Wayne State University in Detroit is hosting the 55th annual Michigan Association for Adult and Continuing Education Conference March 19. Jesse Tucker wrote about the upcoming conference for The South End, the university's online newspaper. Take a look at the diversity expected:

"Anyone can attend this annual conference, but those in attendance consist mostly of individuals that represent vast and diverse educational sectors, such as school districts, intermediate school districts, community colleges, public and private colleges and universities, correctional facilities, literacy organizations along with businesses and industries."

Don't you love it? Adult education encompasses so many different kinds of learning in myriad settings, from basic reading and writing to executive training in corporations around the world, from hobby classes to state-of-the-art continuing ed. for the highest levels of professionals.

How do you participate in adult education?

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The organization is celebrating all year long. Find an event in your area and check it out. Scouting provides lifelong opportunities for learning and for mentoring others.

Dr. Linda Teal in Mountain Home, Arkansas started volunteering for BSA when her son, Josh, was a Cub Scout. He's well into his 20's now, and Teal and her husband, Mike, are still involved. In fact, Linda is the lodge adviser for the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's honor society, and she's passionate about it. I wrote about her service for The Baxter Bulletin.

Lifelong learning comes in many forms. What are you learning this month?

In the Debate Room this week at The  New York Times is the question of whether or not the government's Pell grants should be increased in dollar amount, and how much they affect the general cost of higher education.

Experts on the matter weigh in, some for better Pell grants and some blasting the fact that low-income students generally show up at college needing more remediation than others, primarily because they come from inner city secondary schools that don't adequately prepare them for college. This lack of preparation, they say, causes all college tuition to increase because the schools are having to spend resources bringing these students up to par.

This is a huge topic. What do you think? Are you a non-traditional student in school on a Pell grant? Would you be in school without it? Tell us. And after you vote, tell us whether or not you think you were ready for college, no matter what age you are.

I ran across a blog today written by a woman who teaches Shakespeare at a "highly ranked private school." She's been thinking about leaving the academic world for a career as a technical writer. A compliment from a non-trad student-turned-friend has given her pause.

At one point in his message he wrote, "I like that you think more deeply and cause others to do the same. This is a special talent you have. That is why you are the teacher!"

Thinking deeply is an underrated skill. It holds the power to change lives. At 54, I'm still grateful every day for Dr. Howard Hong, my philosophy teacher and personal counselor at St. Olaf College, who taught me to think deeply.

I can't imagine giving up Shakespeare for technical writing, but if you don't follow your heart, you'll die with regrets.