Getting ready for her junior year, Sophomore Elizabeth Huerta carefully decides which classes to take. Just like Elizabeth, sophomores across the school all had to make similar choices Wednesday during homeroom. Photo by: Logan Richards
By Logan Richards
PHS scheduling is taking place this week, and several PHS students are discovering that it is never too early to start planning for the future.
It all starts on one’s passion in life and finding a career that suits that passion. For example, Junior Daniel Johnson plans to be a computer engineer. When asked what classes he plans on taking and why, he said “I plan to take Advanced Computer Applications, and Web Design because I want to major in computer engineering…” It is the same case with Sophomore Matthew Pearson who said “I plan on taking chemistry, biology, anatomy, etc. because I plan on going into medicine, and it will be nice to have gotten into the swing of the classes that I will likely be taking in college.” It could also be as simple as “getting [the] best grades I can get and taking classes that I need so I can go to college,” adds Junior Kendall Fosler.
Graduation requirements also weigh heavily upon the decisions of a student when he or she is making his or her schedule. When asked what diploma track he was on, Junior Daniel Johnson said “Core 40, it helps me to pick a more variety of classes.” Sophomore Hope Babcock also said, “I am on an Academic Honors Diploma Track, scheduled to graduate a year ahead of my current class (so I will graduate in 2013). It greatly affects my scheduling, and I have had to work around getting in all of my academic classes, as well as trying to find classes that will fit my lifestyle. So yeah, it has been a big factor.”
Several students also enjoy the fact that PHS allows students to have the freedom of choosing his or her own classes. “I like being able to enroll myself in classes for next year. It makes me feel like I have more freedom to choose,” says Junior Matthew Sarna. Sophomore Elizabeth Huerta agrees by saying, “I think it is nice because you get to choose what classes you are going to be happy with.” Freshman Lisa Carnegie also agrees by replying, “Because it helps me get my goals set, and figure out what I want instead of them thinking about what I want, putting me in classes I do not like, so now I can like my classes and do better.”
There are many things that come into play when students are making their schedule for the next year. But the primary deciding factor is what career one wishes to pursue, and it is never too early to start preparing for one’s career.
Watching Mrs. Portteus instruct them, Mrs. Gifford’s homeroom students carefully enter all their classes into Powerschool. Photo by: Rebeca Lee