Reflections of Havergal: 1994-2019

Appendices

Course Selection BTI , September 2014 By Nicole Shum

Course selection seemed stressful enough back in the spring. However, just when you thought it was all over, it’s come back for you. Some of you may be extremely pleased with your courses that are organized in a perfectly balanced schedule. You seem to have your favourite teachers, your friends in your classes and your electives are subjects you truly enjoy. It’s simply been a pleasant start to the 2014-2015 school year and you’re slowly waiting for this year to pass by. On the other hand, some girls are probably struggling to fit the puzzle pieces together from their rescheduling. Either the courses they want to switch into interfere with their current schedule, or the other class blocks that need to be moved are already full. And for the girls in the senior grades, it may be even more stressful as they have to select the right courses that will lead to specific career paths for the years ahead. After asking everyone in your grade about course blocks during the first two weeks back and finalizing the brand new schedule in your head, you feel like a huge weight has been pulled off your shoulders. Next thing you know, you arrive at Guidance only to find out that one of the classes is already full. The tedious cycle begins all over again. For any student at Havergal, throughout the year and especially around September, your best friend is your Guidance Counsellor; however, you may feel like you can not reach them when you need them the most. Don’t blame the counsellors for any delayed replies to your emails and guidance appointment requests! They have a huge responsibility during the first two months of school. They have to manage timetable changes for the entire Upper School, along with university application inquiries from all the Seniors. So even though you’re stressed, know that you’re not the only one! In a school with over 200

students in Grades 11 and 12, it can be hard for Ms. Grant and Ms. Johnstone to see everyone right away and accommodate time for other work in the Guidance department as well. It is regularly found that the Reverend Canon Bell gives thanks to specific department s throughout the year and it is definite that the Guidance department deserves HC’s blessings this month! One important thing to remember during these hectic first few weeks of school is not to be too hard on yourself. Pace yourself to ensure that your schedule is balanced and manageable. If you try to form a schedule that’s comprised of the most time consuming and academically challenging courses you’ve never enjoyed in the past, you might not perform as well or achieve the grades you desire by the end of the year. Although the courses you take may “open doors” for your future, there’s always time to change. Your final choice of courses won’t determine your life. Perhaps you thought it would be wise to choose the courses that seem the most beneficial for a future career, but in the end, no matter where you are in life, you’ll always go back to do the things you love and enjoy the most. So relax, and don’t stress over course selection too much girls! There’s a lot more you can do to enhance your school experience along with your basic foundation of courses, including joining co-curricular activities and clubs, playing in sports teams or organizing your own initiative. To the Havergal girls, think carefully about the courses you want to take. After all, you have until October to make all your changes. Afterwards, dive deeper and take a moment to ask yourself what school means to you and what you want to personally get out of this year. The courses you take are only the foundation and building blocks to a great 2014- 2015 year!

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