Exploring passions, pitching possibilities: White Plains High School hosts elective course fair

Students at White Plains High School explored future academic pathways during an elective course fair held last week in the Media Center, where teachers transformed tables into interactive showcases designed to spark curiosity and conversation.

The fair, open to students in all grade levels, featured a wide range of electives spanning science, humanities, engineering, business and the arts. 

Among the offerings were Weather, Climate and Natural Hazards, The Graphic Novel, Aerospace Engineering, Latinx Studies, Psychology, Constitutional Law, Business Law, Music Technology, Anatomy and Physiology and Forensics. AP stalwarts in government, business, literature, language and biology also were represented.

Rather than relying solely on a course catalog, students were able to walk from station to station, speak directly with teachers, ask questions and get a hands-on sense of what each class entails.

“This gives students a chance to hear about courses from the people who actually teach them,” said business education teacher Jesse Drury, who presented advanced offerings for upperclassmen. 

“We offer so many electives that it can be overwhelming on paper. This lets teachers pitch their courses and lets students decide what really fits them — and honestly, a lot of times, students choose a class because they connect with the teacher,” he said.

Mr. Drury noted that the fair was structured to accommodate student schedules, with different class periods visiting over two days, ensuring broad participation across grades. He said the format mirrors a process students won’t even encounter later in college.

“In college, you just read descriptions and hope for the best,” he said. “Here, students get to ask questions, see materials and even meet students who are already in the class.”

For sophomore Lindsay Rosales, the fair helped sharpen interests she is already developing.

“I’m definitely interested in psychology,” Lindsay said. “This makes it easier because you hear more details and even get input from students who already take the class.” 

She added that her long-term interests lean toward criminal law, making electives like psychology and forensics especially appealing.

Freshman Adriana Sanchez said she is still exploring possibilities but appreciated the chance to start thinking early.

“I’m not totally sure yet,” she said, “but I’m interested in writing. I think it’s good to start thinking about what you like now, even if college feels far away.”

At the forensics table, science teacher Maureen Nimphius fielded a steady stream of questions about one of the school’s most popular senior electives.

“Forensics has mature content, so it’s a senior elective, but students are fascinated by it,” she said. “They see crime scenes and forensic science in the news and on TV all the time. Fingerprints, ballistics, crime scene analysis — it really captures their attention.”

Anatomy and Physiology teacher John Hughes said his course consistently draws interest from students considering careers in health care, as well as those simply intrigued by hands-on science.

“It’s a great class for students thinking about nursing, respiratory therapy, or other medical fields,” Mr. Hughes said. “Some students take AP Biology if they’re aiming for medical school, but others want a course that gives them a solid foundation without the intensity of an AP class.” 

He added that dissections and models are often what initially draw students in.

Throughout the Media Center, students circulated freely — stopping at displays for anatomy, robotics, design and science research — making the fair feel like what one student described as a “one-stop shop” for exploring academic interests.

By the end of the event, students left with brochures, new ideas and a clearer sense of what electives might shape their schedules next year — and, in some cases, their futures beyond high school.