Dear freshmen,
Congrats! You just completed your first step into a whole new world. Not just high school, but the IB program as well! You are now taking pre-IB classes as your teachers start to ease you into the program. Basically, showing you what IB is like and teaching you how to handle the workload and exams. There are a lot of skills you will develop and learn to use in these four years and your life will completely change in many distinct aspects for the better. Not only academically, but your character itself will change as you start to see the world in diverse ways and meet new people.
First of all, you were accepted into this program because of your academic achievement in middle school.You all have intelligent minds and can continue in this program if you put in the effort and work for your grades. No matter what you did in middle school to get high grades, it will not always work here in IB. Many of you will have to learn how to study, take notes, and prepare for exams. This program may seem hard, but you have access to amazing teachers here, and all of them are willing to help. Speaking of the teachers, they each teach different subjects, and something I learned the hard way is that different subjects may need different study methods, depending on your weaknesses. You might want to watch YouTube videos for biology, do practice problems for math, make a list of conjugations for Spanish, etc… The point is, don’talways just reread your notes, because they are not always enough. You must learn to adapt and create your own study methods at times.
One big issue I noticed many people here go through is procrastination. It is still an issue many of us experience as work piles up over time, but it is better to get rid of the habit earlier in the program, or at least start working on solutions to push you to not procrastinate as much. If you know something takes only a few minutes or won’t take you more than 30 minutes, I suggest you get it done and out of the way first. Personally, once I get a mindset going, I get a motivation boost and keep working for hours at a time, but it is always hard to get started in the first place. I recommend you start with an easy and small task, then from there slowly work into bigger and more time-consuming tasks. Or break up that large task into smaller tasks and get a reward after each part you complete, like a piece of chocolate, ice cream, listen to new album, etc… (depending on how much work you get done).
Now, college. You still have about three years before you apply so you don’t have to stress about it, but it is not too early to start prepping. That includes working on your grades, extracurriculars, essays, SAT and/or ACT scores, etc… I recommend you take the PSAT in your freshman year so you can have an idea of what your weaknesses are and what you need to improve. As for your extracurriculars, different people do different clubs, but join whatever is interesting to you. Eventually, you may have to drop some of them as your schedule gets full, or at least devote less time to them. Colleges love to see consistency. Join sports, Language clubs, HOSA, FBLA, Key Club, Interact, etc… There are so many opportunities available to you, so take advantage of them.
Most importantly, have fun! Although this may all seem stressful and scary, IB is really just a big family.Seeing each other reach high and accomplish remarkable things makes us happy. Don’t forget to take breaks and hang out with your friends. Don’t stress yourself too much and be proud of your achievements. Someone out there is always proud of you, whether it be a friend, classmate, teacher, administrator, parents, underclassman or upperclassman. Surprisingly even friends you don’t talk to as much or at all. Best wishes and good luck!! 🙂
Yasmine Lakhouaja
Dear Freshmen Students,
First of all, congratulations on making the big decision to get into the IB program, even if you were forced. IB has completely changed my life, both in positive and negative ways. First, want to emphasize that IB has its ups and downs (I am currently in the down stage). Just make sure that when you are feeling down, you DO NOT GIVE UP. It will get better, no matter how you currently feel. Also, a lot of students have said this, but you should not procrastinate. I am not saying that if you procrastinate, then you will fail or struggle; currently procrastinate and think will continue to procrastinate. I’m just saying that when you procrastinate, you will constantly think about the homework that you need to get done. Instead, if you just finish the work, you can get some actual free time where you don’t have to think about anything else.
The next important thing to remember is that you should have something else other than school that you consistently do throughout the year. For me, it’s the gym. This is not to look good for colleges, but because if you don’t, then you will start to feel that life is really boring. This is because your whole schedule will just be to go to school, do homework, sleep, and repeat. That was the case for me in ninth and tenth grade, and I felt really sad because my life was so boring and repetitive, while I see others in other schools doing all kinds of things. But now, I have so much more fun even though it’s only one thing added to my repetitive schedule.
Make sure to remember this next piece of evidence. I know this is going to be really hard, but really try not to compare yourselves to others; your mood will be constantly down. There are some students in my grade who do not study for any tests and always get hundreds. There was this one kid who got a 1500 on his PSAT, and I know for a fact that he did not study. I obviously do compare myself to these people, but I have to keep reminding myself that everyone is different and it really doesn’t matter how you get to your goal, it just matters that you do. Also, don’t compare yourselves to people in other schools. Obviously they’re going to have more freedom than you because you’re in IB, but once you go to college, it’ll all be worth it. Good Luck!
Bhavya Pinapala
At the time of writing this, I’ve only been through one full semester of the actual IB program which starts in junior year, and still have three more semesters until I graduate. I would never have anticipated 1st semester of my junior year to seemingly fly by me as it has this past semester. I honestly expected to be bombarded by extremely tough course material and extremely large loads of homework. In all honesty, I do receive lots of work and assignments, but I expected to be overwhelmed by, in my opinion, an unmanageable load of work. Fortunately, that would not be the case for me, but I would like to give some pointers on managing a smooth junior year.
