Back to School for Grownups

Earlier this year I heard a story about one woman’s love of ballet. Unfortunately, her family didn’t have the money for her to take lessons when she was a child, so she thought she would never learn to dance. But eventually she did learn ballet – and even performed in a production of Swan Lake! After she grew up, had a career, a family, and then retired, the woman finally at 65 years of age had the time and money to take her ballet lessons.

It takes a certain amount of courage and imagination to walk into a classroom as an adult. Starting something new can be daunting, and you don’t have to do this but you choose to. Whether you are there to learn dance, creative writing, improv, or anything else you’ve always wanted to try–there are countless ways to reconnect with parts of ourselves we may have shelved in favor of careers, caring for others or simply listening to the inner voice telling us doing things like this is frivolous.

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

This past January I enrolled in a storytelling class at The Laughing Academy, a studio in my town of Glenview where I made my comedy debut in the fall of 2022. The Laughing Academy started out offering after-school improv classes to elementary school students in the area. Then shortly before the pandemic, the founder, Kim Greene Hiller, leased a small studio space and began offering classes in improv, comedy and storytelling to adults.

While I enjoyed my time in the comedy class, I was really interested in the art of storytelling. I love listening to The Moth podcast and felt I had some good stories to share. Improv teaches you to say “yes” to the unexpected, and my comedy class taught me to lean into a certain comedic style. And storytelling? This class taught me to listen to and sort through my memories, and my truths.

For the class, I decided to share the story of a wedding I attended with my mom and younger sister shortly after I finished high school. My oldest sister was already up in New Hampshire with the bride, preparing to be a bridesmaid in her roommate’s wedding. So, we set out for the 2-day drive from Kentucky to New Hampshire to attend this milestone event to support my sister and her college roommate who we had also come to know.

My mother loves weddings and had scoped out a seat for us near the front when we arrived at the church. Once the processional began, however, we had the feeling something was amiss. By the time all the bridesmaids were at the alter and the bride appeared, we had realized we were at the wrong wedding. The bride was a stranger, and my older sister was nowhere in sight! But because we were sitting so close to the front, the three of us were stuck and sat through the entire ceremony doing everything in our power not to burst out laughing.

Sharing this story brought back memories of a time with my mom when she was healthy and energetic. She’s been gone since early 2024. Telling this story of our unusual bonding experience was an emotional experience for me and doing it well took a lot of practice. As I recounted this wedding misadventure to a room full of people, I saw the enjoyment on the faces of others and realized the power in sharing a personal story.

As the new school year resumes for young students across the country, I challenge all of us to be inspired this fall to consider what classroom opportunities for growth may be waiting for us.