Not a Cage, but a Compass

February 20, 2026 - Sofia Ramaraju (11)

The Weight of a Word

Registration. A simple word, yet one that carries significant weight to anyone who's ever been present within an educational environment. For years, registration has been marketed as something that will “soothe your troubles," “ease your worry,” and most of all, “lay the foundation for the rest of your life,” college, and beyond.

These phrases contradict one another because the idea that class registration determines your entire college experience—and even your future career—eliminates any sense of relaxation or ease you may have had, especially for those unfamiliar with the process.

This notion isn’t born in high school; it begins the second you step foot into middle school, maybe even before. While some may feel this prepares students for the pressures and stresses of high school registration, in reality, it has the opposite effect, as it places unnecessary emphasis on finding an absolute path or career and pushes students to make rash, nuanced choices when picking classes. It falsely portrays your initial schedule as a cage—a permanent decision that determines the course of your future.

The stigma around class registration is why students' anxiety and stress levels often skyrocket when the process begins. 

William James, a renowned psychologist and philosopher, once stated, “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” 

His words offer an insight into what we, as students, should be chasing: the truth.

Because of this, I interviewed Hough High School counselor Mike Toscano to gain insight into the realities of class registration and to help Hough High School students better understand the process.

To do so, I began with questions about accessibility and equity in the process. Mr. Toscano has emphasized that guidance from counselors is equally accessible to all those attending the school, regardless of whether the student may have fewer resources. He explained that counselors meet individually with students to ensure everyone has equal access to guidance. Therefore, the stress surrounding the process stems from misconceptions about its permanence, as each student has the time to individually confer with their counselor and pose any questions regarding their schedule that they may have.

Who really guides the process?

As far as class selection goes, students often feel a lot of stress because they take on the responsibility of doing everything themselves. However, Mr. Toscano stated that they (the counselors) “ensure that students are taking appropriate classes that are tied to whatever their post-secondary plans are.” Therefore, students need not take it solely upon themselves to determine the exact direction or requirements of their classes, as they’re offered sufficient advice should they need it. This applies to class readiness as well! Counselors review students' past performance and determine whether they are prepared for a given class, and offer guidance accordingly. Furthermore, Mr. Toscano clarifies that the counselor-to-student ratio and the timeline for class registration provide significant time and opportunity to offer aid to each student when choosing classes, thereby making the process a collaborative effort rather than an individual one.

Deciding Your Life at 15

The pressure of ‘locking’ yourself into a career path through class registration early in high school is very real. As previously stated, it’s a prevalent aspect of the stigma surrounding high school class registration. However, Mr. Toscano addressed this notion during the interview. In response to the inquiry on whether students ever feel locked into a path too early, he stated, “...students may ‘feel’ they’re locked into a certain path; the reality is, it is never too late to pursue a new career path.” This is crucial to understand, as high school is all about intentional experimentation. A career you intend to pursue when you’re 15 years of age is often unlikely to be exactly what you wish to pursue when you’re 18 years old. Therefore, ‘locking’ yourself into a career path mentally at 15 years old is reparable, and as for class-wise--adaptable.

Limitations

Despite its many advantages and adaptability, class registration also has some limitations. For instance, the amnesty week policy that has been in place for the past two years is the week-long period in April or May during which students may request course changes. At the end of this week, students' class changes can no longer be accommodated. However, this knowledge should not cause any additional stress, as the school provides students with an entire semester to address any potential errors in their class registration and finalize their choices. Mr. Toscano emphasizes that this timeline offers students sufficient time to confer with their counselors, parents, and/or peers on the matter of class selection--thereby preventing or amending any issues or conflicts within their schedules. Mr. Toscano also describes another limitation to personalizing class schedules as the periods when classes are offered, which he explains are, at times, “hard to ‘match up’”. While scheduling conflicts can’t always be avoided, administrators — such as Mr. Toscano — say this extended timeline helps minimize their impact.

Shift Your Perspective

Mr. Toscano’s parting words expressed his guiding philosophy: “balance.” To elaborate, he states that balance should always be a priority throughout class registration, as, in his words, “there is only so much time in a day and so much capacity for each student”. Therefore, each student should ensure a semblance of balance when selecting classes. He also revealed that students' schedules would not be released in August, right before school, as they had in prior years, but rather on May 1st. When I inquired about the significance of this change, he explained that it means more time to “work out any scheduling conflicts well in advance of the following school year”. This will be considerably beneficial to students, as it increases the opportunity to adapt their class schedule to their needs or preferences.

Redefining Registration

Adaptability. This is a word often seen to be the opposite of registration. It shouldn’t be. When understood properly, registration isn’t a trap — it’s a tool. One that is bound to evolve with you.