INEWORD P

Why Do All Things Come To An End?

lexandra Diamantopoulou

It is a stated fact that all good and bad things come to an end eventually, but haven ’t you ever found yourself wondering why? For example, a good friendship ended. Why did that happen? Or maybe school had to end, and now you have to act like an adult, but you don’t know how! Or, a relationship ended and you keep asking yourself, "what was the reason?" All these are great questions that any individual asks when an experience ends in their life. But WHY DO ALL THINGS COME TO AN END?

Grabbing the example of ending school, and speaking as an 11th grader and an IB1 student, I have come to the realization that for me, the torture chamber they call school will release me in less than a year… and after that, I am finally on my own in the big, scary world called “reality”. Yet, I still feel like a few more months is a lot of work and a long way to go. School workload–the gift that keeps on giving! Just when you thought you understood a topic, the teachers pile on more work, leading to a bubbling-like situation of never-ending homework and confusion. Then, there’s the IB program–the ultimate breeding ground for bubbling situations! Get ready for responses that lead to even more questions, because in this program, there's no such thing as a straight answer. Sure, you'll get a high-level overview of a topic, but buckle up, because that's just the beginning of the ride. Get ready to dive deep into the rabbit hole of confusion and frustration as you try to make sense of it all. Who needs clarity and straightforwardness when you can have endless inquiry and debate, right? IB–the program that keeps you on your toes and your brain in a constant state of questioning. Good luck!

My IB topics provide me with the following material and stimulate additional study. Prepare to delve into the complexities of the cosmos and the human condition, for there is no such thing as a simple explanation in the IB program.

In terms of ToK, because our experiences, attitudes, ideas, prejudices, culture, and language impact our understanding, KNOWLEDGE shapes why things end. How we handle endings and changes can completely impact our perspective on why things end. After many ends, we may be more accepting of change. If we're unfamiliar with endings, they may be harder to grasp, because we ’re shaped by our background. That also may mean that endings vary by culture. Some think it's normal, while others strive to avoid or delay it because they think it's terrible. Or, I should point out that talking about endings can change how we see them. For