If you have a future in medicine, biological research, or if you simply love science, AP Biology may be a class on your radar. It is taught by the wonderful Mrs. Ahlert, who makes her classroom a safe and open space. Some of you may already know her from freshman year biology.

You will come to learn all about how amazing life is and how it is so interconnected, from the components of a cell working together to excrete a protein to how our actions as humans affect the world. One of the best things we did in this class was reenact the endocrine system, also known as the hormone system.

I must admit that the class is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of homework, including lab reports for most labs (though all but the first are done with your lab group) and multiple take-home assignments. Additionally, many of the topics are very hard to understand, especially the earlier ones in the class that are heavy in chemistry. However, with hard work, studying, and Mrs. Ahlert’s dynamic style of teaching, the class is very fun.

After signing up for the class, there is a summer assignment that goes over the basics of biochemistry and organelles that you will then go over in depth in class. Afterwards, you have a small unit on evolution and the origin of life followed by a few large units on cellular processes such as body systems and the cycle of cellular respiration and photosynthesis. You will also have a take-home assignment to teach you about ecology during these units.

After a unit on cell reproduction and cancer, there is a midterm to give you an example of how the AP test may feel. Then, you will go over a few more units of genetics and evolution. You will round out the time before the AP test with a little bit of botany and review. Throughout this time, you will see each lesson building on previous ones, especially from an evolutionary perspective. After the AP test, there are a few labs, including a pig dissection. Finally, Mrs. Ahlert likes to invite her past students who have graduated to talk about med school and their professions.

Overall, hard-working science lovers will enjoy this class. I thoroughly recommend this class to you all with a rating of 40 out of 46 chromosomes!