Essays and Thoughts
Why You Should Take That Enrichment Class With Someone Special
The value of an enrichment class is more than the information gained. It’s more than the skills learned. Sometimes the true value of a class is the experience of taking it, especially if you enroll with someone you love. Learning something together can help people connect and strengthen relationships. It can deepen your mutual respect and improve your understanding. In short, though you signed up to learn how to paint, or ride a motorcycle, or do yoga, the real lesson is the one you learn about each other.
A few members of the CourseStorm team shared their real-life experience of taking a class with someone they love. Each one of them found opportunities to deepen their relationships and discover something new about their person. Lifelong learning takes on new meaning when you do it together.
Paint ‘n Sip Class Helps Mother and Daughter Reconnect
Suze didn’t want to do the same old thing to celebrate her birthday. Her family tradition of going out to dinner was starting to feel a little stale. She’d wanted to try a Paint n’ Sip class for quite some time, and she found one that happened to be offered on her birthday. The free chocolate provided during the class sweetened the deal.
The next step was convincing her mom to participate. Her mom wasn’t nearly as excited about painting as Suze was. But it was her daughter’s birthday so she said yes.
“It was neat because my mom got to experience something that I love, and we just had an absolute blast,” Suze said.
Her mom didn’t have much patience for art, but she did have a great time with her daughter. The shared experience of trying something new together reminded Suze that she and her mother are always ready to support each other. It’s the kind of bonding experience no restaurant meal could provide.
Motorcycle Rider Education Class Reveals a New Side of Mom
Taking the same Motorcycle Rider Education class as his mother revealed hidden talents Brady never knew she had. They didn’t even take the class at the same time. Brady took it and then encouraged his mother to enroll. He hoped that riding motorcycles would become an activity they both enjoyed and could do together.
He got everything he hoped for and more. “I learned that she is a tough cookie who can ride a motorcycle better than I can,” Brady said.
Even though they didn’t take the class together, it prepared them for the shared experience of riding together safely. “It provided a way for us to enjoy each other’s company in a new way,” Brady said.
We Learn Better When We Learn Together
For Becky, enrolling in a yoga class was more than a way to get healthy. It was also an opportunity to connect more deeply with her partner. Couples’ classes can be a great way to bond.
“It was special to spend time together learning more about a shared interest and then being able to talk about it afterward,” Becky said. “In many cases, we each saw and valued different aspects of the class.”
Seeing the class through each others’ eyes enabled them to think about the content in new ways while also enriching their understanding of how the other person thought.
Learning together took some vulnerability. Becky and her partner each struggled with different parts of the class at different times. It helped her recognize that learning was a process and to respect how that process looks different for different people.
“Taking classes with special people in your life is a fantastic way to spend time together in a way that is mutually enriching!” Becky said. “It gives you something to look forward to, plus stories to tell about the experience for years to come.”
Glass Art Class Crafts New Friendships
Of course, sometimes you enroll alone. Taking a class you’ve been curious about is a great way to meet people who share your interests. You might not deepen an existing relationship, but you could start a new one.
Emma signed up for a glass art class because she was curious about the process. Before they’d even finished the safety briefing, she’d already met someone who would become a friend. They chatted over their projects and even grabbed a meal together during the lunch break.
By the end of the class, they were trading contact information and promising to stay in touch. That promise turned into more conversations and dining invitations. Five years later, they no longer live in the same city but still count each other as friends.
The True Value of an Enrichment Class
When you think about the value of an enrichment class, we hope you’ll recall these four stories. They show that taking a class with someone special can help you reconnect, discover something new about a person you already know well, or build trust to deepen a relationship. When you surround yourself with lifelong learners, you can’t help but learn something about each other.
The curriculum of an enrichment class may teach useful skills. It may help expand your knowledge, improve your health, or earn a credential. All of those things are worthwhile, but the true value of a course may be what you learn about yourself and the people you love. And that is priceless.
So grab someone special and look for a class that offers group registration. You’ll be glad you did.
If you want to make class registration easier for groups and individuals, CourseStorm can help. Our impossibly simple class registration software lets you save time and enroll more students. We’d love to talk with you!
Nic Lyons
Nic is skilled in scaling start-up edtech and education organizations to growth-stage success through innovative marketing. A former journalist and copywriter, Nic holds a postgraduate certificate in digital and print publishing from Columbia University School of Journalism's publishing course.