Just when students thought they had their schedules figured out, the second semester decided to switch things up.
At the start of the second semester, many high school students are receiving new class schedules, changing class periods, teachers, and even lunch times.
Schedule changes happen every year for reasons like balancing class sizes, adding or removing electives, and meeting graduation requirements. While some students are excited about new classes or friends, others are upset about losing classes they enjoyed or adjusting to a new routine.
For some students, seeing a new schedule brought excitement instead of stress. Emmy Grant, a sophomore from Bullitt East, said she felt excited when she first saw her new schedule because it felt like the first day of school and a fresh start, giving her the chance to meet new people and start fresh. However, her schedule changed completely. Emmy said, “When my whole schedule changed, it was hard adjusting, but also more interesting since everything felt different.
While new schedules bring new opportunities, they can also mean saying goodbye to classes and friends. Emmy said, “I miss my first-period honors English class because it was a relaxed environment and I had many friends in my class.” At the same time, she said she gained new teachers and friends she liked.
One change that stood out was lunch. Emmy said her lunch period changed, but she likes it more because she has more friends in her lunch than she did before. When Emmy was asked if she thinks schedule changes are fair for students, she said, “It depends on the student; some students want changes while others prefer to keep the same classes, showing that schedule changes can affect students differently.
