Creative Everyday

13 years, no degree: a magnificent retirement plan

I have been attending my local university, George Mason, for thirteen years as a senior waiver student; a class auditor who does not receive grades, no tests nor papers to write. In search of new skills, it began in the Art Department.

I have just completed the 27th course.  This is the most magnificent retirement plan I could have dreamed up for myself.  

I always worked hard, I began working full time at 16 1/2 years old when I graduated High School, and retired 48 years later, in addition to serving as a county volunteer for ten years. My photography hobby was going digital and learning new computer software was feeling more like a job than fun. I longed to be involved learning something new, and was willing to be totally engaged. This is my journey. 

During that first course, I had a project to paste up a collage from magazine clippings and to design graphite patterns forming ten shades from the deepest, solid black to white. Finally, using these unique patterns, draw the collage. It was so hard and I loved it, never giving up. Challenged, I don’t retreat, I just take the next step, from point A to B.  

And now, I’ve enrolled in the 28th course, this summer. My curiousity points me in some direction and I just come along, as if I was the spectator, the willing participant. Unaware that time is passing because I’ve been studying Greek mythology and symbols in ancient art, I look back on my 13 years of educational pursuits, with wonder. One course at a time. Fantastic!