Electives inspire students for future careers
Intro– Here at NPHS, electives guide students down a multitude of career paths. From wood working to entrepreneurship, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of different subjects. Electives help students discover their newfound interests or lifelong passions, while preparing them with real world skills.
Woodshop– Under all of the saws and screws is a dedicated class, taught by Kristan Atkins in room E8. Woodshop is a series of classes that not only help foster an environment for growth, but work to teach students responsibility.
Inspired by his grandfather who was a carpenter, Quentin Wurz, junior, joined the wood shop program in his freshman year. Wurz has taken three courses with Atkins, and currently is in Construction Technology. “This class is a CTE class where you will learn how to use lots of useful hand tools and power tools. Through the year you get to make projects as well as make optional personal projects,” Wurz said. Students believe that the freewill they have to creatively work towards constructive goals helps woodshop stand out compared to other CTE classes.
Writing– The writing electives at NPHS allow students to express their creativity. Lyla Stewart, freshman, has enjoyed her time in Creative Writing, an elective taught by John Abney. Creative Writing students learn about poetry, conflict and building stories. “The longest piece I’ve written in this class has been my short story final. Our short stories are whatever we choose to write about and continue working on throughout the year. My story has been one I’ve wanted to write for years and actually writing it for a project has been amazing,” Stewart said.
In addition to Creative Writing, Introduction to Journalism is another writing-based elective that often receives strong feedback from students. Journalism students learn skills like understanding laws and ethics, which not only shape the way they approach writing, but also media consumption. Ishana Bajwa, freshman, enjoys the preparation the class has given her. “[Learning the introduction material] is really important if you’re thinking about going into journalism seriously,” Bajwa said. Bajwa also enjoys the collaborative aspects of the journalism classroom environment.
DECA– Necessity for creation and the need to make a direct impact on the world motivates the future entrepreneurs of America. Here on campus, there is an entrepreneurship program, led by Ryan Thompson, that teaches students the inner workings of the business world. Thompson teaches two courses of Entrepreneurship and is the adviser of Distributive Education Clubs of America [DECA].
As the president of DECA, Eloise Cardenas, junior, organizes club meetings and leads fundraising events. Cardenas believes that taking a part in DECA has positively impacted her life by presenting her new opportunities and the ability to meet new people. “Being in DECA has allowed me to develop concrete people skills and real life business skills which are difficult to encounter as a highschooler,” Cardenas said.
Medical– Medical jobs are essential professions, and NPHS’ medical electives aid students’ preparation for future majors and careers in the medical field. Some of these electives include anatomy, medical terminology and sports medicine. These classes work to create an environment for students to explore different niches.
In medical terminology, Lorena Caulfield helps students like Maya Beilke, sophomore, succeed in class with different classwork. “We do matching games to help us memorize material, visual representations [drawings and charts,] interactive activities such as taking blood pressure and heart rate. The class involves a lot of partner work [so we] get to interact with others,” Beilke said.
In anatomy taught by Jennifer Lockwood, Izzy Steiner, sophomore, learns about the medical field with exciting hands-on techniques. “I really enjoy the different labs we participate in,” Steiner said. In these medical electives, students can take part in various activities like dissection and taking blood pressure. By working with her peers, Beilke can learn more about the medical field. “[My favorite part of the class is] the group work and learning about the body’s structure and anatomy because it helps me be aware of what’s working in my body and helps for the future,” Belike said.
Conclusion– NPHS electives offer students a variety of different classes in several professional fields. Students can learn how to build in woodshop, write intricate stories in creative writing, learn about the business world in entrepreneurship and learn all about the body in anatomy. Having these classes gives students opportunities to explore and experience different niches and careers. With the help of teachers, these electives work to prepare students to achieve their goals and succeed in the real world.
