Learning & Life

New Year's Resolution #5: Learn Something New!

By Wendy Croix
Learning & Life Columnist
Make 2006 the year that curiosity rules. You know, the part of you that says, "I've always wondered about..." Now, fill in that blank, and do it fearlessly.

What do you hunger to know? Can't put your finger on it? Well, you've been telling yourself all year in subtle ways:

Whose skill did you desire - just a bit? The woman who did your taxes? The school nurse who calmed your child in pain? Maya Angelou reading a poem? With just a little bit of learning, these doors can open for you.

Take a Class & Start Learning

Introductory courses are made for people like you, people who are curious, people who want to know the basics of, say, marketing. Take that 101 course and learn some fascinating marketing history. Study how advertising shapes our thinking as well as our shopping habits. For just plain fun, take courses in film history or popular culture.

Do you envy your sister-in-law's business instincts? Take a basic business class, and you'll take the mystery out of her management skills. An introductory course in accounting will help you with your checkbook and your personal finance. A little marketing knowledge could help you fend off an unwanted seller - or sell yourself.

Investigate a New Career - Before You Commit

If you're interested in healthcare, don't put off a basic anatomy and physiology class. You can take a few nursing courses and see if it's right for you before committing to a degree program. And while you are investigating this new career path you will pick up some practical medical knowledge.

What do you want to know that you don't? How to write a poem? How to construct a business plan? Make the New Year a year of new learning. Who knows where that first class will lead you?

About the Author
Wendy Croix, Ph.D. is a freelance writer, cultural critic and university professor. In her twenty years as a professional educator, Wendy has guided hundreds of students toward the careers of their dreams.

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