As students return from winter break and enter the second semester, their schedules are reordered and changed with new electives. While some of the added courses are requirements, schedules are also filled with many student-picked electives chosen from a wide variety of options that allow students to learn more about things that interest them. The Seven Hills School brings fresh opportunities for learning as they have introduced three new elective choices for second-semester juniors and seniors: Leadership and Action, Anthropology, and Sports Performance.
Leadership and Action is a course that provides students with a set of skills and values that can be applied to life outside of the classroom. Through discussions and real-life experiences, students practice the key skills of organization, team-building, time management, and communication to help them become the best leaders they can be. Senior Laikyn Burton has taken similar electives in the past and said, “I would recommend people to take this class because the experiential learning courses are extremely valuable and can teach you how to be a better person.” The course is primarily taken by seniors, which is beneficial because it sets them up with strong leadership skills that can help them as they get ready to leave for college. The Leadership and Action class develops and grows skills that serve not just the students but the world around them as well.
Anthropology fosters a sense of connection and appreciation for human cultures and pushes students to question what it means to be human. The class focuses deeply on students’ similarities and differences and explores the values of culture, religion, race, language, and gender throughout human evolution. Senior Max Faison said, “I am interested in the cultural aspect of the course and am also curious to see how psychology can go hand in hand with anthropology.” Through lectures and activities, students are put in a place where they are able to ask complex questions about the development and evolution of the human race. Not only does the class bring awareness to the uniqueness of humanity, but it also brings a sense of connection as students learn about how cultures, languages, and values intertwine.
Sports Performance is a goal-oriented course that centers around each student’s individual interests and allows them to establish fitness-related focuses that they work to achieve throughout the class. Student goals range from improving their athletic performance to learning more about physical health and skill development and increasing their overall activity levels. Junior Rona Asefa said, “I hope to come out of this class physically and mentally stronger, and I also want to improve my skills for squash.” Classes consist of strength, skill, and cross-training days that are specialized for the student to help them reach their set goals. Through the leisurely and adjustable structure of the course, students are able to pursue their athletic interests at their own pace and change their goals to fit best for what works for them.
Overall, the addition of Leadership and Action, Anthropology, and Sports Performance as electives available to juniors and seniors gives Seven Hills students new ways to explore their interests, develop important life skills, and grow both academically and personally as they move through the second semester and get ready to become either a senior in high school or a freshman in college. 
