Is education meant to drive passion and curiosity or is it an obligatory system focused purely on what comes next? Is every class — whether in the sciences, humanities, or the arts — taken to satiate a desire to learn or to impress? Students have watched with distaste and a budding sense of fear as college institutions compete with one another for this concept of ultimate selectivity. It leaves highschoolers to wonder, has our education become only that to impress, to construct a transcript “worthy enough”?
Berkeley High School offers a myriad of niche and interesting classes: Forensic Science, Ceramics, Biotechnology, and LGBTQIA+ Literature just to name a few. These classes provide an opportunity for students to dive deeper into a sub-topic within a larger overarching field. In an education culture fixated on results, peer competitiveness, and apparent class rigor, students must take advantage of the classes that speak to their academic passions. Education driven by curiosity, by internal motivation, will not only spark passion in students, but ultimately allow them to learn more effectively.
Working with interest, often doesn’t feel like working at all. Finding an academic passion, whether it's engineering, art, or science, may feel challenging but a challenge that is worth it. According to Oxford University, workers are 13 percent more productive when they are happy. Hence, encouraging students to take classes they are interested in will increase their productivity. This is why programs such as Biotechnology are so influential. The Biotechnology program not only appeals to students interested in the fusion of biology and engineering, but also allows them to dive deeper into specific topics through summer internships. In addition, Biotechnology is a two-year- long program, allowing for students to have an additional year to learn more specifics, cultivating their passion and motivation.
According to CollegeVine, “course rigor is one of the most crucial factors considered during the (college) admissions process.” Taking an AP class instead of a non-AP could be the extra push a student may need to get into a school, but in the end would it really be worth it? Is spending that hour everyday for 180 days, not for curiosity but for appearances worth it? Although getting AP and IB credit may help you skip certain college classes, getting a specialized experience in a topic one is passionate about could greatly aid a student’s future. On the contrary, if a student is taking a rigorous course and genuinely enjoys it, then it will be well worth their time investment.
Although specialized classes provide students with unique experiences, they can involve drawbacks when compared to standardized advanced classes. Classes like AP Language and Composition not only provide students with an extra boost to their GPA but also with a standardized experience. In college, if a majority of students have been taught the AP Language and Composition curriculum and that level of English knowledge is expected, then taking the class would ultimately be beneficial for a student.
Being aware of the rather self indulgent nature of selectivity in college institutions and prioritizing academic subjects of interest in return is a fine line. From jazz, to art and photography, BHS offers a variety of levels for most programs. Students can be aware of the paradoxical nature of our education system but nevertheless, it's the one we have. By compiling a basket full of rigorous yet specialized and interesting courses, BHS students can maximize their BHS experience while also preparing themselves for college.
Students must indulge their own passions to maximize their learning outcomes. Mixing and matching passion courses with rigorous college-prep classes is the ideal solution. By doing so, students ensure they are both academically stimulated and prepared. And, who is to say that passion courses cannot be rigorous in and of themselves?