10 reasons why SYK IB is the best s

10 reasons why SYK IB is the best

Most of us know that SYK is an elite school because of its long history and notable alumni. It is also home to one of the first IB programs in Finland, established in 1990. Moreover, it’s common knowledge that SYK IB graduates earn above-average diploma scores and get into top universities across the world. However, there is much more to SYK IB than just the academic achievements. So, what really makes SYK great? Based on a Forms-questionnaire I made, I compiled this list of 10 things: Small group size – it creates closer bonding between students, because students can truly get to know their classmates. Students can also get to know their teachers well and receive help from them on an individual basis. This is lacking in many other IB schools worldwide. Good teachers - it is evident that most SYK IB students like their teachers very much. They are highly qualified and have years of experience of teaching in the IB. Teachers were frequently described as committed and helpful. Supportive community – students think that SYK is a school with a welcoming community. They believe that they can freely ask for help from both teachers and other students. The school should be proud of creating this environment! Global Politics and Computer Science – these two subjects turned out to be the most popular subjects of SYK IB. Both subjects offer a different learning opportunity compared to the general high school courses. These are also subjects that other IB schools in the metropolitan region do not offer. Both subjects are of extreme relevance in the current world, and so were cleverly chosen for our program! Rich school – the fact that we get pizza every now and then is nice! All our exciting excursions are also made possible with the school’s money. Challenging and rewarding program – it is pretty clear that the IB is a rigorous and challenging program. Whether this is good or bad depends on the individual.

Respect for each other – One student stated, “At SYK, everyone respects each other’s opinions and views, and can also voice opposing arguments without creating a toxic atmosphere. Everyone can also freely ask for help without the worry of being judged.” I think that many of us overlook this, but I believe that the atmosphere described above is important for students to succeed in a program like the IB. In many other countries, the IB may be much more competitive and stressful. Tutors – I think the overall tutoring program for the whole high school is a good idea, as it allows students of different age groups to interact with each other. It really helped people like me (coming from a different school) to integrate into the community!! High school events and opportunities – SYK has a lot going on all the time. Be it the various clubs or frequent workshops, students are given opportunities to develop themselves and do what they like. In addition, high school students get visits from important people and alumni to educate them about contemporary issues and further studies.

Good working environment – SYK is filled with smart teenagers that have big dreams! In addition, SYK promotes values such as respect and stimulates students to challenge themselves. All of this, together with qualified teachers makes SYK a wonderful environment to learn in. Thanks to the founders and all the principals!

What can be improved in our IB program?

Everything has its pros and cons. This applies to SYK IB as well. Several students hoped for more activities and events to be conducted in English (such as the further studies and work life event a few weeks ago). Some students also would have liked to have a wider variety of IB courses and to be able to study more than one pre-IB course in a specific subject. However, small group sizes pose a scheduling challenge, which also leads to the issue of groups not being formed for some IB subjects. Last but not least, some IB2s preferred to have IA (internal assessment) or EE (extended essay) days so that students could avoid procrastination and ask for help more easily. They also hoped for better scheduling of the IAs so that they would be more spread out. Hopefully, these issues can be addressed over time. However, I believe that SYK IB students will always be grateful for what they gained from this wonderful and illustrious school! Shradhdha Ramu, IB1