Alumni Advice and reflection

From Ivanhoe Grammar School IB alumni to prospective IB Diploma students:

Aleah Kink (Class of

2017)

Definitely choose the IB! Although it may seem daunting, trust me that nothing else will better prepare you for university than the IB. It was such a rewarding experience as not only did I learn a breadth of knowledge and get a chance to explore ideas and activities outside the classroom, but I also became close friends with the entire IB cohort due to the immense support we shared throughout Year 11 and 12. The EE taught me to be resilient as a result of the long and somewhat stressful drafting process, and allowed me to explore personal interests. I would never have had the opportunity to interview local members of the community and really analyse the immense contributions of refugees within Australia, had it not been for the EE experience. In addition, it forced me to balance my time throughout Year 12.

Olivia Leyden (Class of 2016)

I learned a lot about the 1948 Italian election! Also that any task which may initially seem daunting is easily accomplished by getting to work and breaking it down into a number of smaller, more achievable tasks.

Will Smith (Class of 2017)

If you are researching something that you are interested in, 4000 words isn’t enough!

Kevin Wu (Class of 2016)

The EE experience introduced me to academic writing. Conducting research and looking into peer reviewed sources from academic journals was a skill that proved to be invaluable during my studies at university. It also taught me the importance of consistently doing work every day to complete tasks of a heavy volume.

Jack Brenton (Class of 2017)

'Definitely give IB a go because it really helps your orgaanisational and academic skills in the long run. The EE experience taught me how to effectively conduct research and how to write a university-style academic essay. Knowing how to properly find and reference sources has been a vital skill after Year 12.

Which CAS Experience Did You Enjoy the Most?

Gandhi

My favourite CAS experience would have to be my involvement with the 300 Blankets Outreach program, Soul Kitchen. These initiatives provided me with extensive exposure to the prominent global issue: homelessness. I highly recommend that every student participates in this incredible program and gain some insight into the implications homelessness has on people in our society. My realisation that homelessness can arise due to many different reasons, some which are not within the individuals’ control (for example, domestic violence, lack of access to education, low financial upbringings, and many more) has significantly changed my perception of those who are less fortunate and has really helped in shaping the person I am today. This initiative inspired my friends and I to produce a short film on this global issue as a part of our CAS Project.

Jared

The entire music program at Ivanhoe was what I enjoyed the most. Whether it be travelling to Queensland on the music tour or going on annual camps to Beechworth, every activity was a lot of fun. It was also very rewarding to be part of many of the School’s biggest events like induction ceremonies, ANZAC day services and gala performances.

My final year of Debating involved a number of hilarious experiences with friends. Being able to laugh with my team and create ridiculous arguments, particularly during the final debate, was an unforgettable experience.

Georgia McLaughlin (Class of 2018)

I chose to do the IB program with Higher level Physics, Biology and Psychology, and Standard Level Literature, French and Maths. I knew from the very beginning that the IB was going to allow me to do all the subjects I love, whilst still catering to the wellrounded side of my learning that I’ve always valued so much. The promised challenge of the program made it even more desirable and the past two years have certainly been nothing but challenging and definitely fun and exciting.

Luke Gullone (Class of 2021)

I chose the subjects, English Literature SL, French B SL, Psychology SL, Physics HL, Chemistry HL and Maths AA HL. Being someone who really enjoys all things STEM, these Higher Level subjects enabled me to delve deeper into subjects that I am genuinely interested in and to study at a level that only the IB could provide. The broadbased nature of the IB Diploma also allowed me to discover a passion for certain subjects that I did not expect to find interesting, but quickly became very enjoyable.

Chelsea Huynh (Class of 2018)

I did the following IB subjects: Literature, Maths Studies, History, Psychology, Indonesian, and Sports, Exercise & Health Science. The reason why I picked History, Psychology and Sports Science was because I had a genuine interest in them, especially from the content which I had learnt in Year 10 and 11. I felt that it was important to pick subjects that I would genuinely enjoy to make the two years of IB not so difficult. Initially I had picked Biology; however I did not find the content was for me. When I made the switch to Sports, Exercise & Health Science, I found the classes much more enjoyable and I had a genuine interest in the subject.