Every student knows the feeling of sitting in a class that feels pointless. You study for tests, memorize formulas, and forget everything after the summative. It’s not that students don’t care; it’s that the system doesn’t give us the tools to engage in class. High schoolers are expected to fit into one sole mold, no matter their interests or future goals. When we’re forced to take classes that don’t connect to what we love, learning becomes an incredibly tedious task. That’s why I believe students should have more freedom to choose the classes they take.
High school students deserve the right to shape their education by choosing classes that align with their passions and career paths. Giving us control would increase our motivation, performance, and help us be ready for our future.
One of the biggest problems with the current system is how disconnected our classes feel from real goals. Mariana Echavarría, an eleventh-grade student, explained, “I feel like there’s some that interest me, but there’s a lot that I just don’t see the advantage of them. Like I don’t see why I need to learn calculus if I am not doing anything with math.” Many students feel the same frustration. When classes don’t relate to what we are building for the future, they lose meaning. Allowing students to choose more of their subjects would make learning purposeful, not just a requirement to graduate.
Another issue is motivation. When students feel in control of their schedule, they’re more likely to stay engaged. Echavarría shared, “I feel a lot more motivated in the classes that I chose to be in because I knew what I was getting myself into.” Gabriela Bohórquez, a twelfth-grade student, agreed, saying, “So, for example, if I really want to study psychology in the future, taking a psychology class might be better for me because I’m more interested and then I’ll do better on tests, on exams, on everything.” Choice doesn’t just make school more enjoyable — it directly improves effort and results.
Students also need flexibility to explore fields that match their goals. Gabriela explained, “Every year we only have the chance to take one elective, and last year I decided to take introduction to law, and I also wanted to take Micro and Macro, and I couldn’t do that because I could only choose one elective.” This limits how much we can explore future careers. She added, “If I want to study business administration, it doesn’t really make sense that I have the same education as a person that wants to study literature.” Personalizing classes prepares students for reality beyond high school.
Some argue that letting students choose too freely could cause them to skip core subjects they “need.” While a balanced foundation is important, that doesn’t mean every class must be mandatory. Mariana said it best: “You can’t base a fish on its ability to climb a tree.” Expecting every student to do well in the same subjects ignores individual abilities. A flexible system could still include essential requirements while letting students go deeper into what inspires them. Freedom and structure can coexist in education.
Our education system should be about growth, not just graduation. When students choose what they learn, they take ownership of their future. Mariana pointed out that “college help (…) is lacking right now in the education system,” and she’s right — schools should be preparing us for life, not just tests. It’s time to rethink education and give students the freedom to shape their own futures.