Continue your education in retirement

Do you have a passion for learning? Do you dream of going back to school when you retire — free of the old pressures of grades, money or career? If so, you're in good company.

"Each year we enroll more than 10,000 students over the age of 55 in our adult education courses," says Robert Lapiner, Dean of UCLA's Extension Program, one of the largest continuing education programs in the United States. "Some of our sharpest students are in their 70s and 80s."

If you want to head back to class during retirement, it's smart to start planning now.

Where do you want to study?

Most universities, colleges and adult education centers offer extension classes. Many classes are also available online, featuring cutting-edge technology that lets you interact with instructors and fellow students.

What do you want to study?

Your options abound. From the master's degree you never had time for in your 20s to lunchtime lectures on history and world affairs, countless exciting choices await you.

Here are a few areas popular with active and inquisitive retirees, to get you started thinking.

• Learn a new language
  Language study can open doors to incredible new worlds. Evening and weekend classes let you progress at your own pace. Many of these classes emphasize learning genuinely useful words, phrases and customs you can employ in your future travels.
• Explore history and world affairs
  Explore your passion for world affairs — beyond what you see on the evening news. Continuing education programs offer fascinating classes in history and political science. You'll study with like-minded people and engage in passionate discussion of important contemporary issues.
• Express your artistic side
  Creating art is an exciting way to stretch your mind. Even if you haven't sketched a landscape or thrown pottery since grade school, retirement is the perfect time to start anew. From oil painting to watercolors, sculpture to pottery, photography to filmmaking, art classes foster easygoing learning and experimentation.
• Find philosophy
  You could enjoy learning about philosophy, the critical analysis of fundamental assumptions or beliefs. Philosophy is the ultimate education on the purpose and meaning of the life you've led so far, and the new life you're about to begin.

Exercise your mind

Continuing education after retirement is like joining a gym for the mind. It's fun, interesting and challenging to be part of an engaged and mentally fit community. Best of all, it opens windows on an exciting new future: yours.