Singing Songs in Golden Autumn--Modern-Time Elderly Enjoy Themselves

In the past, the elderly usually stayed at home cooking and taking care of kids after retirement while today our life is completely different." Said the vigorous senior citizens when recall their past life, "The aged people are also the cornerstone of social harmony and their happiness is indispensable to family happiness."  More than 100 students from the Vocal Music Class of Weicheng Senior Citizens' University staged their large performance "Singing Songs in Golden Autumn" on September 24.

Sun Xiaohui, a student from the Vocal Music Class told the reporter that she had been a kindergarten teacher and devoted her whole life to doing housework and taking care of kids at home after retirement, frequently suffering from unfitness such as headache and leg ache. Later at the introduction of her friends, she attended the Vocal Music Class of the Senior Citizens' University of Weicheng District to learn singing which brought her good mood and harmonious family atmosphere. "It is the Senior Citizens' University that changed my lifestyle and the music that gave me new life."she stated.

During the interview, the reporter was excited to find that the 2008 Olympics silver medalist of shooting Tan Zongliang's mother was also in group. She told the reporter that she was now nearly 70 years old and had been staying at home for 14 years since her husband passed away. Her worsening health and depressed mood caused her son great concern. In order not to distract her son who was busy training outside, she came to the Senior Citizens' University of Weicheng District at the introduction of friends and studied here for six years. Here she not only learnt knowledge about vocal music, but also broadened her view, made many friends and rekindled her hope for a better life. On visiting her the other day, her son made her a thumb-up sign and exclaimed,"Mom, you look in best shape and best spirit ever!"

As Mr. Zhuang Xichang, director of the Dean's Office of the Senior Citizens' University of Weicheng District told the reporter, the senior citizens are top leaders of families, cornerstones of family harmony and play an important role in social development and stability. In recent years, with the elderly's improving living standard and inner quality, the number of the students of the Senior Citizens'  University has skyrocketed to over 1,000 from 30 at the beginning, ten times the total number in the past 10 years.