Creating your own curriculum for the year
for those who miss a good syllabus
Daydream with me
(yes, I might be avoiding reality a bit right now)
I’m a consummate school nerd. I loved college and getting a Master’s degree and I love learning. If I could be in class for a living, I totally would. And to be fair, being a writer is a lot like being a life-long student! The other day, I came across a Tiktok from creator, Verona Ferrell, who said she likes to ask people what they would study if they could disappear for a year to an elite adult boarding school, and come out proficient in three topics.
I LOVE thought experiments like this, and when I thought about it, I realized I could just go ahead and create a curriculum for myself and begin to do my own research into the three areas that I selected (see my syllabus example at the end).
So, I wanted to pose the same question to you, my dear readers:
Imagine this:
You’ve just arrived at an adult boarding school tucked somewhere between the edge of the woods and the edge of the sea. There’s a library full of mismatched chairs and a giant expanse of books. There’s a greenhouse that smells like wet soil, basil, and magic. There are long tables where people eat and talk about movies, language, philosophy, feminism, grief and whatever strange things they fell into studying this month. There are horses and tennis courts, language labs, and thought partners in every sunlit window seat.
No one is asking you to monetize your interests and no one is wondering what you’re going to “do” with these new skills. You’re simply here to learn…for pleasure!
Step One: Dig into your psyche and figure out what you want to study!
In this thought experiment, try to pick your interests based on what your attention keeps returning to even when no one is watching.
Here are a few prompts to guide you inward if you need ideas.
What did you love learning about when you were 12-16? What you were genuinely obsessed with?
“When I was younger, I was obsessed with…”This letter is part of the paid subscriber archive! Upgrade for the full library, monthly writing workshops, and early access to retreats and off-Substack events/classes
