Before joining the Senior Planet Miami team in January 2024 as a technology trainer, David Slapak spent years teaching English as a second language in South Korea and Turkey. 

Two years into his tenure at Senior Planet, we caught up with David to talk about the importance of never giving up when learning something new and his plethora of hobbies outside of work. 

What is your favorite part of being a Senior Planet trainer?  

The best part is seeing a person (or better yet, a group of people) take responsibility for their own learning. When people show up to class early, stay consistent, and embrace the true spirit of learning, they can develop new habits and routines. They can, in a sense, start teaching themselves. So, as a trainer, that’s what I strive for. I want to get my students to the point where they start taking charge of their own learning. 

Is there a piece of advice you find yourself sharing a lot?  

Too many, actually. I’ll try to pick the most useful one. I guess that would have to be “never give up.” No matter how frustrated you are by your inability to effectively use mainstream technology, just do your best to keep coming back to class. If you learned just one thing in class today, take that as a win. Learn one more thing tomorrow. Next week, try to learn two things every day. Before you know it, you’ll be on the right path. 

What makes Miami a special place?  

The traffic, maybe. Just kidding! The obvious answer, to me, is the variety of cultures found in the greater Miami area. I like seeing people from different backgrounds interacting with and learning from each other. Also, there’s the nightlife, the food, and, of course, the beach. 

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?  

I’m into all sorts of stuff. Cats, heavy metal, basketball, video games, traveling, astronomy, billiards, fitness, chess, history, psychology, film, cooking… I know a little bit about a lot things. I consider myself a very curious person, and I think I learn something every day. Maybe “learning” is my full-time hobby. 

What does Aging with Attitude mean to you?  

It means that we don’t allow ourselves to be affected by the stigma of aging. The process of aging is something every person needs to learn to embrace. We all have to age, so we face it head-on. 

Photo: Selfie of David Slapak

Pam Hugi is Senior Planet’s Community and Advocacy Manager. Based in Brooklyn, she is a contributing writer for this site.