1.24.2007
A Question
An article I read today had the following paragraph:
"I was in my early 40s when I started to work on my master's degree, and someone said to me ‘But you’re going to be 46 years old when you’re finished,’" Susan recalls. "My reply was that I would be 46 years old whether I earned a degree or not. The knowledge and growth from going back to school have made me a more valuable asset to my firm and my family.""
So here is my question: if you could learn something new, either by formally going back to school or just taking a class or lessons in something, what would it be? And what's stopping you from doing it?
"I was in my early 40s when I started to work on my master's degree, and someone said to me ‘But you’re going to be 46 years old when you’re finished,’" Susan recalls. "My reply was that I would be 46 years old whether I earned a degree or not. The knowledge and growth from going back to school have made me a more valuable asset to my firm and my family.""
So here is my question: if you could learn something new, either by formally going back to school or just taking a class or lessons in something, what would it be? And what's stopping you from doing it?
# posted by Kimberly Andersen @ 10:13 PM 
Comments:
<< Home
I took my first violin lesson...EVER...on Monday with the local violin instructor. In my first 40 years, if someone said I couldn't do something, I always failed. I'm 44 and I have grown immeasurably in the last 8 years. If someone tells me I can't do something now, it makes me want to do it all the more! Wait 'til you all hear me play fiddle!!!
...AND I'm going to TRAVEL around the world!
...and then there's that doctoral program in "whatever" looming out there...
Lots of dreams and LOTS of time!!!!
...AND I'm going to TRAVEL around the world!
...and then there's that doctoral program in "whatever" looming out there...
Lots of dreams and LOTS of time!!!!
Well, it doesn't have to be a career change...you can learn something new just for fun or personal growth. I'm sure DRT didn't mean he wanted to make a career out of jumping out of planes, although I understand teaching can feel that way sometimes.
I'm enrolled and working towards a masters degree in Integrated Marketing and Communication. Three weeks down....101 to go.....
More details here. Copy and paste into your browser.
http://www.imc.wvu.edu/
More details here. Copy and paste into your browser.
http://www.imc.wvu.edu/
Write a children's book. Ellen has been on me to write a "kid book" since she was about 6. I did a short story for her around then about a girl who wanted to be a mermaid (definitely "drawn from life"). But this would be a bigger project. Nothing stopping me except semi-sleeplessness and work. I've even got a decent first paragraph.
What about you, Kim? Blog etiquette (Blogiquette? Bloguette?) requires that a person asking such an open-ended and personal question must also answer it.
Touche, Msr. Jeff. Unless Kim is still upset about what Simon and Paula said about her comeback attempt/Gregorian chant version of The Darkness' "Get Your hands offa my woman, MF".
(Now I'm really in trouble...better remeber her Bday this year...it's March 8th, btw)
Nell, did my email get thru?
(Now I'm really in trouble...better remeber her Bday this year...it's March 8th, btw)
Nell, did my email get thru?
Table Harp. Bass. Drums. Bartending (sorry). Photography. Dreamweaver (website maker). SAS (stats program). Spanish. Elf. Vulcan. Theology. Calculus. Apologetics. Astronomy. Business/Finance/Accounting. Housecleaning. Swing dancing. PMC (metal clay). Drawing. Watercolor. Filmaking. Ebay.
Barrier: Brain Fry
Barrier: Brain Fry
No. Which account did you send to, work or home? It didn't come to my home. To make matters worse, I seem to be unable to retrieve work emails from home. Sigh. Maybe I should aspire to correcting all the technological problems that our electronics are supposed to ease.
Sent it to both addresses. In brief, 11 years is when the farm is paid off and when I either change into Heidi the goat herd or Cesar the dog whisperer.
Well, it's a hard question for me (although thanks for forcing it, Jeff) because in five years, both kids will be in college and I'm starting to think seriously about another full time career.
But for personal fulfillment, I continue to work on my voice, esp. the classical side of that, and fencing. Fencing is incredibly hard to master and two years ago I nearly gave up. It's exciting to start to do well in a sport, because ever since I gave up 7th grade softball I stopped feeling athletic.
