It Is Just A College Prep Class

Being in AVID has not only helped me with my academic work but also provided useful information that I will use throughout my adulthood. Yes, AVID is known for teaching students how to stay organized and help students keep their grades up, but if I hadn't joined AVID I never would've learned what it takes to buy a house, own a car, how to do taxes, etc. I believe that it's crucial for students to learn how to stay organized not to mention, find methods that could help their college life easier.

First, electives are important for students because they would allow kids to learn new things.“ These classes could help students find out what they enjoy about themselves while potentially helping them get into career fields,”according to Danielle Diehl,vice president of Future Business Leaders

Many people wish to finish as many classes as they can before college. Instead of taking an advanced class during college, many students want to get the classes out of the way and take it with a teacher that cares about if they pass or fail. For example, most of my schedule is full of more advanced classes. I take these classes so I will not have to

Those who disagree, believe middle schools should not have electives because students should focus on academics. According to Grace Chen (Chen),“Another cause of the declining elective courses is due to the increased testing demands..” Although that could be true, elective classes are good to have in middle school because electives help students to want to learn extra and be more focused. When you chose a class you are most likely going to close a class you are interested in. It also gives students a chance to find what type of classes they are good at and not so good

I became part of the AVID program in eighth grade, I had no clue what the program was about; most of the time we worked on subjects that we needed help on, learned how to be organized, and practiced public speaking by having small socratic seminars. In a way, the tactics that my eighth grade AVID teacher taught me helped me become successful for my college preparation it helped improve my grades in the classes that I was struggling in and pushed me to take challenging courses. In my sophomore, junior, and senior year of high school, I spent my time reviewing different schools around the state and out-of-the state browsing through the financial aid assistance, majors and minors, location, and diversity to choose from. Junior year was the best

I will disagree with those people because, students shouldn't take those classes unless they want to. If they don't, they're going to have a hard time in that specific class. If they're put in art class for example, most of those students either won't like the class, or just don't know how to draw. If students want those classes, they should choose it as one of their electives for the following year. Students should not be required to take music, drama, or art class unless they feel comfortable in it and will like it. There could be a student who wants to be an engineer, and is in a drama class, that makes that student look awkward because, everything he sees, he'll use his imagination and make it have to do something with engines.

I think Rose’s words, “Students will float to the mark you set.” can relate to many students. During my high school years, I always had many teachers push me to my limit and a guidance counselor who made sure I applied to College. I decided to attend a community College but some of the teachers made me a bit lazy. I remember in one class, I was sitting for 2 hours to watched a Disney movie. It just wasn’t motivating. I think a teacher’s lesson plan is very important. Students will only float if a teacher pushes them to.

As students were forced into their growth of knowledge in elementary school and middle school by continuously being taught basics, in order to prepare them for high school and beyond, they get to gain their freedom and decide whether or not they want to meet their teachers’ marks in high school. Throughout the school year, there comes a time where students have to sign up for classes. By having this choice, students can decide on how they want to challenge themselves in the next school year. During my two and a half years of high school that I have conquered so far, I learned that in a classroom setting there are students who take advanced courses, enjoy the subjects that they chose to take, and try their best to get the best grades that they can receive, in order to prepare them for their future in adulthood. However, there are also students who do not try or realize the importance of the free education given to them because they do not have an interest in the subjects that teachers are teaching them or are just being forced by their students to attend school. Some teachers try their best to bring out the motivation in these students who do not yet see that education is power and freedom, but there are also teachers who ignore these helpless students that are blinded by the present things that affect them like popularity or living with the motto that “you only live once”, because these teachers do not have the inspiration in the

The most important experience that has positively impacted my academic performance is being in AVID for the past 5 years. AVID is an acronym that stands for advancement via individual determination, a college preparatory class that helps prepare you for college, get organized, and set goals. I have been enrolled in AVID since 8th grade learning how to become a better student, improving study skills and the way I communicate with the students and teachers around me.

Being a part of AVID means I am able to challenge myself and take AP classes while having the support of my peers. Considering following the path of either becoming a math teacher or accountant, I am taking AP math classes now to gain a better understanding of what I am expected to know and how I feel on the subject. I’ve always being fond of math, AVID has helped realized that I am considering this route.

Learning is the single most important aspect of any school education. Being able to retain the content and apply the information is much more important than simply memorizing facts. Earlier this year, I had initially started to take a certain class that would not benefit me in the future, and instead create an abundance amount of stress for me, as I had no interest in taking that course and was merely taking it to fit the norms of other students. Soon after, I realized that taking a different class that actually interested me would be more beneficial, and thus I would be able to focus on my other courses of high levels. This switch genuinely allows me to develop a much higher level of commitment for my other classes and help me retain the information for future purposes.

One piece of advice that I would give to an incoming high school freshman would be that you should not worry about what other people think about you. You do not need to impress anyone and you most certainly do not need to try and change yourself for that person. There will be people in your life who try and make you do things that you normally would not do and maybe are not comfortable with. Do not let someone change you. If that person does not like that you do not do something that they do, or act how they act, chances are you probably should not be hanging around with them.

Alyssa Pracz, a journalist at Northern Star, makes the point that “[p]rofessors, however, tend to teach the material as if everyone taking the class is planning on majoring in the subject” when, in reality, students just see the class as another general education course. Additionally, students struggle in some of the subjects which have nothing to do with their particular majors. Pracz also states, “As a result, many students' grades suffer, sometimes to the point of lowering their grade point averages so much that they are unable to get into the major they planned on pursuing”. Ultimately, if a student has a huge passion and dream for his life, and cannot pass a certain general education course then his whole future is foiled. General education classes are redundant and do not aid the student whatsoever in cultivating skills required for his future job. Colleges and universities think general education courses are helping students when they actually are hurting them.

First, it can make the course more meaningful and students do benefit from it. Students’ attendance to the classes is no more a disturbing thing, because they should take responsibility for the decisions they have made. On the one hand, they have great passion for the courses they have chosen. As a saying goes, interest is the motivation of for doing anything. When there is an extraordinary interest, there is a strong heart to go through plenty of tough matters. Provided with the proper courses, there is no doubt that the talent of the students will be explored thoroughly. On the other hand, teachers could communicate with the students better instead of watching the students sleeping or going blank. Successful classes not only require teachers’ wonderful speaking or preparations, but also students’ critical thinking which means that they should be the owners of knowledge and take an active part in the classes’ discussions. So it has to be admitted that this will contribute to the effect of the classes.(Choose Their Own Classes)

I believe that a student should be able to choose some of the classes that he/she is interested in. This is the basis of the existentialist philosophy that was developed in the nineteenth century. A student should be allowed to choose classes that they are interested in other than the classes that are required by the school curriculum. Even though