In a sea of academic classes, electives and their creative appeal lure in students yearning for a way to showcase their ingenuity and aptitudes. From Photography to Spanish, the benefits have been apparent in the way that students become more motivated, or their advancements towards pursuing their career of choice. Elective classes let students recognize their strengths and provide opportunities that reveal skill sets that may not be recognizable in other core subjects. Achieving performance objectives or picking up a new tongue demands students to be organized, create ambitions, and assess their progress. 

Firstly, electives provide students with the opportunity to present themselves in ways that they desire. Many students are not always drawn to core curriculums, so by taking an elective and being a part of a community that shares the same interest, the student is able to truly express themselves. In the midst of the stress of a high school schedule, electives provide a respite in which students may focus on courses that they genuinely love and refine talents that they already have an innate ability for. Additionally, electives may display novel career paths and introduce students to unexplored knacks. These courses often provide a look into the special industry, providing them with experience that is unattainable through a core subject. By taking an elective, students are able to widen their horizon of skills and expertise to multiple specialties. By taking another course that may be very different from core subjects, students will be encouraged to organize their time and physical materials to maximize their learning and growth as much as possible.

The College Board emphasizes the significance of electives, saying, “School electives prepare you for tomorrow, setting the stage for new interests, college majors, and career paths. Although they may seem like simply ‘extra’ classes while you’re still in high school, electives can be critical to your future.” Yorba Linda High School Alumni Jessica Jackson perfectly demonstrates how critical these electives really can be towards one’s career. In an exclusive interview with Jackson, she begins, “I was always interested in photography. When I was younger, I used to steal my mom’s camera and take photos of my sister playing soccer.” Jackson’s initial love for photography led her into taking the photography elective during her junior year, taught by Yorba Linda High School’s Mr. Cadra. “I had heard so many great things about Mr. Cadra’s class, and I was excited to learn what the hype was about,” she continues, “(and) the following year I signed up for AP photography and absolutely fell in love with it!” Through the elective, Jackson’s initial love grew into true passion. “It was actually in Mr. Cadra’s class that I found that I loved photography,” Jackson recalls, “He did a great job of giving us projects that allowed us to explore all avenues of photography. I really fell in love with portrait photography in his class and was able to practice with my friends.” 

As a natural extension of Jackson’s devotion to the art, her skills acquired through the elective brought her to a new side job. “I (began) shooting senior portraits for friends and weddings while in college, (where) I ended up deciding to double major in photography and communications… I found my passion for wedding and couple photography while attending California Baptist University. My professors were so encouraging, and having a place where art was so valued really encouraged me on my journey to make this a career.” When asked how important the elective was to launch her into her career, Jackson explains, “Without taking photography as an elective, I would have never learned how to really use a camera, and I wouldn’t be doing photography full time now. I never imagined photography could be a successful career, but there are actually a few of us from that class that do it full time now.”