Pre-Avid is a class all freshmen must take in their first year at Sahuaro. It focuses on computers and how to use them, along with all of our school’s apps and how they function. It teaches kids about choices they can make in their future, like how college impacts a person, what you need to do to get into college, and how much we actually need a high school diploma to get a basic income when we’re older.

But why? Why do we need a class not everyone will need in their future career, deeming it unnecessary for some people in high school? Although some people do need it because of what they want to do with their future, wouldn’t it be better if they made it more like a club or an elective?

I personally don’t like it because I don’t plan on going to college.  I still care about my grades, so I pay attention, but I feel like it should be an elective and not mandatory.  Freshman, Sarah Bol says, “I think it’s pretty boring.  I don;t think everyone actually needs it because we come into high school already knowing a lot of the things we learn in there.” Nya Brown, another freshman, also agrees. “I think it’s completely unnecessary. It’s just APEX assignments.  And the kids who do need it aren’t paying attention and learning anything anyway.”

One of the Pre-Avid teachers, Mr. Wharam disagrees and sees the value in the class, stating, “Pre-Avid is a class designed to give our freshmen the skills they will need in their classes as they prepare for the later years of high school. We also teach life skills that are valuable to students as they enter the workforce and adult life in general.” He also said, “I believe it is necessary, as we have seen many students that come into this class lacking knowledge of programs that the majority of the other classes use on a daily basis.”