By Jeremy Romero Williams
Central High School
Sean Chesira, a senior at Central High School, said he thought taking challenging courses during his last year of school was a waste of time.
“ I think taking challenging courses my senior year is a waste of time and effort. Why should I put extra effort in algebra, when my career will have nothing to do with algebra?,” Sean said.
He isn’t the only senior who feels that way. In an informal survey, seven students at Central High School said they thought that taking challenging courses was a waste of time.
According to the American College Test college planning website, high school students should take four years of English and at least three years of mathematics, including algebra I, geometry and algebra II to ensure a successful future in college.
“Take the roughest, most rigorous classes you can take,” said Andy Prewitt, a guidance counselor at Central High School. “Examples: If you have the opportunity and the qualifications to take an upper level math, take AP calculus or statistics. Colleges look at the strength of a student’s curriculum.”
High school students are also recommended to take three years of science including biology, chemistry and physics and three years of social studies. Some colleges and universities require other classes as prerequisites for admission, such as two or more years of the same foreign language or courses like visual arts or computer science.
Tenth through 12th grade counselor at Central High School Lance Allred agreed that students should not take easy classes their senior year.
Allred said, “College prep(atory) courses should always fit the future plans of the student;, this includes electives. All college- bound students should be enrolled in core courses. Every year, even when it’s beyond graduation requirements, such as a fourth year of science and social studies. Electives should be treated with the same importance. For example, if a student is planning a career in law, writing and speech courses are very important.”
Not all students think that taking college preparatory classes is a total waste of time. Students like Gadafi Ali, a senior at Central High School, realize the importance of taking college preparatory classes.
“I think of the level of difficulty and ensure that I am being challenged,” Gadafi said.