Juniors face big decision in picking senior science

By Sama Allam

Just like students decide which language they’ll be taking for the entirety of their high school years, students also decide which science they’ll take during their senior year. With the year coming to an end, next year’s incoming seniors have submitted their senior science choices.

As a junior, you’ll have the three options of chemistry, physics and biology.

Chemistry

chemistryAbbi Harb, an outstanding chemistry student, chose chemistry because of her love of the subject and desire to enjoy her senior year. “I would recommend chemistry to anyone, because it’s not so much memorization as it is understanding how atoms and different particles work.” Overall, Abbi’s experience in her chosen science remains positive and she encourages others to explore chemistry as well, based on her own experiences.

Physics

physicsDr. Hickernell, more commonly known as “Doc,” teaches the senior science physics class. After teaching physics for 19 years, Doc still retains his love for teaching the subject. “It’s fun to really explore those fundamental ideas and see how they come together and explain a lot of physical phenomena.”

Nile Vanood, a senior taking senior physics, enjoys the subject and tackles it with ease, appreciating the wide use of formulas and equations rather than the memorization of facts. Nile comments on the practicality and effectiveness of the class. “There’s nothing pointless . . . you’re just learning about what you want to learn and what you have to learn.”

Biology

biologyAnd last but not least, biology is the last of the senior sciences. Taught by Ms. Tobin, who has over 20 years of teaching experience, this senior science class is different than its counterparts. A continuance of its introductory class in ninth grade, senior biology incorporates aspects of the other two sciences. This subject is not to be overlooked in comparison to the other sciences. Biology remains prevalent in the STEM field, and taking the class senior year provides insight on the procedures of the STEM field educations.

Choosing a senior science can be as exciting, fun, and daunting as it was picking a foreign language during eighth grade. In summary, a student’s experience of the sciences before their senior year fuels their final decision of a senior science. So, upcoming juniors and seniors, be thinking about which science you would take again come senior year!