Dear Freshman,

The last four years has been a crazy mess. Most people would use the expression “like a rollercoaster” for this experience, but in my opinion the IB program is entirely more chaotic. The closest thing I can compare it to is… ramen noodles; therefore, I am writing this to you to help your years be less like ramen and more like…a straighter type of noodle.

First tip: Don’t overcompensate. Many of these other essays are going to talk about academics, giving advice such as “don’t procrastinate” or “keep organized”. However, I feel like there is a much more urgent topic at hand. This advice is crucial to your development as a young adolescent and may prevent your personality from sucking—yes, you heard correctly—I am talking about your personality. Listen, I know you’re smart, you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t, but your social skills are terrible. You may be questioning my authenticity, but you must understand…freshmen are cringey. Hey, I was cringey too. You cannot avoid it, but you can limit it.

Second tip: Be independent. I know many of you have helicopter parents. Yes, it is a disease that strikes most middle class, suburban, soccer moms, and that was fine in middle school, but you aren’t a baby anymore. Part of growing up is learning how to take care of yourself. If you have a zero in for an assignment you turned in, talk to the teacher. If you have a problem with your schedule, email Mrs. Moyer. Stop relying on your parents.

Last tip: You got this. This isn’t really a tip, but it needs to be said. Freshman year is going to be harsh and even more difficult depending on the middle school you’re coming from. That said, don’t overwhelm yourself. If there is a day where you honestly need a break from school, then take the day off. If you find yourself taking more days off than practical, perhaps you should consider an alternative to IB. IB is not for everyone and that is okay. All in all, I will not lie and tell you it is easy, but I also will not lie and tell you it is impossible. If this is something you want to do and are willing to put your all into, you will succeed.

Jasmine Primus

During your first year here at IB/BHS, you will be given plenty of opportunities and chances. Take them. Join a club, strive for an A+ in everything that you do, and constantly think about what’s ahead. Never let anything catch you by surprise and ALWAYS plan ahead.

I’m this is the most unoriginal piece of advice ever to given, but it is important nonetheless. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. It is a fundamental rule that will help you in this school, college, and the rest of life as well as giving you a huge advantage, even if you are not as naturally smart as others. Doing work ahead of time and being proactive will cause less stress, more thorough and complete work, as well as an overall contentment with life.

As soon as you come home from school on the first day, do all your homework as well as you can, and as early as you can. Commencing in the process of homework does not need to take place as soon as you come home, but shortly after. Also, studying for tests should be long term, and not crammed in 2-3 hours. Even if you begin studying at the start of the day before the test, the same information you cover throughout that day, will be retained better than if you studied the same information in 2-3 hours the night before. Always have a plan, work around extra-curricular activities, and don’t forget about your social life and family. Making room for friends and family can help you through this difficult journey more than you could ever know.

Jacob Pappachen

Throughout your years at IB you will encounter some really big projects. But honestly, you’re going to survive. You may have no idea what is going on in the process, but in the end it always turns out ok! However, I am not suggesting to procrastinate till the last minute, because that isn’t wise. Just approach tasks with a chill attitude and everything will work out.

You may find answers online for a lot of worksheets and homework, which is fine. Though, make sure you understand how to arrive at the answer because the test is worth a heck-of-a-lot more than homework. And if you can’t do the problems in your homework, you can’t do the problems on the test.

Also, if you want to apply to University of California schools, they have an arts requirement. So if you really want to go to those schools, you may want to take advantage of the few electives we have to fulfill the requirement.

Alina Chen

Dear freshman,

Welcome to IB! Are you pleased to have made it into this programme? Or are you here just because your parents forced you to? Either way, do not fret. I am here to convince you that it isn’t quite as bad as it seems (and it really isn’t). Through my letter to you, I hope to impart to you some advice to help you through your high school journey. During my freshman year, I remember being overwhelmed by the large amount of work teachers assigned compared to middle school, where there was practically no homework. You have most likely already heard this a thousand times by now by your teachers and Dr.Hardman, but the best way to prevent nervous breakdowns and late nights is to not procrastinate, seriously. This is advice that will be ignored, but I feel better in having said it. I know that since coming to IB, my waking hours have gotten increasingly long, and my sleeping hours considerably shorter, but I want to stress that taking care of one’s mental sanity is as equally important as completing homework assignments and studying for tests. One does not simply survive in IB though coffee and sleeping through lessons. However, I confess that lack of sleep is inevitable, and therefore highly advise you to take Vitamin C tablets and avoid sick people like the plague, as there is nothing worse than feeling sick and sleepy while doing homework at 2 AM in the morning.

It is also a great idea to join extracurriculars and clubs. Looking back at my freshman year, one of my biggest regrets was not joining all of the clubs I wanted to because I thought I would be too busy with homework to do anything else. Don’t do what I did. Clubs are a great outlet for stress (not just college apps). Forming good relationships with peers is also a great idea. The friends you make become your support group, and are there for you all hours of the day, literally. Building a good rapport with teachers is also a good idea. We complain about them sometimes, but they do actually want the best for you, believe it or not. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in class. Teachers will gladly answer them; they are there for your success.

I wish I could tell you what subjects were the hardest and which ones I struggled through the most freshman year, but I honestly don’t remember, because it just gets a lot worse. Freshman is nothing compared to junior year. So, don’t cry now. Just learn to embrace the hardship. Suck it up and move on. But, maybe, I would say sophomore year is a slight relief. Not as bad as freshman year, and is a slight break before junior year. Some classes might seem difficult, but usually, when people study diligently, it pays off. Imagine that.

