Lindsay Burnette: "Opening my mind to untaught histories and alternative ways of living"

Name: Lindsay Burnette

Course you’re taking and why: Improvisation for Mindfulness - to make new friends, laugh a lot, take new risks, be more spontaneous.

Biggest takeaway: Improv can be part of everyday life. When we take risks, observe without judgement and let our imaginations run - we are improvising.

Most interesting perspective from another student: I'm taking this class with my mother's graduate school professor and my life-long family friend. I'm learning what makes him laugh and what he struggles with each day. I'm in my twenties and he's in his seventies, so our perspectives are quite different, but we both leave class each week with smiles.

Best thing about PUGS: PUGS has opened my mind to untaught histories and alternative ways of living. PUGS has allowed me to learn from and alongside my neighbors, finding shared interest and commonality among people I may never have connected with otherwise. In an often isolating time, PUGS creates community spaces that are accessible, engaging, full of curiosity and critical thinking and free of judgement.

I care about lifelong learning because: Learning connects me to my community and my surroundings, and gives me continued inspiration. There is always more to learn.

Dream course you want PUGS to offer: There are so many! Navigating the Portland Night Sky, The Engineering Behind Portland's Bridges, Social Justice Design, Designing Inclusive Places

What makes your instructor amazing? Marilyn embodies all that she teaches: be in the moment, let go of expectations, withhold judgements - she seems to do all of this in her own cheerful, quirky and humble way.