{Source}
The transition from junior high to high school is a roller coaster of a ride. With the pressure to make the best academic decisions, choosing which classes you are going to take are either very easy or very daunting. As a Grade 10 student, I speak from experience when I say that filling out my course registration form made me sweat. I was given the choice to take all 10-1 courses, all Honours courses or a mixture of both (partial honours). While I have my strengths and weaknesses in the subjects, I was still stumped. Did I want to join my friends who decided to take 10-1 courses or partial honours, or do I choose something that will challenge me? The decision was ultimately mine. In the end, I chose to register for the Full Honours Programme at my high school, which would allow me to move on to the International Baccalaureate Programme in Grades 11 & 12.
All high schools are different, but if the high school you are going to offers an Honours and I.B. Programme, I recommend that you read further for more information. If you are in that position where you don’t know exactly the courses you want to take, or what courses you do want to keep taking, here are some things to consider:
1. There are “Recommendation for Success” percentages for Honours, 10-1 and 10-2 classes.
If you are given a course selection booklet, the courses will most likely have a “Recommendation for Success”. The main purpose of this is so you can reflect on which level of a course you are likely to do your best in terms of academics. Depending on your mark in the subjects you are taking right now, you would be suited for either an Honours, 10-1 or 10-2 class. Another reason as to why the recommended percentages are there is so you are aware that the people who will be in your classes are like-minded. This will make learning in your classroom environment more comfortable. Although you do not have to follow the recommendations, it helps in making the most out of your high school experience.
It is also important to remember that the level of the courses you take do not define the person you are. Rather than suiting your classes, the classes suit you so you can academically succeed!
2. There are minor differences between Honours and 10-1 classes.
Going into high school, I was skeptical as to how challenging my Honours classes would be in comparison to the mainstream classes. However, I was quick to learn that the main difference between the two levels is that the Honours classes, especially the core subjects, will teach extra lessons and/or higher-grade lessons. This means that despite being in grade 10, there were 1-2 lessons dedicated to the grade 11 curriculum. For example, in my English class, we had a unit on Greek Mythology, which the 10-1 classes did not have. As for my Science class, we learned about Stoichiometry during our Chemistry unit. Lastly, for Math, we learned about the basics of Factoring, but also had lessons and a quiz based on grade 11 Factoring. The grade 10 and 11 lessons are not dramatically different, but they are challenging and allow you to expand your knowledge!
3. There are also differences between partial and full Honours classes.
With all my classes in Honours, I knew that I would be taking extra courses as part of the program. For example, I had to take an Honours language course (French or Spanish). I chose to go with French, as I had been learning the language since grade 6. I wasn’t very confident going into the class, but to my surprise, it ended up being the class I enjoyed the most! Also, as part of the program, it was required that I take the Religion 25 (grade 11) course as well. I found that taking Religion 15 (grade 10) in the first semester better prepared me for Religion 25 this semester! Lastly, I had to take the CALM online course this year, rather than next year in grade 11. This course teaches you to make the best lifestyle choices for yourself through interactive discussions and quizzes. Despite the additional requirements, they are courses that I do not have to worry about next year.
4. Taking Honours classes allows you to move on to the International Baccalaureate Programme.
If you plan to apply for universities outside of Canada, taking the I.B. Programme would be very beneficial! In simplest terms, the I.B. Programme at the Diploma (high school) level comprises of courses that set an international quality of education for those who want to study abroad. Not only do you take courses that provide a better understanding of the world, but through essays and volunteer work, you are able to become a well-rounded student. For further information on the I.B. Programme, click here. The courses you take in Honours are the courses you are able to take in I.B. Although I cannot say much about the I.B. classes, they do take a lot of commitment in order to do your absolute best. Nonetheless, I am excited to start the 2-year curriculum in September!
{Source}
5. The courses you register for are easily changeable. You can switch out or into a class with the help of your counselor!
The main difference I have discovered between junior high and high school is that there are more resources available to me now. The initial schedule that you get is not written in stone, so if you decide that a certain course is not right for you, you can talk to your counselor about making changes. Also, by simply booking an appointment with them, they can help you choose the classes you want or need to take in order to fulfill the criteria to get into your university degree/program of choice! It seems crazy to already be thinking about university, but if you have your heart set on a certain profession, it is best to take classes that relate to said profession.
But, if you are still figuring things out, that is 100% okay! You are not the only person weighing out their options when it comes to their future. But, what I do suggest is considering whether or not you will be taking all 3 sciences: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. I.B. students can only choose to take 2 out of the 3 sciences in I.B., as not all 3 can fit into their schedule. But, if they plan on taking all 3 sciences no matter what, they will have to take one of them in summer school. For 10-1 and 10-2 students, it is possible to fit all 3 sciences into their schedule in grades 11 and 12, so if they decide to go into a program where they specifically need Physics, for example, they have that prerequisite!
6. There are expectations no matter what.
In the 6 months I have been in high school, what I have learned to embed into my brain is that no matter the level of a course I take, there are expectations from teachers (and myself) that I have to meet. This does not only mean academic-wise, but my contribution and work ethic during class. It is easy to slack off and leave everything to the last minute, but there is a reason why you chose to be in an Honours, 10-1 or 10-2 class. Your peers expect you to work hard. It may feel like they are constantly pushing you, but they do so for good reasons. The paths people take during high school branch out so differently, but they all eventually meet when they graduate and celebrate their successes.
7. The course choices are for you to make, so don’t feel obligated to take something you do not want to take!
Having a close-knit relationship with your friends and family makes it difficult to make decisions without some kind of help from them. However, although their opinions are important, you are the person taking the classes, not them. We want to make the people we care about proud, period. But, this does not mean that we also have to make things harder on ourselves by taking a course that we cannot see ourselves striving to do our best in. The reason as to why high school courses are so accommodating is because the ultimate goal is personal success. We now have more freedom to make choices that benefit us in every way possible.
When choosing your courses, think to yourself, “Do I see myself always aiming for greatness? Or am I just doing this because everyone told me to?” You are in charge of what you take out of your high school experience, so always seek to make it the best it can be!
I hope that these tips are able to better prepare you for your future high school courses! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me here or here.
“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.
You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
– Steve Jobs
Best wishes,
Kandace  🙂
