Importance of Community
by
Carlos Posso
- June 18, 2026
- 8 mins story
1. Please tell us your name (unless you prefer to be anonymous), a little about who you are, and what motivated you to join an adult education class or program.
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Hey, my name is Carlos Poso. I'm from Columbia. Um, I've been here for more than about 3 years. I am a retired teacher from the DOE. I used to work as a foreign teacher. I speak Italian and Spanish. When I became 60 years old, I decided to join Sunnyside, this great place. One of the big issues that we as an elder have, is the solitude. So, it was solitude. I used to live by myself, and I still live by myself, and solitude, and depression, anxiety was killing me. So, when I when I find out that this place offers these kinds of opportunities, I say, well, this is this is the perfect place.
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2. What has changed in your life since you started your adult education class? How has adult education helped to support your goals and plans for the future?00:00Well, we need, we as an eldest, we need a place, to reencounter with ourselves, and for me, it's very nice to be surrounded for people from different ages, younger guys, and I am part of the learning process with them. I have learned that when you speak a language that is not your mother language, already there is a room for improvement. Also, I was developing to be humble and yes, to say, okay, I am learning with these kids. I can perceive myself when I was at that age, how I used to make the same errors. So now they have all my kindness. I'm very happy to have these kinds of places. We need to be conscious about all of these, the places that the society offers, for people at my age... that's amazing to have been a great, great experience.
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3. What do you think would be different about NY or the world if everyone had the opportunity and support to continue their education?00:00We, as an adult, as a human being, actually, we never finish learning. Every day is a new opportunity. But basically, what would happen if we implemented the kind of services in the city? Especially in the big cities around the world. I would say that opening these kinds of spaces, they are going to reduce alcoholism. They are going to reduce also drug use, they are going to reduce suicide. And so, these kinds of places, open spaces for people that need, we as a human, we need to be, to live in society... So, I need that the city, we spend more money, on this kind of places or programs that will make a big difference in the elder people life... For me, it has been a very positive experience, and now I have a reason to wake up every day; before I used to stay in bed, sad, feeling isolated, like I was already done. And now I have a reason to wake up every day and to have my books ready, my lessons, and I am always going to find always somebody smiling to me, saying, "how are you doing?" And, I mean, times pass so fast when you are like fascinated for the place, for the place in which you are living. So, this is a great, great investment for me, my time.