Breaking beyond the age stigma

Time keeps ticking by, and with each year, we gain another number to what society likes to call age. But for Marina Walne, a Ph.D. graduate from Stanford and an Education Consultant with more than 38 years of experience, age is just a number that fuels her passion. Despite societal expectations, Marina continues to break ‘age’ stereotypes just as she did with ‘female’ stereotypes in her youth. Age hasn’t held her back; instead, it has motivated her to continue consulting for non-profits, serving on boards, and pursuing her greatest passion: “helping people start schools that are sustainable over time. I am pleased to report that all the schools that I have helped start are still in existence.”

Learning and Growing with GetSetUp

Marina’s unstoppable drive led her to seek out new learning opportunities when she found herself needing to adapt to changing circumstances. After leaving her high-level job at 58-59, she discovered that she was not easily employable at the same level. However, she realized the importance of developing new skills and continuously learning. This mindset brought her to GetSetUp, where she joined her first small group class on How to Stay Connected with Friends and Family using Zoom.

While Marina was already familiar with Zoom, she found that there was still more to learn. “I learned how to cut and paste a meeting into Outlook, and I didn’t know these background screens which are kind of fun!” she shared. GetSetUp offers a wide range of classes that help learners like Marina stay current with technology, apps, and other essential skills, all in an empathetic, peer-led environment.

Finding Purpose and Resilience

Marina didn’t stop there. She participated in the Purple Patch class, a seminar hosted by Matt Dixon in conjunction with GetSetUp, which focused on resilience and human performance for those over 50.

“Oh my god! He is just a rock star. What I learned there was transferable to life and not just fitness. He talked about setting up routines and how you thrive based on the routines you set up,” Marina recalls.

The seminar provided insights on health, stability, finding purpose, seeking connection, and maintaining perspective—all of which are vital as we age.

For Marina, staying healthy involves daily routines, including walking her dog, eating balanced meals, and focusing on activities that keep her mind and body engaged. With the help of GetSetUp, she has been able to maintain these routines and continue pursuing her passion for sustainable education.

The Benefits of GetSetUp

For Marina, the biggest benefit of GetSetUp is being engaged in a meaningful activity,

"I’m really comfortable learning from someone my own age. Not that I couldn’t learn from someone younger, but well, it’s just nice to learn from someone my age.”

GetSetUp empowers her to keep honing her skills, learn new things, and stay connected with a community of peers who share similar interests.

As Marina continues to work on her passion project, ‘school-in-a-kit,’ which helps entrepreneurs set up sustainable schools, GetSetUp remains an essential resource in her journey of lifelong learning. There is never a time like the present to keep growing and achieving new goals.

Pursue Your Passions with GetSetUp

Do you want to learn a new skill, app, or technology on your terms, at your pace, and in a fun, interactive remote environment? GetSetUp has Guides trained to help those over 50 with free small group classes or fee-based small group and one-on-one classes in a variety of areas. From Introduction to Medicare to How to Stay Calm During Stressful Times and many more classes focused on apps to help you build a website, use social media, or use rideshare apps, GetSetUp likely has a class to fit your needs.

If you don’t find the class you are looking for online, you can contact GetSetUp for customized classes for you, your company, or your community.

Leave age—a number—and like Marina, GetSetUp to reach your next goal!