So, in my final words to you, little freshman, I do wish you well. IB is a long and laborious path, and it may seem incredibly unbearable at some points, but you will always get through it. Have faith in yourself, and do well in school, although, I’d like to say that it isn’t the end of the world if you get a not A on an assignment. Learn to persevere. Smile. After all, it isn’t all that bad.

All the best,

Wanbin Chen

Dear Incoming Freshman,

If I were to give you any advice to keep in mind for the next four years it would be to learn to manage your time wisely. This has been the most important lesson I have learned at IB and will be the one thing I keep in mind as I move on with the rest of my life. Managing your time is incredibly important as it helps you to succeed in this program while maintaining your mental health and social life. It is important to take breaks sometimes and make time for yourself. If you overwork yourself you won’t be able to get anything done efficiently.

I would say where most IB students go wrong and get overwhelmed is when they make no time for anything besides school. Yes, school is important and yes, it can be stressful and have a lot of work but this makes it essential to take time for yourself. Even if it’s just 30 minutes after school you spend doing that one activity that makes you happy, remember to take care of yourself. If you manage your time wisely and get your homework done in an efficient manner, you’ll have time to do the activities you want. Going to IB and having a social life is possible.

The most important subject that I have taken at IB is chemistry. It is a very hard class and if you take it then it certainly deserves the majority of your attention if you want to truly understand the material and get a good grade in the class. The teacher is good but it definitely requires the most work outside of the classroom as far as studying.

Good luck,

Elise Beltran

One of the most important aspects of your high school career is participating in school events. A lot of my friends will say, “Oh IB gives us so much work to do, so we don’t have time for extracurricular activities blah blah blah…” This is not true (unless you have a job and are working 4+ hour shifts, five days a week); IB does not prevent you from doing extracurriculars. Several of my friends and I participate in two varsity sports each year and have leadership positions in multiple clubs. Yes, we are still in IB maintaining our GPAs just fine, thanks. My point is that you should do something besides homework with the eight hours in your day in which you aren’t sleeping or at school. There are several clubs that are easy to join, like Key Club and Interact Club, that offer numerous service opportunities, which you need to graduate, move on to junior year, get some scholarships, and demonstrate to colleges that you care about your world/community in some way. Overall, joining service clubs or any clubs that deal with a specific interest or hobby of yours (A-team, HOSA (health competitions), FBLA (business competitions), FFA (farmers), etc.) will show colleges that you’re interesting, and I’m going to assume you all want to go to college. If you’re interested in music, join band or orchestra. There’s even a fashion club now. Extracurriculars are a great way to make friends and attempt to maintain and achieve some leadership positions. Colleges are especially interested in students who demonstrate leadership qualities and positions, so start getting involved in your club/sport/activity now so that you’re more likely to have a high position later in high school.

Moving on to the academics and rigor of IB, I didn’t really start struggling until my junior year. This doesn’t mean that freshman and sophomore year were a total breeze (even though, in hindsight, they were much easier and less time-consuming compared to the actual IB requirements that I face now). Sophomore year is the least difficult (with respect to the brain power and time it consumes), so I would recommend trying a sport or club that year if you haven’t yet. During pre-IB, focus on doing your work, maintaining those grades, and seeing what you like (clubs/sports/social dynamics). Sophomore year is very manageable. If you’re only getting Cs, Ds, and Fs in 10th grade and haven’t gone through some serious life struggle, I would honestly recommend Collegiate or somewhere else (if GPA is important to you). School doesn’t really get easier. The work, although it may be less in quantity, requires more critical thinking, studying, and writing.

But just what has been the biggest obstacle I’ve faced in IB? Easily chemistry. I probably spend the most time studying for that class, and I did well in Pre-IB Chemistry. I thought I would breeze through AP and IB Chemistry just like I did with Pre-IB Chemistry, but no. AP Chemistry was a big endeavor. That class (and IB Chemistry now) required a lot of studying, and if I didn’t study, it would show when I got a D on a 200-point test (this is coming from someone who made As on the Pre-IB Chemistry tests). Yup. That dragged my grade down several points, and for the first time EVER, I was scared I wouldn’t make an A for the semester. To summarize, I would only take AP/IB Chemistry if you either (1) are really good at chemistry, as indicated by a grade of an A in Pre-IB Chemistry, (2) don’t mind getting a B or C for the semester if you aren’t that great at chemistry, (3) don’t mind studying for hours in an attempt to get decent grades, and (4) don’t mind that the Chemistry IA is the hardest of all the science IAs. This doesn’t mean that chemistry is all bad! I’ve learned so much in-depth chemistry knowledge and applications from Mrs. Loweke. Thousands of college students struggle with just their introduction to chemistry classes, but I won’t. I probably won’t even have to take it. Is all this studying and time worth it? I guess (I’ll say yes when I’ve finished IB Chemistry). Overall, the rigor of the class is painful at times, but when you surpass each semester of AP and then IB Chemistry, you feel serious pride for all the work you’ve done and all the knowledge you’ve gained.

