It’s a dilemma we all face towards the end of each school year: which classes do we put on those colorful course selection sheets? The possibilities are endless. Most of the time students find themselves relying on word of mouth for ideas about the best classes to take. It’s a gamble, though. Teachers retire or move to some state in the middle of the country. Sometimes a class, like the legendary Film Studies, isn’t even offered the next year. Here I have compiled a list of enjoyable classes with consistently humorous and competent teachers that do their subject justice.

Marine Science

While the multiple overnight trip opportunities are an obvious reason to take Marine Science, the in-school components should not be overlooked. No matter which teacher you get, you are virtually guaranteed a year of rigorous fun and amusing anecdotes. The feeling of pride after completing one of the numerous projects for this class is unmatched in any other class at GHS. And it’s hard to see any downside to a class that offers a two-week trip to Hawaii. Senior Alexandra Ndegwa says going to Hawaii was “the best thing I ever chose to do at Garfield.” If you’re looking for an easy science class, Marine Science may not be the class for you, but the rewards for hard work are enough incentive for most students to stick with it.

Sculpture

Sculpture is the perfect class for any kid who is interested in not only making celluclay figures, but also making friends. Celluclay, if you’re not up to date on your current arts-and-crafts terms, is a delightfully mushy gray substance that shows up a lot in Sculpture, a class similar to the now defunct Crafts Design. The best part is you don’t even have to be a skilled artist to enjoy the class; it’s almost more fun to sit around laughing at the futile attempts of your new friends to make a clay self-portrait or foam board interpretation of their entire family.

Journalism

We’re at a time in our academic career when most classes are conducted lecture-style in a stuffy, sleep-inducing classroom. Journalism breaks the monotony with a more experiential learning curriculum. “Miranda’s bringin’ the field trip back,” proclaimed junior Erin Gurley, referring to the much-loved trips that Beginning Journalism classes take to research articles. Trips to places like Pike Place Market and Chocolati are all part of a challenging class that manages to thoroughly teach students about journalistic writing in a fresh way.

Photography

Photography is one of the most sought-after electives at Garfield, and for good reason. The darkroom in room 228 is the most magical place at Lincoln, always promising awkward but cute run-ins with random kids you may or may not know and opportunities for bonding with them over your developing pictures. This class introduces you to the thrill of using a pinhole camera, developing your own photos, and setting up the ideal artistic shot. For a low-key elective with the promise of entertaining people in your class, look no further than Photography. Who knows, you may even bump into that beautiful senior you’ve had your eye on in the dark room.

AP European History

This is the first AP class many people take at Garfield, and almost everyone can attest to the fact that the first quarter kicked their butt. After getting used to actually studying on a regular basis, most students find AP Euro to be thoroughly enjoyable. Part of what makes it such a great class is the breadth of the knowledge you gain. One anonymous student described his AP Euro teacher as “one of the most straight-talking, emotionally mature teachers” he’s ever had. Students come out of this class with many touching life lessons you might not expect to get from a history class. For instance: don’t wear white gym socks with dress shoes. Seriously, though, heed the anecdotal advice of the European History teachers, because they know more than just names of Renaissance artists.

Global Technology Academy

GTA is more than a class at Garfield. Students who refurbish old, donated computers in class have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel to a foreign country and install those computers in underserved schools. Trips have been run to every continent except Australia and Antarctica, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see students heading to either of those places soon. What’s particularly remarkable about these trips is the level of student leadership, with kids responsible for figuring out the logistics of lodging and food. “These trips really open your eyes,” said Shantea Cardenas, a junior who traveled to Tanzania last year and is helping lead this year’s trip to Ghana. “I expected Africa to be completely undeveloped, but we stayed in cities that are nearly as modern as Seattle.”

While this is not a complete list of the great classes at Garfield, these are the ones that leave the best impressions with students at the end of the year. Hopefully when the end of the school year rolls around, we can all put some thought into the classes we decide to take, instead of forging our parent’s signature and scribbling out random class on the course selection sheet the day it’s due.