Part of me would also like to go back to the other things I never thought I was good at - languages, visual arts, chemistry - and see if that is reality, or a judgment made based on a fifteen year old's sensibilities.
But for personal fulfillment, I continue to work on my voice, esp. the classical side of that, and fencing. Fencing is incredibly hard to master and two years ago I nearly gave up. It's exciting to start to do well in a sport, because ever since I gave up 7th grade softball I stopped feeling athletic.
Part of me would also like to go back to the other things I never thought I was good at - languages, visual arts, chemistry - and see if that is reality, or a judgment made based on a fifteen year old's sensibilities.
Hey Liza, I happen to have in my possession of both Star Trek Klingon Language tapes and the book. I now believe they came to my care to be delivered to you. Would you like them?
I would love to learn how to shoot and edit digital video. I can just never seem to find the time. What a lame-ass excuse that is. Anyone remember the super 8 movie camera I got as a High School graduation present?
In a related story- my Grandfather Joe Gallanar, who died in 1966, was a working man without any education and toiled away his years as a welder in Seattle and points wets while he helped raise his two children (who grew up to be a French Historian and an Artist). I didn't know him, and my Dad often feels the same way. Near the end of his life, in a truly rare moment of candor, he told my father that he regretted not taking up a hobby in his life "like bowling or drinking beer."
I guess I already know how to drink beer. So, maybe it's time I learn how to bowl.
In a related story- my Grandfather Joe Gallanar, who died in 1966, was a working man without any education and toiled away his years as a welder in Seattle and points wets while he helped raise his two children (who grew up to be a French Historian and an Artist). I didn't know him, and my Dad often feels the same way. Near the end of his life, in a truly rare moment of candor, he told my father that he regretted not taking up a hobby in his life "like bowling or drinking beer."
I guess I already know how to drink beer. So, maybe it's time I learn how to bowl.
Joe, yes please do send those when you get a chance! My commute will be much more fun with those tapes. (And I can curse out drivers who cut me off with the Worf-like ferocity.)
Ian, maybe you could take Isabella with you bowling. My daughter developed a sudden interest in bowling around Christmas and wanted to go in the worst way. Now they have the cosmic bowling-- they turn off the lights and the balls glow going down the lane. Also they have bumper bowling, where they fill in the gutters so you never get a gutter ball.
around here, they have duck pin bowling where the balls are about the size of shotputs. Kids love 'em 'caus they're so much easier to hurl.
It's a weird Maryland thing like Lacrosse and John Waters
It's a weird Maryland thing like Lacrosse and John Waters
I would love to learn to play the guitar. I started a couple of years ago to teach myself, but I just can't seem to find the time to practice and get past the four chords I learned the first day.
Boston has candlepin bowling. The pins are about the diameter of candlesticks and are more challenging to knock over. However, if you're in a goofy mood, it is incredibly entertaining.
Trying to teach yourself anything is pretty much always nearly impossible, unless you're 15 and have endless time on your hands because you don't study (most guitar players I know started out that way.)
Taking lessons really makes it happen. Although not, perhaps, in the expected direction. I bought Karl a banjo once, and he started taking lessons...but he tumbled to the fact that the banjo has the same four strings as the violin, which he already knew how to play. So he cheated, and started playing violin music on the banjo. Pachelbel's Canon, on the banjo. His teacher BEGGED me to convince him to switch to classical guitar or something. Here is what you might not know about the banjo: it's loud.
Taking lessons really makes it happen. Although not, perhaps, in the expected direction. I bought Karl a banjo once, and he started taking lessons...but he tumbled to the fact that the banjo has the same four strings as the violin, which he already knew how to play. So he cheated, and started playing violin music on the banjo. Pachelbel's Canon, on the banjo. His teacher BEGGED me to convince him to switch to classical guitar or something. Here is what you might not know about the banjo: it's loud.
Ian, Emily is taking a TV Production class. She'd be happy to teach you how to shoot/edit digital video.
I find it amazing that this is a high school class and to her it's an elementary process. It really is all about how you choose to view things.
Post a Comment
I find it amazing that this is a high school class and to her it's an elementary process. It really is all about how you choose to view things.
<< Home
