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Looking to Live a Better Story? Take a Leap Into Learning BY CAROL BURBANK EDUCATION MATTERS

It isn’t just me. Taking a class can offer you a reality check and a much-needed push. Making that worthy risk possible means being fearless and organized, finding every resource available to back your needs. Once you’ve found a class and made the internal commitment, you need to find the money and time to trade for that opportunity. This becomes more complicated when the training you’re reaching for is a full certificate or a program that will forward your career significant - ly. My rule: if your gut is telling you it’s a good idea, then it’s time to take a chance and try something new. Education is a gateway to other connections and gifts that will serve you. Don’t be afraid to take the first step! Tips For Navigating the Learning Curve Here are a few tips on managing the steps to get to your new story, usually through a much-needed wake-up call. 1. Identify a variety of programs and training so you can see all your different choices. Even if you already know your preference, look at online, in-person, and options that include both (blended learning). Once you have identified a range of options, you’ll be able to assess the pros and cons of each. Ask yourself these questions: ● Which program will be most useful in moving your goals for- ward? ● Which faculty/teachers are the best in the field?

When was the last time you heard your inner voice mutter, “That’s the story of my life?” Our cranky little mantra is a good friend, if we learn how to listen with curiosity rather than fear. We usually repeat that phrase when something negative happens, especially when it’s a familiar challenge. But any jaded voice in your ear is really an invitation to get unstuck and grow. The adrenaline of facing a challenge is simply the flip side of exhilaration when oppor - tunity knocks. If it’s an old challenge, the best first step to turn a challenge into a real opportunity is finding a way to explore possibilities. A class can jar you free from old patterns and limitations. There’s nothing better than joining a circle of learners to expand your community and add new skills to your toolkit. As a lifelong writer, I have faced my share of blocks and faced down plenty of procrastination. One of my best remedies for a creative crisis has been the magic of master classes. Honoring my obsessions and finding help to face the challenges of my passion projects means tak - ing a leap of faith. A new teacher and an unknown circle of writers can feel like a big risk. But oh, the power of surprise, when someone asks a startling ques - tion, or sees my intention in a poem-in-progress! A light goes on in my head, and I know how to begin my revisions. New eyes on my work feel scary every time, but when they point me to new beginnings, I feel like I’m waking up from a long sleep. The more I take that leap, the more I realize my success in master classes depends on my willingness to listen well and move into learn- ing mode. If I look for perfect colleagues or a perfect teacher, I will find only disappointment. Curiosity keeps me present; recognizing no one is perfect reminds me to start where I am, not where I imagine myself to be.

● Which opportunity fits your schedule best? ● Which opportunity fits your budget best?

If you’re drawn to a particular program that would be a stretch for your budget or schedule, be sure to move to the next set of ques-

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34—PATHWAYS—Fall 24

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