While Ludlow High School prides itself on its wide range of classes, clubs, and activities, its electives need some work. Many students, including myself, feel limited by the shortened list of electives. Meant to be a fun and useful escape from class, electives are supposed to give students a chance to follow their passions. But due to the decrease in options, many students have been forced to take DLTs or classes they don’t enjoy-leading to many missed opportunities. 

Colleges like to see students participating in many after school programs and activities, especially ones that correspond with their major of choice. Electives could allow students to hone in on the area of the subject that truly interests them. Personally, I would like to major in something related to English, with a concentration in creative writing. However, creative writing is not a focus of the English curriculum, so I do not get much of a chance to practice or receive feedback on my work. Unfortunately, this is not a problem that only affects English, as many subjects are facing similar problems. 

Many of the electives offered at LHS are only focused on certain subjects. Although these programs are valuable, they are not beneficial to a large number of students who have different interests or goals. Instead of offering a handful of electives for one specific subject, there should be a wide array of options. For example, there is a series of art, music, and food electives, while other core subjects have no electives offered for them. This could potentially be because they are required courses, but for students with an interest in pursuing careers in these fields, it is a huge setback. Electives for core classes would give students a chance to get a better understanding of the subject and solid experience in the field. 

This past year, a popular LHS teacher, Ms. Doney, was relocated to the Middle School due to budget cuts. Although the Psychology I elective remained, the Psychology II class was cut. The effort put into offering the first class is much appreciated by many students, and it is important to broaden out the subjects of electives, however, a second year class would be deeply beneficial. It would not only prove to colleges that students are dedicated to their futures and care about their work, but it would also prepare them by letting them know if they have a genuine interest in the topic. 

Both students and teachers can agree that electives are imperative to the success of the student body. They are more than just a filler class-they allow students to uncover who they really are and what they are interested in for their futures. Electives not only allow students to add to their repertoire, they also supply them with necessary real-world experience. Expanding the list of electives would allow students to explore various areas of interest and inspire them to pursue their goals.