Back to School: The Grown-Up Edition

Ah, the back-to-school season. Remember when it was all about picking out the coolest backpack, stocking up on gel pens, and anxiously hoping you’d be in the same homeroom as your best friend? As adults, the lead-up to a new school year feels a bit different, but it still brings that familiar mix of excitement and anxiety—just with a lot more coffee involved. Maybe you’re returning to school to finish a degree, starting a new program, or maybe just taking a class (maybe a class in our new MakeIT Place!) to learn something new. Whatever you’ve decided to tackle this fall, learning something new as an adult can be sometimes daunting, but in the end, always satisfying! There’s also something refreshing about it. It’s like dusting off a part of yourself that you haven’t tapped into in a while.

One of the biggest challenges as an adult learner is balancing school with everything else. Work doesn’t stop just because you’ve got a paper due, and kids still need help with their own homework even when you’re buried under yours. It can feel overwhelming at times, but there’s also a sense of accomplishment that comes with successfully juggling it all. Plus, you’re setting a pretty awesome example for your kids (or your co-workers, or your friends) about the importance of lifelong learning. If you need to get away from the distractions, the library has great spaces for quiet study!

One of the best parts of going back to school as an adult is the community. One of the reasons we wanted to create our new MakeIT Place at the library is to give our community a place to learn and create together. In August, we’ve started classes within the Pottery Studio and have been certifying users on the Glowforge laser engraver/cutter. In September, look for classes on learning how to use the Recording Studio and also sewing classes for beginners! For those of you who may have your own Cricut at home or who want to learn to use our Cricut equipment, we’ll have opportunities for you to come and ask the Cricut experts for help in making your Cricut dreams come true!

Check out the MakeIT Place website here: https://www.washington.lib.ia.us/services/makeit-place. If you’re a certified user of the equipment (each piece has it’s own process) you can make a reservation online, come to the library and check in and we’ll get you started learning and creating! Keep an eye on our events calendar for more learning opportunities:

https://www.washington.lib.ia.us/events

So here’s to all the grown-ups out there who are getting ready to hit the books again. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Embrace the chaos, enjoy your learning journey, and remember—you’re never too old to learn something new. And who knows? You might just discover that back-to-school season is even better the second time around.