Everyone has their own pathway in life and that includes what high school classes you decide to take. As a senior who has taken different types of classes with varying levels of difficulty and has talked to friends about the classes I didn’t end up taking, here’s my advice on what classes that you may want to look into taking during your time at Hastings High.
Classes to take if you want to have fun:
- Tiger Cub/ Newspaper: This class always ranks high on my list of favorite classes because it is engaging, fun, and there is quite a lot of freedom. Most people think about a newspaper class as purely writing stories about the school, however, it is so much more than that. We frequently talk about current events happening around the world or in the school and what our take is on them, which I think is a good break from other classes. If you have a knack for taking pictures or broadcasting at sporting events, this class can also be really fun for you.
- Spanish: My personal experience with learning how to speak Spanish in high school was very positive. Although I understand it is a challenge to learn a new language, these classes offer the most engaging learning environment and the spanish teachers in our school are pretty funny. Another huge bonus about taking Spanish, or any foreign language, is the trip you can take during Spanish III or IIII depending on what year it lands on. Going to Costa Rica was a once in a lifetime experience; we got to go river rafting, cliff jumping, waterfall walking, and so much more.
- Pottery: Although I can’t speak much about this class from personal experience, one of my friends tells me she really enjoys taking pottery this year and I wish I would have taken it too. Last year, I wrote a story on the pottery projects being made and I was so impressed by how talented pottery students are. If you’re a creative person, this class is definitely for you.
Classes to take if you want to be prepared for college:
- World Literature: This is the number one class I would recommend taking if you want to be prepared for college. It taught me how to analyze books past their obvious meaning, which honestly is pretty interesting to think about. My essays also have improved dramatically. The writing style Mrs.Sorgenfrei teaches is one that college professors expect you to be writing in, yet most english classes still teach the standard five paragraph essay. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself, regardless of the rumours seniors pass down telling underclassmen not to take it. Colleges will appreciate you challenging yourself all four years of high school.
- Physics: This class is taught in a way that really makes you use critical thinking to set up and fix a problem instead of just giving you automatic answers. This is an important skill to bring to college because many professors will not be as willing as high school teachers to walk you through problems step-by-step; succeeding in college is usually up to you. Being my only B in high school, I can testify that this class is by no means easy, but if you put in the time and effort, it will help you in the long run.
Easiest classes:
- American History: Honestly, I don’t even like history, but this class was a breeze for me and my classmates. Mr. Johnson is a very understandable man, therefore he will tell you exactly what to study before each test. One top of that, if you like games you will definitely like playing current events once a week in American History. It is very hard to not succeed in this class, so if you’re looking for an extra class to fill up your schedule, this is one of my recommendations.
- Intro to Business: I didn’t take this class because my schedule was booked each year, but I have heard that it carries an easy workload yet still covers essential life lessons. I especially recommend this class for students looking to major in business in college. However, even for someone who isn’t interested in that, you can take financial tips and tricks with you to college and use them as you start your journey in life without help from parents.
- Orchestra/ Band: I participated in both band and orchestra in high school. The nice thing about these classes is that there is no homework, other than an occasional playing test at the end of quarters. If you are someone who has a knack for music or the arts, taking an instrumental class can give you a new hobby and it looks good on college resumes.
Hardest classes:
- Calculus: As someone who has never really liked math and struggles with thinking outside of the box, calculus was very challenging for me. However, I do not regret taking it and I actually persevered and got an A in the class. This class gives students a glimpse of college-level math classes but it is still taught at a high school level pace. If you’re looking for a challenge and you see taking advanced calculus classes a part of your future academic journey, this is the course for you.
- World Literature: I will not lie, this class is hard in respect to the heavy workload that comes with it. There will never be a day that you do not have chapters to read, a quiz to study for, or an essay to write. However, the material is not that challenging; you just need to be willing to know that many hours of your week will be spent working on homework for this class. That being said, good grades are totally achievable in this class, especially because revisions are allowed and as I previously mentioned, this class will prepare you for the many papers you will write in college.
