Don't worry about being the only clueless one. I started at almost the same age and the room was full of first-timers. I went to beginner pottery classes in Austin at Pottery Studio 1, and there's no membership or enrollment fee, you just book a single class and see if you like it. The instructor walks you through centering clay, shaping and decorating step by step, and helps out when things go sideways, which they will at first. My first bowl was lopsided but I still keep my pens in it. Two hours went by fast and I didn't think about work once. The only downside is the wait for firing, you get your piece back two or three weeks later. Have you thought about whether you'd rather try the wheel or hand-building first?