But wait—what about biology and physics? Great question! First, I don’t even know if the physics program is still part of Bartow IB, but if it is, you’re going to have the least amount of work. You’re also going to have to teach yourself most of the material if you want to do well on the exams and get college credit. For biology, if you aren’t that good at science but want a good grade on the AP or IB exam, or if you love biology/hate chemistry, I would go here. The downside of biology is that there is a TON of work. I’m obviously not in the class but I hear bio students complaining about some assignment, quiz, or test at least five times a week (sometimes 40 times). Although the assignments take a lot of time, you are learning the material from them, so you’re likely to do well on the exam, which is hopefully your goal. Last year, Mrs. Kennon had a 100% AP pass rate. I can’t say the same for chemistry, unfortunately. Regarding the decision between chemistry and biology, many people told me that they chose chemistry because they were “scared of Kennon.” If this is you, don’t be! Mrs. Kennon is a beautiful human, and I hear that she loves her juniors and seniors a lot more than the freshmen. Lastly, if you are struggling with the decision of what science or math course to choose, listen to what your teachers have to advise. They know how you’ve done in the past, and they probably have a good estimate of which course would be more appropriate for you.

I didn’t plan to make this practically all science-based, but I realized that it is a very important decision that one needs to make in their IB path, especially since the IB science course is an HL (higher level). Quickly to go over some more significant pieces of advice for IB: (1) do your CAS project as soon as possible (junior year preferably), (2) make lists of what you need to do each day and/or week (if you haven’t noticed, I appreciate lists very much), (3) get active on those community service hours starting freshman year (try for 100 by end of sophomore year), (4) utilize the FREE TUTORING that NHS and World Language Honor Society offers if you need extra help or want to review more in any subject, and (5) be friendly to everyone. You’re going to be with these people for four years. The IB experience is 97% better if you have friends that enjoy your company, want to talk with you, and want to help you, which can be achieved by being nice.

Carina Copley

Dear freshman,

When you first begin your freshman year, you will find everything difficult, from homework assignments to tests. You will need to create your own schedules to adapt to the different classes. It will be very beneficial to your grades for you to put a lot of effort into your homework assignments since they make up most of your grade.

To avoid possible pitfalls throughout your freshman year such as biology tests and APES tests, you should start to study right when you get the material. Doing this would allow you to be prepared every class for what you do. Also, procrastination is a big issue that emerges in every class. To succeed, it is best to put procrastination to the side and do assignments ahead of time to have more free time. Also, do all extra credit projects.

APES and Biology need the most study in the freshman year of IB. APES requires lots of memorization and connections from topic to topic. Knowing all the important terms will keep you prepared for tests and oral questions. In Biology, units go by quickly, which is why you need to focus more in that class, too.

Mit Patel

For a freshman that is just starting here, I would not tell them how hard it has been or how much work it is because if you have the right attitude towards the work and have good time management skills, then it will not be that bad. A freshman needs to learn how to time manage and become good at deciding whether or not they have the time to hang out with their friends. Through having time management skills, I was still able to do as much as I wanted to do with my friends and remain an active member of my youth group.

Freshman year was an awakening for me because I realized that it was not going to be as easy as middle school was for me. The classes freshman year are meant to push the freshman to acquire these skills. I believe that freshman should take AP Environmental Science because Ms. Allison does a good job of pushing the students to try their hardest. I must advise them to make their decisions on how to spend their time wisely so that they are well balanced and aren’t consumed by school.

The most important thing to me, which can be seen by how much emphasis is put on it in these paragraphs, is to manage your time. Not everyone comes to IB with the skills, but the way freshman year is structured makes the students acquire these skills quickly so that they can succeed.

Olivia Milam

In IB there will be many challenges that you will face. To help with these challenges it is a good idea to make good friends that will support you and help you. This helps a lot with getting study groups.

Procrastination is very bad. Do not do it. If there is a big project to do it’s a very bad idea to wait until the last minute because you won’t get the grade you want. Even with small homework problems you should do it the day you get it to prevent something coming up and keeping you from being able to do it.

Studying is also a good idea. The sciences are especially in need to be studied because the tests given are difficult. Study the week before and the day before to make sure your memory is fresh but not five minutes before. If you study right before you will be focused on one thing that you saw before and won’t be able to focus on what you need.

Brianna Stone

My advice to you is to try and set yourself reminders. I personally have trouble remembering certain things for example homework assignments or grade recovery dates. So when you here the time of a certain due date and you struggle like me with remembering things, don’t be afraid to quickly set yourself a reminder on your phone or however you choose to remind yourself.

Zalen Gibbons

Dear Freshman,

High school is going to be hard. The first thing to do to get through it is to accept this fact. I noticed that people who focus on how unfair that so much homework is being given on this day and there are two tests on that day have tended to do worse than those who just quietly accept that life is, indeed, unfair. However, venting and complaining every once in a while might help relieve some stress, so don’t feel like you have to completely deny your desire to wallow.

I think the most important thing to make high school easier (and probably the rest of your life, but I’m not there yet myself) is to figure out your passion. What makes life worth living? What makes you happy? You might not find out for a while, but the sooner you find your passion and purpose in life, the easier time you will have prioritizing your school work and out of school life.

When I was in elementary and middle school, I didn’t take Ls. In high school, I was extremely distressed to find myself taking Ls in high school. Instead of giving up and moping around, I just learned to pick and choose which Ls to take. I learned that success isn’t about avoiding Ls, but choosing which ones to take.

Good luck, and I hope you survive.

