One of the greatest things about Akins is its academy based system, giving students the opportunity to explore careers in the form of majors.

But where everything gets sticky is when there is a student who does all the work of majoring in two separate programs, but can only receive recognition for one of the majors. That’s the current policy at Akins.

Currently, there is no way to officially earn a double major at Akins. The practice is common at the university level, however a few students have been granted this honor in the past if they pleaded their case to top administrators. Typically, however, most students are denied this opportunity.

The logic behind the denial is that students are actually earning an honor cord for their academy based on the major sequence that houses it. Students taking regular core courses can only take their core classes in one academy, there- fore only able to earn the cord for one academy.

As stated previously, in recent years Akins has had students “double majoring,” double majors have been cruelly denied.

For perspective, put yourself in their shoes. Say your main major is a fine art, but you’ve also been tak- ing all the classes for a nursing ma- jor. You’ve dedicated yourself to completing all of the work for the two majors. However, when your senior year comes around, and you’re told that you will only receive one cord at graduation to recognize your achievement of completing a program of study during your time in high school when you really finished two.

You’re being denied the freedom to experiment and expose yourself to new things, and the original external motivation to continue to excel has been stripped from your possession.

To be frank, the current policy doesn’t do the deed. The administrators should separate the awarding of the cord from their primary academy and instead give each major it’s own cord so each of the programs of study can be recognized at the graduation ceremony instead of just the academies.

This would give students motivation to explore multiple subjects and give students the experience necessary for the future. The school should formally recognize this dedication to expanding their horizons to multiple areas of study.

With the introduction of a new principal, hopefully the rigid structure of the academy system will become more fluid a system that gives students a little more room for self improvement and exploration.

Making 30 extra colors isn’t going to kill anybody. Students will be happier, and the problem will be solved.