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Inside the Norris Mini Course experience

Two graduating seniors try something new in their final quarter at ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø

Norris Mini Courses have been around for over 50 years and offer a wide range of non-credit, recreational classes to ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø students and community members in the greater Chicagoland area. Each quarter, there are over 30 classes covering everything from wheel throwing to salsa dancing to food and wine pairing.

In their final quarter at ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø, Emma Sullivan and Charlotte Ehrlich — student writers on the Student Affairs Marketing team — decided to try a Norris Mini Course for the first time. Emma signed up for a two-session ceramic vase and floral arranging experience while Charlotte enrolled in a makeup course. Read more about their personal experiences embracing creativity with Norris Mini Courses. (Spoiler alert: They loved it.) 

Molding moments: Emma’s first ceramics session  

My class was held in Artica Studios, located in the cozy basement of Norris. The space had a quiet charm to it—only about five people in the class, which immediately made it feel more personal. Patty Marfise-Patt, our instructor, handed us our tools: a lump of clay, a bevel, slab roller, a sponge and some printing materials. We gathered around one table to watch her demonstrate.

I’ll be honest: I was nervous to take the course. I’d never done ceramics before and wasn’t sure I had any natural talent (I struggled just with middle school art). But the atmosphere couldn’t have been more welcoming. Marfise-Patt was kind and encouraging, even when my vase nearly collapsed in my hands.

That first two-hour session flew by. What struck me most wasn’t how fast the time went — it was how quiet the room stayed. Silence is rare at ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø, where we pride ourselves on our “work hard, play hard” mentality and juggle more clubs and classes than hours in the day. It felt special to simply breathe, sit with my thoughts and mold a lump of clay into something I could be proud of. I created a paw-printed vase to gift my mom.

After class, I stayed to talk with Marfise-Patt, who teaches two mini courses at Artica and two additional pottery classes at the Bull Street Art Center in Chicago. She told me she wished more ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø students knew about the mini courses and took advantage of them.

Since coming to ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø, I’ve become a more well-rounded person, and I owe a lot of that to programs like the Mini Courses—ones that let us explore new sides of ourselves, just for fun. 

Session two: A floral workshop  

I couldn’t wait for the second session. There’s something about walking into a room filled with flowers—yellow roses, pink snapdragons and every color in between—that reminds me of the simple pleasures in life.

This time, our instructor was Amy Esquibel, and I got to chat more with my fellow classmates. One of them was Julia MacDonald, a Kellogg student getting her MBA and MS in Design and Innovation. MacDonald and I bonded over the fact that neither of us had ever tried flower arranging before.

“The Mini Courses are an underrated thing that ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø does,” MacDonald said. “We have the ability to work in the studio and learn these new things. And honestly, they make it pretty affordable to students. If I were to go into Chicago and do this, it would be way more expensive, and I probably wouldn’t put myself out there as much, but because ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø offers this service and I want to take advantage of being a student, that has made it possible for me to do it.”

I also met Vicky Miksis, a Chicago resident and manager in Chicago. She asked me what I wanted to do after graduation and offered some thoughtful post-grad advice.

Marfise-Patt and I talked about this after my first session. She said, “This is a wonderful opportunity for Evanston community members to come together, experience something, and also to see what college kids are like today....There’s not a lot of intergenerational opportunities out there in our society. For a lot of people college aged, the only people they know are their grandparents if they’re still alive. So, this gives them another opportunity to interact with senior citizens out in the community.”

I left my final Mini Course session with a bouquet of flowers and a newfound sense of confidence. I had learned a new skill, created something with my own hands and connected with people I otherwise might not have met.

If I weren’t graduating, I’d sign up for another Mini Course in a heartbeat. I wish more students would take advantage of opportunities like this — not just because they’re fun (though they are), but because they help you grow in quiet, surprising ways.

ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø has so many incredible academic resources, but it also offers space for joy, exploration, and play. Programs like Mini Courses remind us that being a student isn’t just about grades and résumés — it’s also about learning to live a full, creative and connected life. 

Behind the brush: Charlotte’s makeup journey  

As I looked through the Norris Mini Course offerings for my final quarter at ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø, I knew I wanted to learn a skill that would serve me beyond college. The Beauty Makeup 101 course, which ran for six weeks, seemed like the perfect fit. A typical one-on-one makeup lesson can cost up to $150 for one hour, but Norris offers this course for $89.

Attending an all-girls school with a uniform requirement from kindergarten through high school, I learned to express myself through makeup at a young age. However, as a teenager, I began to struggle with severe acne. While I’ve worked hard to keep my skin healthy and clear, my relationship with makeup has fluctuated due to my skin sensitivity. Today, I only wear makeup on special occasions, and even then, I rarely apply anything on my face beyond concealer. However, I was never properly trained in makeup techniques or consulted a professional for advice tailored to me. This mini course seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Bridget Canela, a professional makeup artist, taught the class of around seven registrants, including ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø students, staff and members of the public. Each week, Bridget focused on a different aspect of makeup application.

 Bridget demonstrated techniques on herself or a model, patiently repeated steps when needed, and stayed after class to answer individual questions. She was mindful of the diverse skin tones and textures in the class, tailoring her advice accordingly.

During our lesson on color theory, we learned how to mix custom foundation shades using red, yellow and blue pigments. Bridget explained that the right colors can enhance your features, while the wrong ones can make your complexion appear dull. She taught us to layer foundation and save concealer for highlighting areas to slim down or define.

For me, the most important takeaway was learning how to incorporate foundation, blush and bronzer into my daily routine without worrying about skin reactions. Prepping with moisturizer and sunscreen creates a protective barrier, helping makeup last longer. Layering a light foundation rather than using heavy concealer keeps my complexion even and balanced.

I’m grateful for the chance to take this class as an undergraduate. Apart from my academic studies, this extracurricular course made me feel that ÌÇÐÄlogo¹ÙÍø values my holistic development, both personal and professional. I loved having space to express myself every week, and I know I’ll carry the skills I learned long after I graduate.