I remember being very young and itching for the holidays or summer vacation to come quickly so I could be home from school.

For a while, it became a daily routine to try convincing my mother not to send me to class. Mom never fell for it though. She always responded to my antics by saying when I grew up I could do whatever I wanted. Suddenly I could not wait to be an adult. However, my version of adulthood was being wrapped in a blanket watching cartoons all day (She did say I could do whatever I wanted and at the moment, creating a little cocoon on the couch seemed ideal).

Don’t get me wrong, I have loved learning new things from as far back as I can remember and eventually I fell in love with school for all the opportunities it afforded me.

There’s just something about being at a young age that makes school feel like the prison that holds you, despite the fact that the knowledge you gain is what sets you free.

Lately, I’ve reluctantly accepted finishing my education and I thought it meant coming to terms with no longer being a student, but I am realizing even though I don’t label myself the same way, I am still a student by non-traditional means. I am blessed with the ability to continuously acquire knowledge, whether by books or life experience.

Our ability to learn and adapt is an amazing thing — it is on-going, well past our school years and into adulthood. We keep on learning, and improving, and figuring it out all over again.

In the words of Sherlock Holmes, “Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for last.”

That reminds me, Season 3 of Sherlock, BBC’s modern take on the brilliant tale of Mr. Holmes, premieres on PBS, January 19, 2014. I’m planning to enjoy the nail-biting premiere by wrapping myself in a blanket and creating my own little cocoon in front of the TV.