Looking to try something new? Want to explore and learn new things that may give you insight in to particular careers?
With one of the many elective classes in Kenwood students can explore their interests and maybe find their passion for a future career path. Kenwood offers a variety of elective classes, two magnet programs and a handful of hands on completer programs which all allow students to explore new and different subjects.
All students should take advantage of exploring their interests and potential career opportunities in high school. Ms. Glenn, who teaches the electives of Journalism and Yearbook adds, “I think the hope with electives is that people can take classes of things they’re interested in to explore as a career potential”. Choosing an elective class is also a great way to see what you’re interested in, if you are not sure. “I’ve had kids sign up for my electives because they love to write or want to work in communications, journalism, or law but learn they don’t like talking to people or they ended up in my class not really sure why and discovered they want to pursue a career related to writing, journalism, communication or law.”
Some electives are only a half credit so they are paired up with another like Creative Writing with Hip Hop Lyrics or several Social Studies electives. And some art classes require other classes you must take beforehand.
Besides electives students could also opt to explore our career completer or magnet programs. Our Sports Science Magnet program gives students insight in to sports management or sports medicine careers. We also offer career completers in carpentry, plumbing, teaching, graphics, culinary, JROTC and Aviation, as well as completers with world languages and college and career research and development.
“Electives are a really good way of giving you kind of an introduction to what a class may be about. So, for instance, something like psychology, if you have no idea what that’s about taking that class in high school might help you see that. That’s something you might want to explore more; it might help you see that. Electives are a good place to start to hone in on what it is you do and don’t want to do in your future,” shares school counselor Ms. Kramer.
If a student doesn’t want to complete a full completer program counselor Ms. Reeds adds, “Though courses like JROTC is technically part of a completer program, not an elective, students can take a class in one of the completer programs and it can count as an elective.”
Overall, elective and completer classes give you a chance to explore different careers. They’re an opportunity for students to discover a passion they might have not known they had. By trying various elective classes, students can gain skills and a clearer understanding of something similar to what a future career may look like.
It is currently enrollment season for courses next Fall. Now is the time to learn about the different electives and completers here at KHS and talk with your counselor about what classes you want or what classes would give you the opportunity to explore career interests.
Giving students the opportunity in high school to choose courses gives them ownership over their education. When students are able to choose a class they want, they are more likely to be engaged in the class.
What electives and completers are available vary from school to school. Kenwood offers a pretty wide variety so it’s important to take full advantage and feel like you leave KHS with a path paved for your future education and career.
Check out these past stories to learn more about our career completer and magnet programs:
Kenwood’s Completer Programs Prepare Students for Careers after High School
