Period powers student learning

Students arriving back to Lakeside High School saw a change of schedule. Power Period, a half-hour elective period with no grades or homework became a part of student life.

Although heavily criticized from its inception, Power Period has become a refreshing break from hectic school life - if used correctly.

At the beginning, I admit that I was skeptical about the usefulness and relevance of Power Period. After all, how was I supposed to care about a 30 minute class with no grades or responsibility? I came into my first Power Period like most students, convinced that I could gain nothing from the elective I had chosen.

However, once Power Period came into full swing, I noticed my friends' excitement about their Power Period classes.

As a debater, I signed up for a debate power period which inevitably saved me massive amounts of time researching after school. My teacher and peers are also around to help me if I need any help, an invaluable asset for any debater.

My other friends choose to have more fun with their Power Periods. Not only were they taking a wide variety of classes, from learning Japanese to studying art history, they were surprised to see how immersing the classes were.

The credit for this success is due mostly to the teachers, who care enough about what they teach to teach it correctly. Their enthusiasm for the subjects directly translates to the students, who begin to care about learning.

And that is the essence of Power Period. It's not so much about cramming for tests and quizzes as it is about developing a taste for a subject. Every five weeks, students are switched to another Power Period to learn about another diverse topic.

Sure, they may not become experts by the end of each session, but if a student cares, he or she will become a more informed individual. Power Period is knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge. Isn't that the point of school, anyway?

Osama Hashmi is a senior at Lakeside High School.