College not just for the young

Eighteen-year-olds aren't the only ones heading off to college. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 46 percent of Americans will sign up for continuing education classes this year. Lifelong learning is a growing phenomenon.

Some people take courses to upgrade their skills or train for a new career. That's not surprising with the pace of change in technology and the shifting needs of a global market. According to a study I read several years ago, the average person is likely to have seven careers, not just different jobs but different occupations, over the course of a working life.

But the pursuit of learning purely for pleasure is also expanding. Many baby boomers and retired people who are no longer concerned with reaching a career goal or making more money are seeking other forms of satisfaction. A recent article in Newsweek quoted a woman who was approaching her 50th birthday and wanted more experiences rather than more things.

When the last child has gone off to college or entered the world of work, parents have the time to return to interests they put aside while raising their families, or to develop new passions. This generation of empty nesters is expected to continue seeking both physical and mental stimulation well beyond age 50. We're increasingly aware that "use it or lose it" applies to your mind as well as your body.

For many people, there's a real joy in learning. My niece came home from college for a weekend so excited to share the great speeches from history that she'd learned about in her rhetoric class. She loves that moment of discovery when you learn something new, and I know what she means.

Whenever I visit colleges, I find myself wishing I could sit in on classes with the best professors, the ones everybody says you have to experience before graduating. Of course, it's much easier to appreciate the joy of learning when you don't have to worry about writing papers and taking exams. I skipped my share of classes back in college, but now I jump at the chance to hear an engaging speaker.

I know I'm not alone. After hearing some of my students' parents say they envy their children's opportunities to go off and study all sorts of interesting subjects, I decided it was time to create a way for adults to be able to experience some of the most engaging professors from top colleges.

Back to College for a Day is a new program for people who love learning and would enjoy attending a day of stimulating lectures with like-minded people. The first program will be held Sat., Oct. 27 at Mount St. Mary's College in Brentwood. Four of the best professors from the Claremont Colleges and UCLA will give their most popular lectures, including "Bias in the Media: Are You Getting the Real Story?" "The Coming Pandemic: Why Influenza Is a Major Threat," "The U.S. Congress in the American Political System" and "Police States Past and Present."

Additional programs are scheduled for Jan. 26 and April 12 and will feature lectures on a variety of compelling topics. You can learn more about Back to College for a Day at www.backtocollegeforaday.com.

Watching my students go through the stressful college application process, I always hope that they'll enjoy college once they get to campus, and I enjoy hearing about their experiences. Now I also look forward to sharing my own stories about favorite professors.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or at audreykahane@earthlink.net.