life has been profound. She reminded me that the ability to devote some time in service to others is a gift, as is life itself. Sharing happiness restored my hope that tomorrow could be, and would be, better. That is the joy of volunteering. It allows me to be a part of something bigger than my struggle.

Did I tell you the name of Peggy's dog? "Hope."

Being a part of OMA has been one of the most rewarding aspects of college. I have the honor and privilege of being the president of the organization. Additionally, I am a student-leader at two different nursing homes, and I love that experience as well because it affords me the opportunity to serve more student volunteers who are able to experience what I did working with my partner. Although I no longer work with Peggy one-on-one, I still get to see her each week, interacting with her new partner every semester. I have had the tremendous opportunity to get to know all of the elders that participate in OMA. Getting to know all of the artists and building relationships with more than 15 elders has been truly incredible. I love that when I go to OMA, I get to be with my second family, despite the fact that they do not remember me. It means so much to me to be able to give the elders my full attention and ensure that they feel empowered and appreciated for at least one hour each week. I also love stopping by the nursing home and playing bingo with Peggy.

It has been incredibly rewarding to watch the love and happiness that is shared between the artists and the volunteers. Being a part of OMA has allowed me to be a part of something that is bigger than myself, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179696
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6799
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452179
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23126
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments