Why I be IB:
IB Diploma Candidates speak out about their addiction to knowledge By Teddi Faller
International Baccalaureate: It’s four years of rigorous study and the pursuit of knowledge. While IB may not be for everyone, for those who are considering it, here’s some encouragement and tips from three IB Diploma Candidates of the class of 2011.
HIRO NUKAGA The IB Diploma Programme has been valuable in teaching me both the “whats” and “hows” of most of the subject areas. Within the junior and senior IB classes, I’ve been able to become the people in the subject areas. School becomes more than just a classroom; it becomes a lab, a seminar, a museum and more. Specific to the actual Diploma Programme, the Extended Essay was a required research paper of 4,000 words, on the topic of our choice. We were guided by the teachers whom we chose. The paper was hard, and the time spent on the paper seemed too long, but overall I feel that those hours were well spent. I learned that clarity in thought was reflected through the clarity of writing. I made connections between specific ideas, contrasted histories, and examined the differences and similarities across time and cultures. IB taught me that Photo by Maggie Johnson. knowledge and discovery is more important than From left to right: [Back row] Kathrine Murphy, Kaitlyn Mullaly, Jessica Tran, Jamy Lee, Matthew distinction and grades. Khoo, [Second row] Manali Paralkar, Tinh An Nguyen, Tracie Tran, [Front row] Hiro Nukaga, Gavin Cronkrite, Kacey Peterson [Not pictured] Jordan Carroll, Brandon Chang, Brttany Chelf My advice to people who are going into IB classes: Prioritization. The key to successfully and efficiently doing well is to order things in a way that goes with how KAITLYN MULLALY you work. In my own experience, I made sure on the larger assignIB doesn’t always seem to pay off. ments, to get the “easy” parts done, and then put it aside, and start Yes, there have been many times when some other homework. I wanted to stop participating in the IB Program. However, as a senior who is BRANDON CHANG ready for college, I have had the chance to look back. The EE, IA’s, and TOK paper IB’s value to me is well beyond words. are not always fun, but the abilities that There’s an intrinsic value I get from it that the IB program gives you will definitely is unparalleled. Some advice if you’re dopay off. I will receive college credit for ing full IB: You’ve got to be willing to do IB classes that I test well in, and I know hard work, and sleepless nights are easthat not everyone will receive credit, but ily avoidable by not procrastinating. What it’s more than that. I have taken most from doing IB is, for I have learned to research and collect my thoughts. I have learned to a lack of better words, wisdom. Simply come across articles about things that interest me and read up on them. mind blowing. Even if you don’t take full It’s more work, but next year I will have extra time to mess around and do IB, take the Theory of Knowledge class “college” things while everyone else is freaking out about writing a paper. anyway. Thinking about thinking has nevOverall, I am grateful for the IB program, and I do not regret it at all. Yes, er been so eye opening. it takes effort, but it will definitely pay off in the long run. SENIOR EDITION | June 6, 2011 | PAGE 7