I collect knowledge the way my husband collects mp3s. I love learning new things, I love thew structure of classes and, perhaps a little sick, I love being graded for what I do because it makes me do better. Last weekend I took a cookie decorating class (fail) and am looking forward to glass blowing classes (this is where my sisters insert lots of jokes about me needing classes for blowing) and photography classes. And, whenever the fiasco that is my bathroom ends, banjo lessons.

When my life feels stuck, when I want more but don’t know how to articulate what it is I want or how to go about getting it, I turn to structured classes. They’re a way for me to grow intellectually and creatively, an easy way to meet people and, frankly, a great way for me to check things off my list of goals. It’s my way of spending the summer adding to my collection.

This post originally appeared on Kate’s Point of View. © Kate. All rights reserved.