This content was published: January 2, 2006. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Community Education classes help turn New Year’s resolutions to realities
Photos and story by James Hill
Lose weight. Learn a hobby. Get your finances in shape. Make 2006 the year you keep your New Year’s resolutions.
At Portland Community College, helping you set goals and keep them is our year-round resolution. This month, choose from hundreds of non-credit Community Education classes available to help you chart a course to a healthier, happier 2006. Classes are available at a range of prices and there is never any pressure to pass an exam. By choosing the right class to meet your goal, you can turn any resolution into reality.
Begin by committing to an action plan. Below is a sampling of America’s most popular resolutions and a highlight of classes that can help you take the next step.
“GET ORGANIZED”
Drowning in a sea of stuff? Resolve to make 2006 a clutter-free year. See how easy it can be by signing up for “Clutter-Free Living” and discover organizing methods that will keep your life simple and free from “stuff” forever. The class will be held from 6:30 to 8:50 p.m., Thursdays, Feb. 23 through March 2, at the PCC Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave. Cost is $29 plus a $7 fee. Use CRN 15810 to sign up.
“GET FIT”
Sign up for “Personal Fitness Training” this week and get the results you’ve been working towards for years with the help of a certified personal trainer. Use weight equipment and cardio machines for optimal performance. The class will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Mondays, Jan. 9 through March 13, at PCC’s Southeast Center, 2305 S.E. 82nd Ave. Cost is $65; use CRN 14926 to sign up.
“LOSE WEIGHT”
Getting serious about losing weight means making a mental shift. “Weight Loss Through Hypnosis” makes it easier by teaching you the techniques you need to permanently change your behavior with food and successfully lose weight. If diets haven’t worked in the past, hypnotherapy offers a safe, alternative solution. The class will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesdays, Jan. 31 through Feb. 14 at Riverdale High School, 9727 S.W. Terwilliger Blvd. Cost is $35 plus a $10 fee; use CRN 13610 to sign up.
“GET A BETTER JOB”
Whether you are currently job hunting, or just interested in finding out what’s out there, the “Career Planning Series” can move you closer to your dreams. Comprised of four workshops, the series offers practical advice in discovering your ideal work, finding a job in Portland, developing a stand-out resume, and “wowing” potential employers with a great interview. The series will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. each Monday, Jan. 23 through Feb. 13, at the Whitmarsh Building in downtown Portland, 803 S.W. Morrison St. Cost is $45 plus a $10 fee for the complete series of classes; use CRN 13697 to sign up.
“EAT OUT LESS”
A resolution to eat healthy meals at home is best kept by making cooking fun. PCC’s new Italian Cooking Series will put the zest back into your recipe repertoire with a slate of six specialty classes. Learn how to prepare a menu bursting with flavors, the philosophy of Italian cooking, and experience delicious recipes like lasagne, manicotti, trattoria, and classic Tiramisu among others. The series will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Jan. 10 through Feb. 7, at Cedar Park Middle School in Beaverton, 11100 S.W. Parkway St. Cost is $89 plus a $6 fee for the complete series of classes; use CRN 16324 to sign up.
“BE CREATIVE”
Rediscover your personal creativity this year by taking an art class. The new Wild and Whimsical Pastel Workshop let’s you work in an artist’s studio while you use pastel as bold and playful color. Begin with drawing and actually leave class with two pieces of completed artwork. The one-day workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4, at The Core Source studio, 5509 N.E. 30th. Cost is $35 plus a $25 fee and includes all supplies. Sign up for CRN 16166.
“SAVE MONEY”
It doesn’t make sense to use more debt to solve a debt problem. Learn the secret to a real solution by taking the online class, “Debt Elimination Techniques that Work.” From the privacy of your home computer, interactive online lessons will teach a specific and workable strategy that will get you out of all debt even your mortgage in the shortest possible time. The class will be offered online beginning Jan. 18 and running through Feb. 24; cost is $30 plus a $55 fee. Use CRN 16469 to sign up and visit www.ourcoursescometoyou.com for more information. For more information on these and hundreds of other non-credit, personal enrichment classes, call the PCC Community Education question line at 503-788-6266 or visit www.pcc.edu/communityed.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »