Electives: Take Your Pick

There are 46 electives offered at Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Out of these 46, freshmen have 18 to choose from. These include French; Spanish; creative woodworking; drama; graphic communications; journalism; media production; photography; ceramics; drawing; design and draw for production (DDP); introduction to computer science; band; chorus; music theory; Chinese culture and history; current events studies; and world religions.

Freshmen have been in their electives for 15 weeks. As eighth graders they had to choose what electives they were going to take as high schoolers. Many worried about being with their friends and others frantically tried to choose the easiest classes that could boost their GPA.

Freshman Austin Hyatt takes media production, photography and DDP. Hyatt made his decision by asking upperclassmen what electives were "good, fun and easy." He was also advised by his friends to take certain classes with them.

Freshman Claudia Lee wasn't advised by others, but tried to choose electives that sparked her interest, which were drawing & painting and band. "I knew right away that I wanted to continue playing the saxophone," Lee says. "Mr. Nuzzo has a different style that is bad and good in some ways. But overall, it's fun."

Freshman Nick Bono, who also takes media production, says that the class is "very fun and entertaining. It's worth spending 82 minutes of the school day [there]." Bono says he will continue to take media.

Freshman Darius Sias takes drama and loves it. He took drama at his old school and plans to take it throughout high school. "It's so much fun. So, so fun. The students and Mr. Goldberg are really cool," he says.

Though for the most part freshmen like their electives, some really don't. Freshman Fitemah El-Hindi takes drawing & painting and ceramics but says "they're boring. They're 82 minutes of nothing."

Freshman Jenna Togni, who also takes drawing & painting and ceramics, says she hates her electives because they're boring. However, she is going to continue to take them because they are already in her schedule.

This is a common reason freshmen continue their electives. Other freshmen have said that since their electives are already in their schedule, it's easier to keep them than dealing with the hassle of changing classes.

Upperclassmen have gone through at least one year of electives. Many recommend drama with English teacher Joe Goldberg. Senior Allison Herholtz says the class is really fun and that Mr. Goldberg is wonderful.

Sophomore Ash Masrani simply says that drama is "beast." Masrani also recommends photo because "who wouldn't love having a camera with them all the time taking pictures?"

Senior Abe Khatib recommends drama because it's fun and you get to express yourself. He also advises freshmen to take chorus and African American experience. Khatib says he actually learned a lot from African American experience.