On Wednesday, January 28, students spent their lunch amongst boisterous laughter and curiosity as they explored classes for their future during AP Rush. Each booth was manned by persuasive, dedicated students that tried their best to show their peers what their Advanced Placement (AP) class had to offer.

AP classes are college-level courses that are offered to high school students so they can earn college credit, get a taste of the college experience, and enhance their applications for college admissions. Ayala’s wide variety of over 25 AP classes covering subjects such as biology, literature, economics, and art has long been a point of pride for the school community.

“Its important to have AP classes because it’s a higher level and you test yourself,” Sahasra Tirunagari (10), an AP European History and AP Computer Science student, said. “Ayala giving these classes shows that we have a wide range of options so every person who wants to do something in the future has a place where they could study and enhance their skills.”

All students stand to benefit from enrolling in these courses, as the rigorous course work upholds each scholar for a college level of learning. These classes are ideal for eager learners who want to sharpen their minds and work ethic.

“I learned from AP [classes] how to manage my time better and turn things in on time,” Sofia Argumaniz (10), a student in AP European History, said.

Many students represented their AP classes with pleasure, making each booth authentically their own with prizes, posters, and demonstrations. This form of advertising was enticing to those passing by, who stopped in interest at tables that caught their attention.

“I feel like it was more lively to be able to see what everybody thought about the academics that are provided here,” Charlotte Chen, a freshman in AP Human Geography, said.

The student involvement and overall school unity that AP Rush highlighted are what made the event especially notable. All grade levels could be seen excitedly interacting with each other in the courtyard, coming together into a beautiful picture of student participation.

“My favorite part was seeing all the booths come together,” Argumaniz said. “It was cool to see that the students did it themselves.” 

The event allowed students to clear up misconceptions about certain classes and share with others why they should consider adding an AP class to their schedule next year.

“A lot of people were able to understand more about the classes that they have heard of,” Chen said. “Before, the only class I’ve heard of was AP Euro, and that [the class] was hard, but when I talked to other people at the booth, I was able to understand more of what they thought of it, and how they’re doing in that class, and how the teacher is able to incorporate everything in. I feel like everybody was able to understand more than they possibly could online or anything else.”

This experience revealed students’ unique perspectives on AP classes that entice their peers more than teachers possibly could. Having intimate knowledge of what is appealing in a class for students, these representatives could confidently say what made their course special.

“We were able to get more of an insight about their ideas and their thinking, and how they were able to cooperate with others, their relationship with the different teachers, and the class work,” Chen said.

The successful fourth annual AP Rush proudly showcased students’ enthusiasm to pursue a higher level of learning through peer connection

“The diversity of classes showed that Ayala is committed to creating a unique learning environment where all interests and learning styles are valued,” Argumaniz said.