Electives offer a chance to switch up your schedule so you have opportunities to do things you love between academic classes.

But when there are dozens of options, it can become overwhelming, especially for incoming freshmen.

According to The Handbook, students are required to obtain three elective credits in order to graduate.

These must be distributed across at least three program areas: career and technology education, community service, performing arts, and visual arts.

Unless, that is, a student chooses to do an elective pathway in order “to explore and develop a strong interest and passion.” Pathways are arranged through guidance counselors and allow students to fulfill all three credits in one particular area.

Senior Dean Pontius has enjoyed doing art for all of his life, so it was only natural that he chose to take the visual-arts pathway. He has taken Art Studio, Drawing I and II, and Painting I and II.

“I didn’t really go out of my way to fulfill the requirement,” said Pontius. “It just happened because of my interests.”

To freshmen, Pontius recommends exploring the many options offered before delving into one pathway.

“Electives are a great opportunity for kids to try things they wouldn’t normally and get out of their comfort zone,” said Pontius. “They should make sure not to only take certain classes because that’s what they’ve been doing throughout their life and is what they are comfortable with.”

Senior Suhani Rathi followed the performing-arts pathway by taking Choreography and the Beginning Modern/Jazz class; she is currently doing an independent study with dance teacher Christien Polos.

“I tried dance and made friends and liked it, so I stuck to it,” said Rathi. “I think that if [incoming freshmen] try something and love it, they can do a pathway. But I’d say they should do a mix of things until they find that interest.”

Sophomore Fletcher Hartman has found that interest in theater and plans to complete the performing arts pathway because it is convenient.

“I don’t want to go through the hassle of first doing drama and then doing something like ceramics,” said Hartman. “At least by doing drama, I’d get to use past experience in a course to do another course.”

Sophomore Jessup Straus is another theater enthusiast. Like Hartman, he plans on completing the performing arts pathway, but his reasons are very different.

“I already have a goal for myself as a career to be a drama teacher,” said Straus. “So that’s why I’m sticking with drama, so that I can get experienced.”

Straus is currently enrolled in Drama II, and although his experience in Drama I helped him develop as an actor, he said it gets more challenging when you advance in a pathway.

“Drama I was lighthearted, whereas in Drama II, we are doing more serious stuff,” said Straus. “In Drama I, we did a lot of comedy scenes, but now there are more genres out there in Drama II.”

Straus has explored other electives, such as cooking. Despite the performing-arts pathway, he definitely plans on taking cooking again if he can fit it into his schedule.

Pontius does not believe increasingly competitive college admissions is a factor when it comes to course selections.

“Colleges do like to see that people have a genuine interest in something, but I don’t think there is much pressure on kids to take as many electives as possible,” he said. “There is more a focus on finding a passion and using the resources available to pursue that passion.”

Ayush Kumar can be contacted at [email protected].