EXPLORING

Continuing Education

By Jocelyn Tatum

Illustration by Amber Davis

Einstein once wrote that when we stop learning, we start dying. The mind is such a valuable asset, and the world has endless beauty, so why not let the two tango in an ongoing pursuit of learning? Plus, I hear research shows it lends to better quality and quantity of life.

One of the reasons I went into journalism is because I dive into research and learn something new with each story, whether it is about the urbanization of coyotes or how architects use their designs to make natural light their toy. But there are many ways to learn — continuing education.

Fort Worth has a plethora of area colleges offering affordable ways to stop the decay of the mind. One of my past favorites was a drawing class at TCU. We would spend two hours every Saturday afternoon in a quiet room filled with natural light in the Moudy building. It was so calming as the teacher walked us through a new exercises and to hear a new comrade-in-learning’s pencil softly scratching into the paper next to me. It was humbling to see all of those people willing to be new at something. It’s almost childlike. And if they felt anything like me, it felt childlike, but not in the immature way — in the wondrous way.

I have since gone on to sign up for beginner’s guitar lessons, memoir writing and more. One of my favorite things to do is ogle at the continuing education catalogs that come in each year. My brain gets hungry as if it were looking at a menu — oil painting, sewing, welding, WWII history. Where do I begin? So below is a list of courses offered recently for your brain to feast its folds on.

TCU courses (a sample)

• Art history and appreciation • Wine courses

• Drawing • Painting • Sewing • Guitar lessons • Piano lessons

• Intro to Interior Design • Designing Effective Websites • Travel Photography • Adobe Animate

• Memoir Writing • Creative Writing • Grammar Refresher • Research Methods for Writers • Effective Editing Practices

TCC courses (a sample)

• Ceramics • Life Drawing • Crafting • Graphic Design • Watercolor • Beginning Pottery Wheel • Photography • Printmaking • Sculpture • Automotive Repair • Pilot Certification • Welding