Amielle Ingalla

As a freshman, everyone you meet tells you not to procrastinate. However, it is easy to develop the habit. Procrastination is probably the worst thing you can do to yourself at IB purely based on the extended amounts of work load. Once you start procrastinating, it becomes difficult to keep up with your homework and projects which ultimately messes up your sleep schedule as well as drops your grades.

My greatest “pitfall” this year is procrastination. I haven’t kept up with my school work as well as I should have which is being shown in my grades. If I started out better by keeping up with my work and grades, I would not have been in the situation of trying to pull my grades up at the last second.

My last piece of advice is to SLEEP. Although it is difficult to find time to, sleep is one of the most important things to keep up with in IB. If you do not get enough sleep, it makes it much more difficult to pay attention in class and absorb the material. Do your homework early and fit time in for sleep as it will make your life much easier in and out of school.

Adam Bailey

Dear incoming freshman,

Welcome to IB! You’ll most likely end up spending the next four years of your life in the program, so my best advice is to make them count. The first few weeks of school may be intimidating just because you’ve entered a completely new environment where the majority of people are strangers to you. You are probably not used to the workload, and you may very well begin to realize how much you had taken sleep for granted in the past. Rest assured, however, that the “strangers” on campus will quickly become some of your best friends. If success in IB is a priority to you, good time management skills will eventually become second-nature–you will find yourself adjusting to the workload properly and getting adequate sleep. The negative side-effects of IB do come with a lot of benefits that outweigh the downsides in the long run, so I advise you to keep that in mind if and when you start to feel like IB is a modernized, inescapable medieval torture device :).

Procrastination is a very bad thing. Don’t do it. I’m sure most of the other letters on this page say the same thing, and there’s a reason for it. Procrastination will make everything seem exponentially more stressful than it really is, and I know this from experience. My advice is to use a planner or the reminder app on your phone to plan out assignments ahead of time and make sure you have ample time to both complete your tasks and have a social life–a good balance between the two is necessary for you to retain your sanity. In addition to the academic aspect of IB, BHS offers a multitude of extracurriculars such as clubs and sports in which you can participate. I recommend taking advantage of this, as extracurriculars not only take your mind off of school, but also let you meet new people and become involved in an activity or hobby you may have never thought you would like.

My most important piece of advice is to know how much you can take. Know your limit and don’t put more on your plate than you can handle. If you feel like the stress of IB is taking a toll on your mental and/or physical health, do NOT be afraid to talk about it with someone you trust or someone who can help you. IB is by no means easy, so there is no shame in seeking help when you need it. Good luck.

Alexandra Clements

Dear Freshmen,

Going into IB, many of you are probably scared or reluctant because of all the frightening stories of immense workloads, impossible tests, and inactive social lives. I would like to assure you that none of this is actually true, as the truest story is the fact that IB students like to complain about the problems they create for themselves. The workload and tests can easily be managed with proper prioritization and work ethic, without even sacrificing your social life. Now I am not saying the work or tests will not be difficult, as you will definitely be challenged in certain classes (these may vary for everyone), but by finding what works best for you, IB will be a lot easier. This includes finding a good group of friends, an effective studying method, and what classes you will need to put in the extra effort. Setting a good foundation in the beginning of high school means that you will be able to develop good habits, allowing you to focus more on what matters most, rather than fixing bad habits which may have developed from your laziness at the start of the school year.

With this in mind, the biggest piece of advice I could offer is to learn how to manage your time. While this is definitely easier said than done, it is easier to learn sooner than later. Now time management boils down to doing what needs to be done when it should be done. Sounds simple but what often happens is freshmen tend to push off what needs to be done just because they would rather do other activities than schoolwork, and while I do not blame you, this practice can spiral out of control. The worst thing that can happen to you is you get into the habit of procrastinating (ok, maybe not the worst, but you get the point), which only adds unnecessary stress to your lives. The sad truth is plenty of people get into this habit; block scheduling even sets you up to procrastinate, as assignments will always be due in two days. The good thing for you is that you can get a jump start on this by simply pushing yourself to complete the work the day its assigned, forcing you to develop a good habit of working ahead. This simple goal will save you from a world of hurt in the future, trust me.

Now some of you may be thinking, “I work better under pressure.” You can keep telling yourself this lie, but the only way it feels like this is because you appear to finish stuff more quickly. This is because the pressure of the due date forces you to stay focused, which means the true problem falls on your inability to stay focused in general. This can be solved by forcing yourself to stay focused for short periods of time, eliminating distractions, and decreasing the amount/length of breaks you give yourself, and you will definitely see an improvement over time. By just prioritizing what needs to be done and actually doing it will make your whole IB experience less stressful and more delightful.

Justin Walsh

As a freshman I would advise them to stay on top of your work and manage your time.

Don’t waste your time procrastinating and get your work done as soon as possible. It will be beneficial in the long run.

Science classes like Biology and Chemistry are important that you have to study the most for.

Dozie Iheanyi

My advice to freshmen would be to not go asleep any later than 10 o’clock. You will always hear kids be dramatic about how much homework they had to do and how they stayed up until 3 in the morning every night when this can easily be avoided.

If you go to sleep on time it is much easier to pay attention in class and learn the material when it is taught to you. This also leads to you being better rested and more energetic to do homework. Being well rested leads to more knowledge being retained and quicker homework times and less time needed to study for tests.

Finally, if you don’t have all As and Bs Freshman year IB probably isn’t for you. If you find yourself staying up all night and getting poor grades you would be much better off at a normal high school. It is not worth it to undergo four years of this.

