Hannah Koch (284)

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are an essential part of Central High School’s rigorous curriculum. However, when people think of an AP class, they usually imagine the grueling experience of AP Chemistry or the abundance of cramming required for AP United States History. What if AP classes didn’t have to be such a struggle? I took AP Human Geography in my sophomore year, and to this day, it has been one of my favorite courses. There are a variety of AP classes offered at Central that are designated as “non-core,” or AP classes that do not replace any core classes and take up an elective spot. AP Human Geography, a mix of maps and statistics about people and how humanity has impacted physical geography, gave me a deeper understanding of the world around me and is a fun AP class that didn’t greatly contribute to my stress. It’s a great experience for any students interested in geography and the ways our world ticks.

But why should a potential elective spot be filled with an AP class? While there’s more work associated with an AP course, compared to a normal elective, Thomas Monahon (283) gave his reasoning as to their importance, “I think one of the big problems that people at Central have is that they don’t know what they want to do in life. A lot of people here have spent their whole life just getting through school with never having explored any potential career interests.” Thomas took AP Computer Science A in his junior year and said he would “absolutely” recommend it as a way to explore a potential career in the technology industry. AP Computer Science focuses on the science of computers, as well as coding and project-based learning. When asked about the benefits of taking a non-core AP class, he said, “If you’re capable of handling the extra workload and you want to push yourself, then it’s a great decision.” There can be a lot of rewards in learning hard material, but it’s important to keep your sanity intact as you explore more difficult subjects.

Sonita Vang (284) had a great time in AP European History. AP European History is an elective course exclusively taken in sophomore year and works in tandem with a student’s English II Honors class. Because of this, Vang said, “it was easy to form a community within the classroom.” She focused more on the positives of having a class that suited her interest in the humanities, recommending it “if there are people interested in history” and looking for a more “hands-on” experience. As Vang explained, “I think I had more fun in it fueling my interests, rather than getting something from it that I would consider being part of my career path.” Central students tend to forget that learning can be fun, swamped with assignments that sometimes feel meaningless. 

Sophia Lauwidjaja (284) is currently enrolled in AP Seminar, with a focus on the African Diaspora. This course is the prerequisite to AP Research, and as the name suggests, both classes are heavily reliant on research projects and activities. “It’s pretty fun being able to research anything you want because we get to choose our research topic,” she said, describing the class as “one of the easier AP classes.” The course also rewards its students with an AP Capstone diploma upon completing both AP Seminar and AP Research. Sophia explained that some of her favorite classes she’s taken at Central were AP classes: “I feel like it really brought in your knowledge, especially in humanities, you get to research things that you normally wouldn’t do in your regular courses.” Non-core AP classes offer a unique opportunity for students to take initiative in their education while also gaining an insightful perspective on the fun that learning can provide.

If you look hard enough, there are AP classes at Central that are manageable within the difficulty of a college prep school, while being enjoyable.