Teaching Ceramics, Learning Life

This is my second semester teaching older adults ceramics, and I can honestly say it has been one of the most joyful and meaningful experiences of my life. It’s an honor to be in the room with them each week, and in many ways, I feel like I’m the student. I’m learning more from them than they are from me.

Some of my students come in carrying challenges that are visible right away. Some are visually impaired. Some are recovering from strokes. Some have limited mobility or strength. And yet, they arrive anyway. They come prepared. They do their homework. They try again after something cracks, collapses, or doesn’t turn out the way they imagined. Their perseverance is quiet, steady, and incredibly powerful.

What moves me most is the way they care for each other. Their days are full of love, community, and purpose. Even in retirement, they continue to volunteer and help those who are older than them. Sometimes that looks like sitting down and working on puzzles together. Other times it’s as simple as offering encouragement across the table, saying, “You’ve got this,” and truly meaning it.

One student shared that he used to be a math professor. One day he told me, “I can tell you really love teaching. You look so happy when you teach.” Coming from another teacher, that felt like such a meaningful compliment. He also surprised me with one of the most thoughtful projects I’ve seen: pieces that were both practical and playful, from a toothbrush holder to a pineapple centerpiece.

Seeing my students stay curious, creative, and excited about learning has been a reminder that art doesn’t belong to one age group. Creativity doesn’t retire. If anything, it becomes richer with time. And thanks to them, I’ve found myself looking forward to getting older, because they’ve shown me what it can look like: a life still full of making, giving, and growing.

At the end of last semester, my students surprised me in a way I’ll never forget. Throughout the term, I had been transporting supplies from one senior center to another, and I even fired some of their pieces at home so they could complete their projects. I didn’t think much of it, I just wanted them to have the best experience possible.

But on our last day, they presented me with a heartfelt note and a small gift they had all pitched in for. Some of them even gave a little “speech.” I was truly touched. It was one of those moments that reminded me how much generosity and love can live inside a classroom.