Nate Braswell

As a junior, I can definitely say the curriculum, as well as the work load, gets harder. However, the more dedicated you are to learning and getting things done, the easier it is to manage. Don’t wait for things to pile up because then it’s a whole lot of stress that could have been easily avoided by doing it the same night it was assigned (as awful as it sounds). Personally, calculus and chemistry are my most rigorous classes because there is so much to learn and they move at a fast pace so it is important to keep up with all the homework and keep the concepts fresh in your mind.

AnnMarie Harmer

There’s no big secret that will help you to do well in this program. If you act like a good student, you should be able to get more sleep. If you sleep more, you’ll be much happier and get better grades.

Don’t procrastinate. If you have extra time on one night and know that you have something due later, do it when you have the extra time. You can go to sleep earlier on the night when you would be doing the assignment, and more sleep means more happiness.

Save your late passes for when you really need them. If you don’t procrastinate, you should never have to use them, but they are very helpful when you would be staying up very late on an assignment without them. Don’t use them unless you have to or you know that they’ll expire soon, because there’s always the chance of being surprised by something you forgot about or just a very large assignment.

Christian Herman

The best advice I can give to incoming freshmen is to try to do the most time-consuming homework early in the weekend and leave the rest for Sunday; that way, you can actually sleep before the school week starts. Now that Mondays include all seven classes, the time it takes to complete weekend work is greater than on regular A and B days. I don’t recommend getting into a habit of sleeping during the day and finishing homework at night. If most of your homework is due in the morning, try to complete as much as you can right when you get home so that you aren’t as tired during class.

If your backpack is too heavy because of C days, try getting a large binder with dividers to hold papers for each class. I take this binder to class every day and organize the papers into other binders that I keep at home after the grading period. This helps me keep track of my papers for each class while not having to carry too much during the school day.

The most important part of my experience at IB has been to focus on the classes and activities that you are passionate about. Try to engage in class and actively learn the material. Push yourself to answer questions whenever no one else wants to participate to support the lesson. Don’t be afraid to share a wrong answer because you will eventually learn the material anyway. Students in IB seem to lose motivation during the day when they get tired so be the one to engage when no one else will; your teachers will appreciate it.

Sebastian Barria

Just starting as a freshman, make sure to work hard and really manage your time in terms of studying.

Some possible pitfalls that you can avoid is not getting enough sleep. Complete your homework by a reasonable time and make sure to get enough sleep for the next day, it helps significantly.

The classes that definitely deserve the most study time have got to be your science and math classes, especially if you take The Calculus track and if you do chemistry or physics.

Andrew Nolan

Dear Incoming Freshman,

Your path to success lies in hard work and your own determination to succeed. Probably the best advice is to avoid procrastination even though it is very difficult to do so. However, if you feel like this cannot be done, you can still survive with enough dedication and willingness to stay up as long as it takes to complete everything you need to. Even if someone else is the reason why you will be attending IB, it is truly your own desire to succeed that will bring about achievement. I wish I had participated in more clubs and devoted more time to community service. Find one or two clubs or activities that you enjoy and pursue them to a great extent. If you do this throughout your high school career, college applications will be a breeze. Persevering in academics and extracurriculars will be very rewarding in the end— these are things you cannot cram in during your senior year.

A healthy dose of nonchalance will also lead you to success. If you become preoccupied with competing against your peers, you will lack a fundamental support system and create a more stressful school environment than necessary. Somewhat related to my first point, a focus on bettering yourself rather than being better than others will set you along the most healthy path to success. I think IB students are naturally competitive and help push each other to succeed but the point is to avoid becoming obsessed with superiority and focus on self-improvement. If you are truly putting in your maximum effort in order to succeed, don’t worry about things like your class rank because it will be more like a reward for your hard efforts rather than a shock and disappointment. This takes some self-awareness because many will deny the fact that they truly just did not try hard enough yet they become disappointed and angry at others. One of the greatest pitfalls of IB, especially in junior and senior year, is becoming overwhelmed. Adding to your stress with worry about competing with others will only hurt you. I recommend that you establish strong friendships with a few people and work together to support each other through tougher times. Study together, chat often, and spend time together even after the school day ends.

The experience overall has been difficult but definitely worth it. The value in our IB program may be difficult to see, but I experienced a different IB school and was shocked at how well Bartow IB has prepared us for later life in comparison. You will succeed if you have the determination to succeed. I struggle to learn math and science easily but continue to practice outside of the classroom, applying the concepts learned in class to extra problems. Similarly, you will have to study more in the subject areas that you struggle in and dedicate extra time. People attend Bartow IB to push themselves to learn more and create habits transferrable into college, graduate school, and the workforce. Don’t forget to make friends and maintain a balance between work and leisure because a strong support system (in the form of friends and aspirations beyond the school day) will make your transition from middle school to high school much smoother.

Sincerely,

Jasper Montgomery

Dear Freshman,

Dear Freshman,

I have some advice for you.

I know too much.

Part 1: Denial

IB is a more different kind of education than you might expect. It’s not a bad education. Many of the students within IB care about what they are doing and have a drive to learn. Many of the teachers like what they do, and do their job well.

IB is conflicting.

IB has a smell.

You will notice, within the first nine weeks, that some of your classmates will not like IB. Some of your classmates will hate IB. You might be one of them. By the end of the first semester, the number will grow. By the end of the first year, at least a quarter of your class will hate IB.

At the very least, you will be conflicted.

