As the school year draws to an end and course registration is fresh on everyone’s minds, many students look to next year. Students must mentally prepare themselves for a difficult course load or get ready for a low stress year, or, ideally, a mix of the two.
The skill of getting a well balanced schedule is no small feat. Art teacher Mr. Scott Rodgers, who teaches ceramics, explains that many students wait until their last year at Haven to take an art class.
“I often get seniors in Ceramics who just could not get into the class previous years, just because their schedule didn’t work out, or because [the class] was full,” Scott Rodgers said. “The seniors end up being really good at it and or they really like it, and then they regret not getting into it earlier.”
When it comes to fitting classes into a schedule, it’s all about prioritization. Often, math or science is prioritized above art in the lineup, whether by the students themselves or by the adults in their lives.
“We don’t get a lot of 10th graders, because they’re encouraged to double up in math or science… The counselors are going to push for kids to get their maths done as fast as possible,” Scott Rodgers said.
For some students, however, the priorities are different. Senior Pearl Tweedy, for example, works out her schedule around art classes.
“In my junior year, there was only one Chinese 3 class and there was only one Art 3 class, and they were like, are you going to do Chinese?” Tweedy said. “I was like no, I’m going to take art. I love taking art classes… I’ve always kind of known my academics can come later. I want to take my art classes.”
A lot of kids haven’t made that switch, prioritizing academics — at least for now.
“I want to take an art class because that’s my passion, but academic-wise, I have to focus on that too,” freshman Jolin Chen said.
Chen still gets to be creative at school, however, as she goes to art club during fifth block on Wednesdays in art teacher Mrs. Jennifer Rodgers’ room.
“It would probably be the way to [do art without taking a class] here at Haven,” Jennifer Rodgers said. “Other ways would be to take outside art classes, like at the Community Arts Center or at MooreCollege of Art, they have weekend classes for teens.”
Ultimately, most students find a way to fit at least one creative class into their schedule somewhere, even if it’s only for the fine and applied arts credits.
“It’s good to throw a class in so that you can be creative,” Scott Rodgers said. “You can use your hands, you can make stuff. I would advise you to strategically try to create that schedule so you build that into your life. But, and if it’s not… building with your hands and you’re not good at that… take guitar. Be creative in other ways.”
Another popular way to be creative at Haven is to participate in music ensembles, which take place during fifth block, and count for arts credits as well.
“I would encourage everybody to explore joining a music ensemble, specifically choir, because it’s a really great community of human beings,” choral director Ms. Lindsey Reinhard-Silva said.
Along with the opportunity to be creative and make new friends, an art or music class can be an oasis for de-stressing in the middle of a long, busy day.
“Take an art class instead, because it’s really good for you,” Jennifer Rodgers said. “It’s good for your brain, your mental health, and it uses different parts of your brain, which is just going to help you in your academic classes.”
Each opinion represented in The Panther Press is the view and voice of the writer. Opinions, as the selection and curation of content by the editors, do not represent the views of the entire Panther Press staff, the adviser, the school, or the administration.
