Lifelong Learning: Going Back to School as an Adult

What college course would you take today, as an adult, just for fun? Not because you were trying to get a promotion at work. Not because you needed credits to maintain certification. But just because it captivated you.

This hypothetical question became my reality this month when I learned that I could obtain health insurance for my family simply by taking a three-credit class at a local university. With my husband now working as an independent consultant, we no longer have an employer to offer up a health plan (and foot the bill), so this discovery was mouth-watering to me.

After applying to the university’s non-degree student program (and being accepted!), I jumped online and perused the course catalog. And, oh my goodness! That’s when the mouth watering truly began.

Within minutes, I had jotted down 10 or more classes that looked intriguing. And then I found one that sealed the deal. Philosophy 309: Bioethics. Topics to be discussed include medical experimentation, physician-assisted dying, genetics and human reproduction, and more. I registered immediately.

I could not be more excited about this class.

Meanwhile, my son leaves town for the second semester of his junior year tomorrow. He’s currently enrolled in four courses for the term, each of which is required for graduation. One of these classes seems interesting, he says. The others are “fine.”

I have no idea what I would do with a major in bioethics. Become a professor? Work for a hospital. But the practicalities of this class are irrelevant to me. The only thing I care about is the subject matter.

I’m not sure where my fascination with bioethics will fit in my one-day autobiography. But I will discuss it. Maybe in the Paths Not Taken chapter. Maybe in the Just for Fun section. Regardless, it definitely deserves a mention as it reveals a vital part of the person I am today.

When you write your own story, be sure to think about what subjects enthrall you as an adult. What would be your college major if curiosity and wonderment were your top priorities?