Part 2: Acceptance

IB is built on the idea that the program is not meant for some people. I like to believe that the program is not really completely meant for anyone, in the sense that no one is really completely comfortable with IB. As far as I know, every single person within IB has failed in some way; they have failed some test, some homework assignment, or have not been able to keep up with some schedule they have set for themselves.

Learn from your mistakes. Struggle is inevitable.

There are common mistakes that you will likely make early on: procrastination, a poor sleeping schedule, and a bad breakfast. Try your hardest not to make these mistakes. If you do make these mistakes, which you likely will — most people do — do not give up. Being able to overcome procrastination, poor sleeping schedules and unfulfilling breakfasts will bring you much closer to succeeding in the IB program.

Above all else, know that it is okay to make mistakes, especially in the beginning. Do not be too hard on yourself. Even if you fail, it is never the end of the world; you can always learn from your past experiences and become a better person from that.

Sincerely,

Caleb Butler

As a freshman you should be active in participating in clubs. It especially helps your resumé if you are a leader in a club and it is a good way to get community service hours.

If you can start your homework right when you get home from school and make that a habit your life will be a lot less stressful. Also, if you are assigned a project that you get a few weeks to do, don’t wait till the last weekend to do it.

The class that is deserving of the most study was algebra 2. Math is my worst subject in general so that’s why I need to put in some more time into it; however, apes was also a class that you need to study a lot for because of the amount of information you need to know.

Sebastian Martinez

You have made the brave decision to join the IB program, congratulations! You have just taken on a great challenge, rejecting the traditional high school experience. In your time at IB you will cultivate new skills, work alongside like-minded people, and learn so much. IB sets you on the right path to getting into an excellent college and you’ll have plenty of teachers and advisors to guide you along that path. College admissions offices recognize the name International Baccalaureate and recognize that it is a vigorous program. If you can excel in this program, they know that you will be an excellent candidate. This program can seem like a lot to handle, some people don’t even make it past the first day; however, if you can tough it out you will be able to reap all the benefits. If the challenges feel particularly overbearing, don’t be afraid to reach out to older students or the teachers, themselves, for help. You are constantly surrounded by resources, don’t be afraid to use them!

The biggest lesson you will learn in this program is how to manage your time. Your teachers, the administrators, and even your parents will probably keep bring up this phrase and that should show you just how important it is. You will have dozens of deadlines to meet so be sure to keep an agenda and a calendar so you keep track of the things you need to turn in. I am a very visual person so I always like to look at my week and see how I can evenly divide up my work. My time management skills still aren’t the best, but I really have improved since my Freshman year. Another piece of advice, start working on assignments the day you get assigned them. Never wait until the night of to do an entire essay that has been assigned for a month. It’s really important that you get some sleep, so try to avoid staying up all night to work on assignments. Not only is it bad for your health, but you also need to be alert for class. It is vital to pay attention in class, especially if you have Devore, Allison, or Frisbie, who all do oral questions. Paying attention in class is really important so you can fully grasp a concept and do well on exams. That being said, keep in mind that getting a B or lower is not necessarily the end of the world. You may not be used to getting “bad” grades, but it comes with the territory. As your classes get increasingly harder, you’ll have to work even more to keep up so it’s not the end of life as you know it if you slip up once or twice. In the end, having one or two bad grades won’t really matter as long as you have other good grades to pull it up.

Finally, I advise you to get out there and join some clubs. Extracurriculars are just as important to colleges as your schoolwork. Colleges want well-rounded students who partake in sports, educational clubs, and other fun activities. If you are passionate about something or you have a hobby you really enjoy, you should take it to the next level. It makes your application really unique if you organized community service projects, participated in theatre, or won an art competition. Let your extracurriculars reflect the things you enjoy and have some fun! Colleges love to see your personality in your application. Not only that, but having fun club things to look forward to helps you enjoy this experience a little more and de-stress. Remember, this is just high school so don’t let this school consume your life. Have a nice balance between your schoolwork and fun things.

Shanaya Jaitly

A pitfall that would be helpful to avoid is procrastination. Waiting till the last minute to do something is not always the right choice of action, yet this can be hard to avoid. As a junior I continue to find myself not doing things prior to when they are due and this results in problems. Habits are hard to break, so maybe if I did not procrastinate freshmen year I would not find myself procrastinating now.

When I was a freshman it was a homework heavy year, but it was still important to study for certain classes. Classes I would study for are biology and apes. If you do your homework and turn it in on time that should help prepare you for the test. Remember that IB is not for everyone though so if you find yourself struggling to get through the work load you can drop out.

An important aspect of the IB environment is the social aspect. Similar to most high schools there are many groups or cliques. During freshman year you are just finding where you belong and your class may not be as close, but this makes sense since it is larger. As the years progress, more and more people drop out and this causes you to get closer to your peers. You can still have connections with your middle school friends if they go to a different high school, yet you have to remember you may not have that much free time to spend hanging out because IB is more homework.

Isabel Carrillo

IB is chaotic at times. Sometimes the environment is a little crushing. Don’t worry though, IB shouldn’t take over your whole life (Emphasis on the word “shouldn’t” because it could happen). I’ve come a long way from when I started in freshman year. Procrastination? No that’s definitely still there. Work load? Doesn’t get easier. But what I have improved in is working with IB instead of against it.

