The Art of Thinking Small

10 December 2024Pearl N, Hope ‘25

The rain has begun to fall steadily again, painting Mill Bay and our campus in shades of silver and grey. The wind whistles through the tall evergreens, scattering leaves and debris across wet paths. Students pull their jackets tighter as they hurry between buildings, their faces flushed from the cold. Anticipation fills the air, as we wait for the rain to turn to snow and for winter to really arrive. However, the anticipation of microeconomics students lies in one thing: the AP Microeconomics exam.

Brentwood offers over 20 Advanced Placement (AP) courses; among them is a clear standout: AP Microeconomics. It is an introductory, college-level course, where students cultivate their understanding of the foundational concepts that apply to buyers and sellers when making decisions. This is achieved by utilizing models to describe specific economic situations and predict and explain possible outcomes with data and graphs. Some of the overarching topics that students learn about are marginal analysis, supply and demand, market failures, and the role of the government in the economy – all of which will enable us to make smarter economic decisions.

Ms Napier, with a BBA from Wilfrid Laurier, a BEd from Brock, and an MBA from the University of Victoria, is an Economics and Business teacher and the Senior Girls Basketball coach here at Brentwood. Admittedly Microeconomics is generally not the easiest of subjects, however, Ms Napier has a way of making even the hardest of concepts feel not only clear, but also engaging. “Her passion for the subject shines through in every lesson” says Stella P, Alexandra ‘25 as Ms Napier pushes students to look past the graphs and numbers by showing us real-world examples that have allowed us to discover that the course is truly about critical thinking and seeing the world in a new way.

With only 150 days between us and the AP exam, Ms Napier states that she is “excited to see students’ critical thinking grow as we tackle more complex ideas and prepare for the AP exam.” As the exam approaches, tension builds, pushing students to delve deeper into the material and spend a few extra hours a week studying. Karter P, Privett ‘25 explains “I have already started reading up on the units ahead, which will, hopefully, ensure success and a 5 on the AP exam.”

AP Microeconomics is not for the faint of heart as it requires numerous hours of dedication and a great deal of time and energy, however, it is extremely beneficial. It grants students the necessary tools to become “smarter consumers, better decision-makers, and more insightful future business leaders” expresses Ms Napier. It is a vital course that has enabled me to view the world through a different lens. It has been crucially important in the wake of recent elections, wage gaps, and income inequalities, which has shifted the very foundation of my perceptions.

Pearl N, Hope ‘25

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