Summer Quarter 2025: Welcome Letter
Dear Friends,
Summer is a season of exploration—a time when we seek a break from routine, often through a change of scenery. While travel is perhaps the most obvious way to do this, taking a class is another great way to chart unexplored vistas.
I recently read an article about the value of openness, a personality trait coined by psychologists in the 1940s, which continues to be of interest to researchers as it plays a key role in well-being and resilience. Openness allows us to try new things. People who score high in it tend to be more creative and better problem solvers, receptive to feedback, adaptable, and capable of growth.
The good news? Openness can be cultivated. I’ve seen this firsthand in the writing courses I’m lucky to teach through Stanford’s Continuing Studies. Every quarter, some students arrive anxious about sharing their work with strangers. But within a session or two, those strangers become a community. Everyone is in the same boat—learning and writing, then making themselves vulnerable by putting their brand-new pages up for critique. As they take in the feedback they’ve received, putting it to use, their writing improves. This is one of the most satisfying parts of the process—and a big reason why students often return for more.
As people, we grow by pushing through resistance, embracing fresh perspectives, and stepping outside our comfort zones. This happens in any class you take, whether for fun, personal enrichment, or career advancement. You’ll encounter fresh viewpoints from instructors and fellow students, broadening your knowledge and skill set—and leaving you transformed in ways you couldn’t have predicted when you signed up.
This summer, we’re offering a range of courses designed to spark curiosity and encourage new ways of thinking. Here are just a few:
- Wild Precious Writing
- Farm to Palette: Watercolor Painting for Beginners
- Reimagining Democracy: AI and the Future of Civic Engagement
- Flashpoint Taiwan: US-China Tensions in the 21st Century
- Cultivating Calm: Exploring Spiritual Wellness
- Launching from Idea to Reality: A Practical Course for First-Time Startup Founders
Warmly,
Malena Watrous
Writing Certificate Lead & Creative Writing Coordinator