I’m really happy with my teachers. Ms. Chevallier? Honestly she’s amazing and World Religions is so interesting. Calculus? I can just say the way it’s taught makes it easy for me to understand it, personally. Chemistry? Same as Calculus class with it being personally helpful for me. The atmosphere in Junior year, with some exceptions, is quite peaceful. I’d recommend creating an atmosphere around yourself within the school that promotes yourself to not give up (I give up sometimes though, it’s always bad. Sometimes you just need it).

I’m writing this 15 minutes before it’s due. Procrastination is not gone. Stress is imminent. But don’t totally give up. Give yourself some room; create the best environment for yourself to thrive. I make the best out of the situations I got. In Scully, anytime I get, I make some art as my form of taking notes. I walk seats away to work with my friends. I put myself in a situation where I don’t burn out (within reason and with teacher’s discretion. Thanks Scully). Good luck whoever’s reading this. I’m turning this in to Ms. Frisbie like, 10 minutes before it’s due. Don’t be so messy (like I’m being) with your Calculus IA. Speaking from experience, it’s horrible.

Lance Rances

Hello, whether you’re an IB freshman or a Bartow freshman, this applies to everyone.

The core subjects will always be important as long as you do your work and get the grades that don’t flunk you. Colleges will always look for that.

I used to be a certified procrastinator, until I wasn’t when my grades reflected that. That was freshman year, and I think I’ve improved when it came to school work. The point is, just do the work the day it’s assigned and the stress won’t be as high.

Some important subjects are definitely Math and Science. Study for those. Although we don’t see much of what we’re taught, there’s a lot more than you think.

Harrison Macri

IB is challenging, but can be fun and is rewarding overall.  First of all, if you were forced to go here and don’t want to be here you should drop out or enroll in collegiate your junior year.  Your primary motivations should be to learn and enjoy your high school experience.

It’s accepted that you will procrastinate, so there’s no need to stop that; instead, try to be smart about how you put off your work.  You’ll learn how to manage your time as you go and will ultimately become better at procrastinating.

You should always try to study if possible, but put more focus on your weakest subjects.  Always do your best, take pride in your schoolwork, and try to have fun.  Good luck!

Max Kieffer

Advice that I would give to incoming freshmen would include planning your time efficiently. This is probably the most important thing when you come into IB. If you plan your homework assignments and studying time in accordance with tests and quizzes then your grades and stress will be much lower and you won’t have to cram the night before (or morning of) a test.

I would also advise that you should not be afraid to communicate with your teachers, especially if you need help. If you’re confused about anything, it’s critical that you ask questions, this will help you because you won’t fall behind and your teacher will appreciate your investment in your learning and understanding. It is also important that you conform to the demands of each teacher. Certain teachers expect different things in their class; for example, some teachers require homework to be turned in before the bell rings, while others don’t. It’s important to know your teachers and respect their rules.

Finally, I would recommend joining clubs, sports, or other extracurricular activities outside of school. IB can be very draining at times so having a sort of “release” will help your overall mental status and happiness. However, certain activities take more time and effort than others. As long as you plan your time effectively, it shouldn’t get in the way of your schoolwork.

Emily Crowley

My advice to freshmen is to relax. Stress is very easily acquired in IB so relaxing is very important.

Don’t fall into the pit of cheating. Do your work or take the partial credit, but never cheat.

Spanish class has seemed to be the subject that I have needed to study the most. Learning another language is one of my most difficult experiences in IB.

Jesse Hicks

After almost 4 years in the IB program, I still think that freshman year is the most difficult. Freshman year is a major transition for everyone. That’s why it’s so difficult. Once you push through it, however, I believe the IB program is much more manageable. While freshman year will be difficult, it is also very doable and well worth the effort in the long run.

The most important and useful advice I can offer is this: learn how you are most productive. You will have substantial amounts of homework, so it is important to figure out early on how to efficiently deal with this workload. Ideally, when you sit down to work on your homework, your workspace is comfortable and distraction-free so that you can concentrate on completing the task at hand. You can easily eliminate distractions such as your phone. Putting your phone in the other room is a great exercise in self-control, and you will not believe how quickly you can get your work done without that distraction!

Some may need their workspace meticulously organized, others enjoy music to help them concentrate. Whatever your preference is, figure it out what it is. Personally, I always do my homework at a desk in my room where it is quiet and comfortable. Establishing a routine like getting a snack or a glass of water before you begin working can also help you get into a productive mindset. Once you sit down, I have found from experience that working for a substantial period of time is most efficient. Occasional breaks may be necessary, but working off and on all evening doesn’t work for me. When you feel yourself being productive, don’t stop! Take advantage of that motivation as much as possible. You’ll be glad you did later.

Noah Kurrack

Dear incoming student,

Your entrance into high school marks a new milestone in your adventure in life. However, you must understand that this is a new obstacle in your path that you must conquer. It would be detrimental to your success if you maintain a lackadaisical attitude towards school that you may have had in middle school. This is because the workload in your freshman year will be difficult to handle because it is made to do so. Your freshman year is meant to test your perseverance. I beseech you to appreciate this warning and change your habits before it is too late.

You should also understand the importance of the quality of your work. The teachers that you have in one year may be the same teachers you have in another year. This is especially true in your junior and senior year where your teachers will be the same for both years (with a few exceptions). Because of this, it is important that you value the quality of your work because it is a major factor in how your teacher identifies you. If you produce work that is barely satisfactory and show minimal effort, your teacher will think that this is a part of your identity and may have less respect for you than what the teacher shows others. To be treated as such for several years would make that class unenjoyable (especially if you do not even care for the subject itself which is something that you must overcome. There is no way around that).

