I go to school a couple of days a week every semester. No required reading or tests — just classes. The courses are offered in a wide variety of areas — history, government, art, music, literature, genealogy, writing. I do this through the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning at the College of William and Mary, and it’s stimulating. Most of the in-person classes are on the William and Mary campus, and I enjoy walking to class along with all of the current William and Mary students. It makes me feel young.
I also teach courses for this program every semester. I’ve taught courses on American History and Government, as well as on writing and on genealogy. It’s challenging and a lot of fun.
Through the Osher Program, I’ve encountered some interesting people and made new friends. I’ve also reconnected with old friends — Williamsburg attracts W&M alumni, and I’ve run into people I graduated with in various Osher classes. I’ve watched movies I wouldn’t necessarily have watched, evaluated literature I would not have otherwise read, written things I would not have otherwise attempted, looked at works of art I otherwise wouldn’t have known about — in short, I’ve kept my mind alive.
I look forward to every semester, wondering what courses are going to be offered and how I might fit them into my schedule. I sit over coffee (or wine) with friends I’ve made in these classes, as we discuss what we learned (and we talk about lots of other things as well).
This afternoon I’m attending (through Zoom, because that’s the way some classes are still meeting) the second session of a class focused on a journal kept by a Dutch soldier who traveled to the East Indies at the end of the 17th century; the class is taught by a Dutch anthropologist and professor (now an American citizen and regular instructor and attendee at Osher classes) who found this journal in an archive in Amsterdam in 1979 and has written extensively about it. I don’t know much about this topic, but I know the instructor and I expect to be smarter at the end of the class.
There’s probably an Osher program near you — there are about 120 of them across the country. If you find one close by, sign up for a class or two. If there’s not an Osher program, there’s probably some lifelong learning center. Check it out. You’re never too old to feel young.
One of the many reasons I love living here is because of William & Mary. I like college towns (they make me feel young, too); I like access to good libraries, and I love continuing to keep my mind open and awake. The Osher program is great for doing that.