I have had a tumultuous yet fulfilling relationship with the IB program; there are the pros and cons to this program, and there are changes that I would like to see happen before I leave high school in the next year; before future IB students come in.
Most students tend to not take IB classes due to their level of difficulty, schedule conflicts or just general lack of interest. I, however, decided to take on the IB diploma because I was determined to do so and felt as though it would allow me to gain a more open-minded view of the world. And that it did. The IB classes I have taken this year have proven to be rewarding in every sense, so much so that I don’t believe I will be able to find any classes as challenging and entertaining in the future. One aspect that I absolutely love about the IB Program is the fact that the subjects and the classes allow for open discussion and debate and encourage inquisitiveness. Short answers do not suffice in an IB environment and thoroughly developing ideas are always encouraged. Students are forced to question the world around them, formulate their own ideas and analyze the information that is taught. Although I myself am an eligible IB Diploma candidate, I must say that the IB Diploma is not for everyone. It is in fact a daunting and difficult task to undertake, and I admit that there have been moments throughout this year in which I have regretted ever getting myself involved, but as the school year approaches its end I am glad that I didn’t give up and persevered through whatever crisis I was experiencing early on.
The positive aspects of the program are outstanding, yet there are a few cons I feel need to be addressed. The Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) hours that are a requirement for the IB diploma are good in theory, but I find having to go on a website and document every activity that I do overly convoluted. Perhaps it’s just me being lazy, or it may be the fact that I don’t want to have to keep track of yet another thing. I have a tendency to be forgetful, and remembering to update my CAS activities is tedious and could be executed or handled in a slightly more feasible way.
Nonetheless, students should understand the goals of what the IB program wants to accomplish, and acknowledge the hard work that goes into the classes. I recommend that students should at least take one IB class to experience a more engaging and enlightening atmosphere.
