As I start to select my electives for next year, my friend sends me a message. What electives are you choosing? Now, obviously, they’re not asking me to dote on my choices, so they must be asking so they can take what I’m taking. That might be the only scenario in which I would not answer someone’s message. It’s the time of year when course selections are finally out, and students have to gaze at the long list of course options. Electives arguably can be the highlight of your day, so it is important to choose electives you’re interested in. However, many students choose electives based on what their friends are taking, which can lead to a lack of overall interest.

Electives require a willingness to participate in the class out of passion. If you are not passionate about the subject, participating in it can feel excruciating. To ensure that students get the full benefit of an elective, it would be best if all the students in the class are genuinely interested. 

Additionally, there is no guarantee that you will get into the same class as your friends. For instance, if it is a semester-long class, then you have a fifty-fifty chance as long as one teacher teaches the course. However, more often than not, semester classes have different teachers. So when students compare schedules with their friends and are shocked that they’re not in the same class, they go to the guidance office. This could’ve been avoided if they had chosen something they were genuinely interested in. 

Now, let’s assume that you and your friend chose the same elective and ended up in the same class. Most electives have assigned seats. In two out of three of my elective classes this year, I had an assigned seat. So that gives another motive to choose an elective you’re interested in. 

In conclusion, when you get that message, you should kindly explain to your friend that they should choose an elective they’re interested in. Electives can be a relief from the repetitiveness of a school day, and you have a very slim chance of being in an elective with your friends, taught by the same teacher, and sitting next to each other.