Electives are a basic concept in middle/high schools. In Osbourn, students are lucky enough to have many choices for freshman year and even more choices as they get into higher grades. They help them branch out to new things and activities and even some things that they could do outside of high school or after. These optional courses cover a wide range of subjects, from art and music to computer science and foreign languages. Electives provide students with the chance to develop new skills, discover new interests, and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. By allowing students to choose their electives, Osbourn empowers them to tailor their education to their individual needs and aspirations. Overall, electives play a crucial role in helping students become well-rounded individuals with diverse knowledge and experiences.

Some electives can be stressful. For example, the teacher could be hard on you or you don’t understand what’s going on. You could take an elective that isn’t up to your level of knowledge, or you just don’t understand it. It could be hard to comprehend what is going on in the class, or it could be too easy for you. But, it’s different for everyone.

“I wouldn’t say that any of the electives I’ve taken have been particularly stressful, and they shouldn’t be. If an elective is adding to your stress, honestly, drop it. However, a lot of teachers are willing to work with you and your schedule,” said junior Victoria Ingram.

There are some electives that can seem hard or they are hard, but you could learn to grow on it or decide to stay in to stretch your knowledge about the topic. It might be best for people to get themselves out there so that they can learn more about the topic and maybe they could do it outside of school as well!

“At first, I wanted to change my choir elective, but over time I grew to love the class and the teacher! I also wanted to shift to Heritage Spanish 1 because I found it challenging, but I decided to challenge myself to stay in that class and put in all my effort to do my absolute best,” said freshman Katerine Rios.

Some people might like the elective because they like that it’s easy, they have a bunch of friends in there, or even because they like or know the teacher! There are many different reasons, but I believe those to be the main three.

“The theatre teacher, Mr. Scofield, is good at teaching and allowing us to do fun activities that are still educational in class,” said freshman Jackson Doll.

Like I mentioned, some electives can be used outside of school, Some people might just want to do it as an ‘in-school’ thing. It all depends on the person’s beliefs, what they want to be in the future, and more. Some people could be doing a Performance Arts class, but they would like to be a nurse when they are older. Or do a computer elective, but want to be an artist when they are older.

“I don’t think so to be honest. Theatre is just a fun hobby of mine. I am not prepared to do anything beyond local or community theatre,” said Doll.

“I feel it will benefit me outside of high school, because the electives I chose help me be better organized, they help me be myself, and they help build up my character and my confidence in the school field,” said Rios.

“This is my second year of theatre. I didn’t participate in any electives during freshman year, and that’s something I regret. So I’d recommend freshmen try a few things, even if you’re not sure what you’re interested in yet. Electives are a great way to explore that, and you can find great communities of people there, too,” said Ingram.

There are many different electives in Osbourn. But if you know any upperclassmen who can recommend electives, you should ask them! It can be hard to choose electives if you don’t know what they’re about or if you’re nervous about what to choose for your elective. You might want to go into an elective and when you do, it might be different than what you thought.

“For underclassmen, I would recommend something that isn’t too much of a time commitment, but that’s really up to you and knowing what you have the time and energy for. Go for something you’re interested in and not just something you feel you have to take — if that’s an art class, take art class, or if you value a community class, like leadership club, take those. If that’s a sports elective, like Weight Training or Advanced PE, do that. Electives are supposed to be fun,” said Ingram.

Electives are a good way to branch out to see what you like or what you would like to do in the future. they can benefit your growth and make you a better person! you could even make new friends in those classes, who could be long-term or teach you a lesson about people. Remember, always pick your electives before the end of the year or your counselor will choose them for you!