Quantity is another issue. You are likely to wish to pursue academics outside of high school. This may include dual-enrollment classes at Polk State College or AP classes on Florida Virtual School. If you are not thinking about this, your peers will, and they may unconsciously be pushing you to do the same for your peers have a great deal of influence on you as a student. These classes are beneficial, but you must understand how to balance your own high school work, including the quality of it, before these can be tackled. I do not recommend taking several of these classes at once in your freshmen year because the ease of school that you have been experiencing is going to end there and you are not going to be prepared. If you do not take this advice, you are likely to “crash and burn” before you realize it. I also recommend that you spend time participating in school clubs. Not only will they help you find groups of students that share a common interest, it will also help you stand out as a student when applying to colleges in your senior year.

If you appreciate these tips, they will help to mold you into a student capable of handling the next four years and even possibly your post-secondary education. I bid you good luck in your adventure.

Sincerely,

A Senior (William Maine)

Dear Student,

So, you got into IB. After many stressful days of waiting and wondering if you would get in you finally did it, time to take it easy right? You would be more wrong than any flat earther out there. The hassle has just begun. However, don’t let my heavy introduction to this letter put you down, it’s just a precaution. In this letter I will give you some advice that will help you in your IB adventure. I’ll highlight some pitfalls that I fell into that you can avoid, and other general tips to help you excel at IB.

First off, the procrastination issue. The main issue that I see with this is that everyone says to get homework done the day you get it. That’s not the main issue as the issue of going on your phone is. I’ve wasted valuable hours thanks to Instagram Explore, so stay away from that. Second, get some sleep if you need it. There is no point in staying awake and not taking any information in if your brain is trying to clock out. So remember to take that nap if you need it. Lastly, one class that I feel you should take is business. Taking this class will enable you to be more knowing to market strategies and be financially literate. It may help you to open up your own business as well someday.

This last paragraph will highlight some very important things that you must not do at all. I already covered the issue of scheduling based on your friends, don’t do that. Another thing is to not trip yourself up trying to outpace others. Just because your friend has all A’s and a smooth schedule doesn’t mean that you’re in the same situation. If you try to one-up them without checking yourself, you will fall behind on your own classes and end up getting worse grades than before. So stay in your lane and drive your speed limit, but of course, if you can switch lanes and be better, go for it. I’ll end this with a note on your health. IB can drain you of rest and will for sure stress you out. So I recommend taking time off to relax and to remember that there is nothing more important than your health, so be careful friend.

Sincerely,

Parju Gajjar

Starting IB in freshman year can be daunting and at first IB seems like a program that can be too much work for a worse outcome than a normal high school. Even though the change in lifestyle can be annoying to deal with, being able to identify weaknesses in oneself and trying to overcome those weaknesses is important. For me, completing my work at home is a weakness. I will fall asleep and not wake up in time to finish my work, or do something else instead of work and then regret it when I get to school, and do the same thing the next day. I am slowly getting better at forcing myself to sit down and finish work.

When deciding what to study more and to focus on, I look at my grades and also what chapter I am in. If I am really getting a calculus chapter but not so much in chemistry, I will spend more time on chemistry at home and just run over calculus to make sure I know everything. It is always safe to double check everything.

IB definitely is challenging, but for me, high school would not be nearly as interesting without something there to make me think hard and use my brain as much as I do at IB. Adjusting to the new lifestyle can be hard but it is better to be adjusted as a freshman than to wait until junior year to get serious.

Graham Oliver

If you were thinking about joining IB good for you! However, there are a few things that you should know before you start. First is that you should never ever procrastinate on purpose. Second is that you always remember that your classmates are usually going through the same thing, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help. The third thing you should know is that if you try your hardest you usually will succeed.

No matter how you decided to come to IB, whether it be to get that IB diploma, or it wasn’t even your choice. Hey, I still don’t feel like I had that much of a choice when I came. All I did was that I took the test, and when I passed there I was, at IB. Not everyone comes to IB the same way or for the same reasons, but we all go through the same things, more or less.

You might not get to see your friends from your old school that much. Only be most of your friends are going to argue with you. Either way, there’s no need to have any worries or bullying her social standards in an IB class. It just doesn’t exist. All that you need to focus on is the IB experience, studying, making friends, although that happens without you trying, and most importantly that large amount of homework.

Dale Aull

Hey incoming freshman. I am currently responding to this essay question at 9:34PM on December 20th when it was due December 19th at 2:00PM. My first bit of advice is not to be like me and actually getting work done in a promptly fashion. Don’t procrastinate or turn things late; just do the assignment on time. Good luck with that!

Tip #2 is that you can’t do high school alone. If you are even in need of any assistant whether it be academic, social, or mental, don’t hesitate to seek guidance and comfort from those around you, namely your peers, teachers, and even parents or other trusted adults. Depending on these people for support makes your job as a high school student so much easier as well as more enjoyable.

The last thing that I would like to address is that your grades and your GPA are not the defining factors of your character as a human so don’t get too caught up in them. There are a lot of other things that are important in life. Though grades are important, living a balanced life is a greater key to success. And with I would like to say buena suerte, bonne chance, kαλή τύχη, udachi, viel glück, bona fortuna, 加油, and good luck. 🙂

Manning Chen