I love hearing real-life stories of people who are embracing learning.
When I created my class in Teachable: How to Build a Personal Curriculum, I kept some specific examples in mind.
Here are 8 specific people from my Substack community and personal relationships that inspired me to create this class:
This person has adult kids and more free time in the afternoons. She has a wide variety of hobbies and interests but has lost the spark to be creative for the fun of it.
She feels guilt for being more of a collector and not doing the things she loves. Having a personal curriculum will help her make choices based on current interests and the seasonal constraints of where she lives.
This person is deeply motivated by music and visual art. The last year of college felt like a vacuum of inspiration. Then entering her career she has been bombarded with demands from clients and doing what is best for the company.
Having a personal curriculum list to turn to on the weekends will feel like taking her life back and using her creativity on her own terms again.
This person has a soul-sucking job in the city. He has little downtime during the week but his long commute is useful for audiobooks. He spends time on the weekends taking classes in coding and has almost completed his first Python class.
Personal learning has been haphazard and unfocused and he is ready to make intentional plans to meet specific goals. (And hopefully get a raise at work.)
This person has a new baby and is navigating being a stay-at-home mom. She has found it hard to juggle keeping her little one busy, doing things she enjoys, and keeping up with the laundry. She has odd gaps of time in her day when the baby naps and she wants to use her time well. However she feels stuck in decision fatigue and needs better default options.
The days feel strangely the same and monotonous. A personal curriculum will keep her away from doom scrolling, getting stuck binge watching Netflix, and give her days meaning beyond care-giving.
This person’s interest is inspired by a personal tragedy and new awareness. He recently helped clean out his Uncle’s house after he unexpectedly passed. In that process he found WWII models, movies, and memorabilia that he decided to keep. Having a specific time period to learn more about helps him process his grief and feel closer to his complicated family.
It has also become a new topic of conversation with his teenage son. His themed learning sparked some family movie nights and YouTube rabbit holes that became lively dinner discussions.
This mom is in the midst of raising kids and her days are full of busy activity. Her body and mind are tiered when she falls in bed at night but it feels like there is something missing.
In all this caretaking it would be good to make some space for something that belongs to her. There are some creative embers inside her that just need some oxygen and kindling to ignite. She hopes that by having a personal curriculum she can turn quieter weekends into deeper learning. And maybe it will bring back her passion and love for reading.
Hobbies have never been a problem for him. He has a wide variety of interests and loves to try new things. But finishing projects and not getting stuck are what keep him from feeling satisfied with his personal learning.
There are some unseen obstacles that he is facing that, if identified, would make thing easier. He also wants to have a specific plan for what he is making and working on in this next semester. (Lesson #4 – The 9 Invisible Rules Holding Us Backwill be his favorite in my class.)
Her kids are growing quickly and her teens are able to drive. She feels a piece of freedom she hasn’t had in a while. Between activities, school carpool, and part-time work she has moments to herself.
There are so many things she wants to learn and focus on, having a personal curriculum will keep her focused and not running in circles. Also it would be awesome to have something interesting to talk about. Her smutty book club with friends is fun, but she wants to take her learning deeper and stretch herself in new ways.
.
Which of these examples do you identify with?
What is your unique story?Message April Edwards
I am confident that by walking through the 5 Lessons in my class that you’ll discover how to shape your curiosity into simple, meaningful subjects and create a rhythm of learning that fits your real life.
This class invites you to rethink how you learn as an adult.
Together we’ll design a personal curriculum that helps you stay curious, creative, and grounded in growth.
Here’s the quick overview:
How to Build a Personal Curriculum
Lesson #1 – How to Set Up Your Personal Curriculum
- Learn why a personal curriculum matters and how it can transform your learning.
- Discover the 4 study types and how to use Home Base Texts effectively.
Lesson #2 – Making It Happen: How to Plan It Out
- Create a flexible, realistic plan that fits your schedule and pace.
- Pause to notice growth and write self-kind policies that keep learning enjoyable.
Lesson #3 – Roadblocks: Crazymakers & Making Space
- Identify Crazymakers and protect your focus without sacrificing relationships.
- Reduce decision fatigue with simple structures and boundaries.
Lesson #4 – The 9 Invisible Rules Holding Us Back
- Recognize hidden rules and mindsets that fuel burnout and perfectionism.
- Apply practical strategies for aiming for excellence while staying sane.
Lesson #5 – The Secrets to Momentum
- Build habits that sustain progress and clarify your thinking.
- Harness serendipity, celebrate wins, and make learning genuinely fun.
.
Each Session Also Includes:
- 📝 Free PDF lists and downloads
- Discussion questions and community interaction
- Interactive quizzes and simple action steps
By the end, you’ll have clarity, practical tools, and the motivation to keep learning and growing on your own terms.
I’ll always keep my Substack content and community free.
This class is a small purchase, but I’m confident it can make a real difference for you. Thanks for considering supporting me and my writing work!
💻See you in the class sessions!
.
Share this post with someone who fits the examples above. Inspire others to join your learning journey!