August 28, 2012

Back to School























Tomorrow that big yellow bus will come to take Emma and Kate off to Middle school where they will be starting 8th and 6th grades respectively. I am sooooo excited! And it's not why you think – no, I'm not desperately sick of them or dying for a little time alone – I just LOVE school. I love this time of year and the promise of a new start. I actually feel more inspired by the start of a new school year than I do by the start of a calendar year.

My whole life I have loved school and all things "back-to-schoolish." Time to start fresh ("I'm going to have perfect handwriting this year"), get new supplies (lovely unmarred notebooks, pristine paper, freshly sharpened #2 pencils), and learn something new (cultures, languages, formulas, history! oh my!). I envy my girls as they prepare for this new chapter in their academic life. I daydream about graduate school or a second college degree, largely because I long to sit in a lecture hall, sipping my Diet Coke, frantically scribbling notes while the professor yammers on. I want to skip across campus to the library to study after reading textbooks over a sandwich at the Student Union building. . . *sigh*

Anyhow, I got to thinking the other night and decided that I would create "school" for myself this Fall. I came up with a list of classes based on some of my current interests and goals (see my schedule above in photo). I plan to let the syllabus evolve, but I do have a loose idea of what I hope to accomplish in each class. 

I am super excited by my new Fall schedule and hope juggling my freelance work, mothering and home life with my academic pursuits won't be too much – We'll see! 

Do you love school too? If so, I'd love it if you joined in on this idea. Maybe you have a certain subject you've been curious to learn more about. Maybe you just want to try a new hobby (Horseback Riding 101, Knitting Fundamentals Workshop)? Maybe you want to study a language in hopes of visiting a faraway country sometime soon (Intro to Coversational French)? . . . whatever your goals, this is a great time to give 'em a go! Take just one class, or take a full load. It's up to you!

C'mon! Let's go back to school!

13 comments:

  1. Ah... you opened a door.
    I miss my children, and dread the schedules, but seeing school through your lens... I realize: yes, yes I do love school. I love the start, the possibilities, the new subjects, and facing the challenge and interest of learning.
    Homeschooling myself: count me in for Walking 201, a Literature course, and maybe, at long last, something in art. Thank you for this refreshing perspective.

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    1. I got the idea for Walking 201 from your post. Glad we're taking the class together. :)

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  2. Oooh ooh pick me! I want to go too! (I was always a front-row sitter) I love learning and new school supplies. It's been quite a few years since I've had returning students, or been one-I graduated with my BA in 1999 and I miss most everything about it. I will be thinking of what to study. Maybe we can meet for study group-with pizza :)

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    1. Yay! Study group! I can't wait to hear what classes you're taking Rebecca!

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  3. Love this idea! I'm taking:
    1) Fatherhood 101 (It's an early morning class so I hope I wake up in time
    2) Recording 301
    3) Black Holes & Stellar Phenomena
    4) Walking

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    1. Estlin - you're going to love Fatherhood 101. Yea, it's pretty early but it's worth it. Glad to hear you're taking Walking too. I've heard that's a good one to combine with any of the parenting classes. ;)

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  4. P.S. for all my readers: Estlin is my little brother and he's expecting his first baby (a boy)on Sept 26th! Exciting!

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  5. I love, love, love this idea Jenny! I too dream about returning to school. Without the pressure of getting good grades. I actually thought of sneaking into Astronomy class this year just to listen. But I can just see the headlines now, "Mother handcuffed for trying to sneak into classes for free". Not good.

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    1. Wouldn't it be fun to sneak into a class!? Maybe a really big lecture with 200 students or something like that. This could actually be the plot of a really fun book.

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  6. Wonderful idea... I think you've got the penmanship one down already. :) I'll join you for a DC on the lawn! :)

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  7. Well, I am already in MacBook Pro 101, but the MacPac store offers classes I hope to take, too :)

    I also want to practice more knitting and crocheting basics and complete many projects.

    More walking/swimming would be wonderful!!!

    Reading more faith stretching books as well as keeping up on current events.

    Learning to appreciate beauty around me more and more.

    I look forward to hearing what you glean from your curriculum, Jenny :)

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  8. Great idea! Like you, I am always more inspired to try new things at this time of year. I don't understand this 101 or 201 thing - but I will endeavour to go from beginner to better-than-beginner in my knitting and crochet, work on the contents of my daughters lunch box each day, and do lots more running.

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    1. Oh, the lunch box thing is one I should work on too.

      The 101, 201 thing has to do with college classes (I didn't realize it was a U.S. thing). A 101 class would be an introduction to the subject (typically a first year student) and then you take higher level courses as you move on through that subject. So by your fourth year you're taking mostly all 400 level classes that study specific areas of your area of study. Hope that helps. :)

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