Even though I’ve been out of school for many years, September still brings a sense of excitement to me. It’s time to put away the carefree summer attitude, shed the shorts and bathing suits, and get back to serious business.

As a child, I always looked forward to end-of-summer shopping trips with my mom to pick out new clothes, notebooks, and pens and pencils. It was a time to start again after the lazy days of summer and get back into a routine with my teachers and friends. Because no matter how great summer might have been, I was always bored by the middle of August. The schedule of getting up early and catching the school bus, which I couldn’t wait to be done with in June, was something I actually looked forward to once again. I also loved learning new things, so getting my new text books and class assignments was invigorating.

Maybe this is why I continued my education long after high school. Even as an adult, going back to school still brought a thrill, and yes, I bought myself new clothes and notebooks and everything else I remembered from my youth. I found that it was never too late to learn a new skill or perfect an old one.

For example, have you always wanted to crochet, sew or knit but didn’t know how? How about quilting? Then look through this issue and find out who is giving lessons and once you learn, there are plenty of places to go for yarn, fabrics, and anything else you may need for your new hobby. Or, have you always wanted to bake scrumptious desserts, or practice making Asian cuisine? Then sign up for cooking classes in your community.

September is a time to begin again, and not just for children or young adults. Skills can be learned at any age. Think about something you would like to do, then go about finding a class or tutor who can help you do just that. It’s never too late to expand your horizons and try something new.

Written for The Country Register across the U.S. and Canada