Mutual Companionship

Hannah H., a volunteer at Danville Area School High School, shares the powerful stories she encountered at senior homes. 

I had the privilege of meeting a woman named Marjorie, from Alabama, who has a complex past. When I offered to paint her nails, she was excited and led me to her room. After picking the color blue for her nails and playing country music on her radio, she started talking about her past. Marge had lived a life shaped by hardship and perseverance, working on a cotton farm from the age of seven in the deep south. Listening to her recount the events of segregation and violence, I was struck by the quiet strength she carried in sharing these vulnerable parts of her. However, she didn’t let these events dictate her life; instead, she rose above these challenges.

I joined GlamorGals with the mindset that I would offer companionship to isolated seniors. But, the more conversations I had with these women, the more they enlightened me with advice and stories of their past. We often think senior homes are places of isolation, but I’ve realized they are spaces filled with powerful stories of strength. Through these stories, I’ve realized the importance of relationships, perseverance, and resilience. I plan to take these qualities with me in my future personal and academic endeavors.