73-year-old dad can’t stop smiling after getting his first student for his stained glass class

Pursuing a passion doesn't need a timeline — for some, it begins early, while for others, it builds over the years, becoming a part of who they are. That moment came for one 73-year-old man, Roland, when he welcomed his first student for his stained glass making classes. His daughter shared the video on his Instagram page @artworksbyroland. Calling it a "special day," she wrote, "My 73-year-old Dad has his first student for a private stained glass making class in his studio (hobby shed). It may seem small, but this is genuinely his dream come true."

The daughter explained in the text overlay that her dad spent a long time preparing for the class, laying out the materials, and even going over the plan for his lesson with her. The video showed him carefully wiping down the bench and talking through the structure of the lesson. "He borrowed some perfume candles because he thought it smelled Christmassy and lit his tiny wood burner to make it cosy," she said. Every part of the space reflected care, right down to the organized tools and shelves lined with books. The daughter explained, "It seems like dad has lived many different lives, and the shed really shows that, but this season of his life is so special." 

She thanked the viewers for their support, writing, "And without the support of strangers on TikTok, there is no way he would have had the confidence to do it. So, thank you and Merry Christmas." The final part showed him and his student sitting together at the bench, working side by side, both engrossed in the pure joy of creating. Circling back to the current 'phase' of Roland's life, studies support how meaningful this stage can be. Research published in PLOS ONE and shared by The Times found that while general curiosity may decline with age, specific interests often deepen later in life.

The post struck a chord with viewers, many of whom asked how they could participate in the workshop. @oceansidecompatible offered, "If he needs glass, we'd be happy to send some." @andersonnitsirk said, "Where's he located? I would love to have a lesson from him." @surreyhousediy added, "Oh, how wonderful. I would LOVE to book a lesson if at all possible. I know he's now very busy. No pressure. Delighted to hear he may be teaching. So fabulous xx." @luigipujols commented, "I loved this video 4 times before it ended. Proof that we should never stop living, growing, and giving more than we take." Some described how much they loved the "hobby shed." @beatrice_in_zh noted, "I love the stove and the whole studio. It's so precious. I hope it was the start of many more lessons."

@lovedead_hateliving wrote, "It's hard to describe, but this studio is PERFECT. The shuffled, aged books, the stove, the organized but comfortable space of an artist! I wish I were closer, this looks like a dream space to learn in from someone clearly skilled in their trade!" @chels_ily added, "Omg, I hope this doesn't come off as weird, but I want to inhale the scent of this shed. Wood, books, tools, and wisdom - makes me think of my Papa and his shed." @blossomandbranchfarm quipped, "I’m so glad your dad still has this drive. It’s so nice to see that we can all still learn and become new people, even at 73."

You can follow artworksbyroland (@artworksbyroland) for more of his artwork content.