The journey into high school starts with more than just new faces for ninth graders; it’s also about discovering which classes feel like a perfect fit for their talents and interests. Freshman year encourages students to step out of their comfort zones and explore subjects they might not have considered before. What classes do the students like the most? OHS 9th-grade students give their opinions on the class they enjoy most, and what they don’t. 

Freshman year sets the foundation for students’ success with a mix of core classes, electives, and opportunities.  Teachers also play an important role in guiding freshmen through this transition, offering support and encouragement along the way.

For many students, electives are usually the favorite classes, like art, music, and language classes. “My favorite class is foundation arts. I really enjoy painting in that class and the class is really fun, but I don’t like it when we don’t get to paint,” said Nincy Martinez.

Another class most students tend to enjoy is the gym because it’s fun, active, and it also gives them time to be social with their friends. “Gym is my favorite because I like being able to move around. I think the most difficult part is doing the pacer. It is very tiring, and it’s my first class on G days,” said Misa Long.

While some students like getting a break from core classes, others are interested in the details of biology, like learning about the human body and wanting to dissect frogs. “I have honors biology as my first class on B days, and it’s my favorite because I have many friends in it, and when I get good grades, it helps me to be motivated to keep learning. For me, the most difficult part is keeping up with my teacher,” said Janet Nguyen.                

 Biology is a very important class because it explains life and has real-world connections. “I love to learn about science and how life works, which is why biology is my favorite class,” said Marshall Lopez. “My favorite part of class is being able to do group work so I’m able to talk with others. When I’m not in school, I like to go on walks to check everything out.” 

Biology helps you see the world differently, and it can even help with personal health. If you want to be a doctor, veterinarian, or anything else in science, being skilled in biology is the first step. “I like honors biology because it teaches complex things that I enjoy learning about. Having this class gives me pride by knowing I am the smartest I can be. Something I’ve learned about myself in this class is that I am a capable, fast learner. My favorite part is learning vocabulary. I think the homework I get helps because it provides review at the end of the day and gives a boost of energy,” said Julio Ramirez Lue.

Gabriella Dominguez said her favorite class so far is Honors English with Mr. Edwards. She likes his teaching style because he actually interacts with students and makes them participate. “He seems like he actually cares,” she said. Gabriella also mentioned that the class is a mix of loud and quiet. “When it’s time for us to talk in a group, it gets loud, but Mr. Edwards always recaptures our attention.”

Kenia Dominguez’s favorite class is World History. She enjoys it because of her friends in there, and it’s usually quiet but still has a little bit of talking. She also said her teacher makes it fun to learn. On the other hand, her least favorite class is PE. “I would prefer mine from last year since this one I’m less comfortable in, because it’s very tense,” Kenia said.

For Rodrigo Vargas, English is his best class. “I feel like English is very good because I find the work kinda fun. I like typing out things, but when we have classwork instead of typing, I like doing that too,” he said. Rodrigo also believes English will definitely help him in the future: “You need English to communicate with people, get jobs, and in some jobs you need proper English or else they won’t hire you.”

Lisbeth Espinoza’s choice was different from the others. Her favorite class is Nail Tech 2 because this year, they get to work with acrylics. “It’s giving us a chance to build and learn nails without nail tips,” she said. Lisbeth thinks most of her classmates would agree. “Everyone in my class seems excited to be working with acrylics.” But she also admitted not everyone is 100% happy because “we do have some bad quality supplies.”

From English to World History to Nail Tech, it’s clear that every student has their own favorite class depending on what makes them feel comfortable or interested. Whether it’s a teacher who really cares or friends who make the class better, these classes are helping students find something to enjoy about school.

Whether it’s any of those classes, every freshman has that one class that makes the day a little better. No matter which class that is, these experiences help freshmen discover their passions and strengths early on. Finding a class that excites and motivates them can make a big difference in their confidence and overall success throughout high school. As students continue to explore new subjects and develop new skills, they’re building the foundation not only for their education but also for their future careers and personal growth.