Every year, students across Lexington High School sit down to choose their classes, and the process usually starts the same way: fill in the requirements. English. Math. Science. History. Maybe a language. Then, if there’s room left, electives.
That order makes sense on paper, but it also sends an underlying message: electives come last, and should be treated as optional rather than essential. In reality, electives are often the classes that shape students the most, as they give students room to explore new interests, stay motivated in school, and create balance in an otherwise demanding schedule.
If high school is meant to prepare students for the future, electives do something just as valuable: they help students discover what future they actually want.
The fact that electives are chosen solely by the student means students often choose classes they are passionate about and explore parts of themselves that don’t fit into a graduation requirement. Students choose from studio art, computer science electives, debate-based classes, psychology, business, or wellness-focused courses. At LHS, electives range from more traditional offerings like photography and marketing to more niche classes like Anatomy and Physiology.
“Electives are pretty much your only opportunity to pick courses that appeal to your non-academic interests,” Xinyuan Lin, a senior at Lexington High School, said.
For some students, electives are what keep them motivated. Lin said that after taking several art electives, “most of the time the workload doesn’t feel like work, especially when doing what I love.”
When students care about what they’re doing, they show up differently. They take more risks, they push themselves, and they stop viewing learning as something to get through.
“To me, electives gave me more freedom and a chance to discover what I actually care about learning. I would tell underclassmen to choose electives they’re genuinely interested in. This way you will enjoy the class more and gain more out of it if you actually care about the subject,” Malhotra said.
Electives also give students something many schedules can miss: balance. With so many students trying to increase their course rigor, it’s easy to start viewing every period as something tied to working toward college rather than a choice based on interest.
“A lot of people get really worried about what will look good on their college application. I feel like my biggest guiding principle is doing what I enjoy. That mindset is important because electives can be the space where students prioritize curiosity and well-being, not just achievement,” Sireeta Banerjee, a junior at LHS, said.
Electives are not something that must be figured out immediately, as high school is a time when students can explore a variety of classes without long-term consequences.
“Keep an open mind and explore outside your comfort zone,” Eva Mehta, a junior at LHS, said, as electives are meant to be a chance to experiment, not to commit to a single path.