First and foremost, I will begin with a short and quaint statement regarding online courses. In all honesty, they are not worth it! Unless a course is a career interest or a general interest one may have, taking online courses for the sole purpose of boosting GPA is a rash decision which will cause much more stress than the IB program itself. I decided over the summer to take AP Microeconomics on Florida Virtual School, and even though it is somewhat interesting, I made a mistake taking it. Not only am I spending time which I could have had to myself to dedicate to other interests and hobbies have, but instead I am wasting away doing microeconomics work. I am still very worried about my grade as the tests in the course are difficult and now I could potentially risk earning a B and dropping my GPA if I am not careful, as I tend to earn B’s and C’s on these tests. Overall, the course is stressful and a waste of time, and I have generally heard similar things about taking other AP classes online via FLVS. Besides, colleges do not only consider GPA. There are many other factors that affect college admissions besides GPA which will definitely outweigh GPA. IB students should also avoid having too much fun. I know high school popularity, dating, large friend groups, and getting invited to places is important to lots of people and are fun, but in the end, they won’t help anyone go to a good college, and even into senior year. By around the time of this writing (December) in senior year, nothing like that is important whatsoever. By then, many IB students will already know which colleges they got accepted into if they applied early, so at that point popularity becomes unimportant since the applications mean that in a few months, they won’t even be here anymore. Hence, popularity and things like that are not important to success, and students should just focus on their schoolwork and their close friends rather than absorbing themselves into things like I mentioned before.
Continuing what should be done in junior year and throughout the IB program in general, people should focus on subjects they struggle with the most if they have any such subjects. Generally, people should not have to worry about all their classes if they do their work on time. Spending more time on classes which give more work or harder work and less time with classes that give less work or easier work will make life much easier. Everyone has something which they find difficult, so they should likewise spend more time on that difficult stuff rather than absorbing time in easier stuff. It’s also important to study more for class tests which cover more material or more difficult material and study less for tests which cover less material or less difficult material. Once again, every student has their strong points and weak points, so they should work more on what they feel is difficult and work less on what is less difficult. By doing so, everyone can maximize their grades to a moderately decent level.
So, to finish, my final message is to not waste time. Do not waste time on things which are not important or hard to deal with. You will eventually be spending time on things which will take you away from what is more important and harder to manage and probably even trip you if you are not careful. Irresponsibly hanging out with friends on a regular basis, partying, causing drama at school, being a part of drama at school, taking online classes, studying too little, studying too hard, and even focusing on dating too much will ruin you. I have personally not been susceptible to many of these problems, but I have seen many of my classmates seeing drops in grades, sleep, productivity, and overall happiness by wasting their time with unimportant things. As I mentioned before, the only real major problem I have had is with my online class, which I will never do again because it is a waste of time which know will not help me that much in the end. Overall, to succeed in junior year, maintain focus, as it’s the best way to save time, which saves you from stress. Do your best!
Eshan Alam
Dear future IB student or current IB student,
I will start by addressing those that have yet to start their IB careers here at IB Bartow. You guys are being faced with a life-changing decision at such a young age (though you may not think you are young, trust me, we all think were older than we are at 14). From my 14-year-old standpoint, IB did not seem to be anything but a place where super smart people go to slave away to massive workloads. I personally did not see myself in such an environment; however, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The majority of the people here have interests other than just school and as a result I have formed some of the closest bonds to people who share similar interests with myself. I love the gym; and as of my freshman year here in IB I have been going continuously. It is my outlet from all the work in IB we are given (I will address the work later). I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve run into IB students at the gym (Because we DO have lives out of school); and talked on and on about our personal workouts and even ended up working out together at times. This goes to say, being in IB makes you comfortable and vulnerable to those around you. They know what you are going through as they are going through it with you and once it’s all over it is such a beautiful thing. You go through these harsh four years with the same small group of people and make unreplaceable bonds. I’ve gone on a tangent about the gym as I am in weightlifting, but I know of various people with a variety of interests such as football, wrestling, basketball, chess, coding, and even more. The people at IB have depth and have aspiring futures which motivates me to do better every day. If you are starting here my advice to you is stick it out through the uncomfortable parts of IB you may face; in order to witness the beautiful aftermath.
Let’s talk about the workload. I will not lie to you, to rein the benefits in the end there needs to be some sacrifice from you right now. This means possibly cutting down on activities on school nights. Doing homework on weekends. Canceling plans with friends. These are all just a small price to pay for what is to come out of IB. Notice how my list didn’t include staying up late? The latest I’ve gone to sleep on a school night is 11pm. Procrastination is the downfall of most IB students that are struggling. You need to be on top of things and constantly getting things done on time. This means reading and annotating books starting around the first days it is given to you (NOT the day before its due), getting homework done the day it is assigned, giving yourself time to complete big projects and write long papers, and making plans for group projects so that one person does not end up with all the work (this tends not to happen to me as much here in IB as it did in middle school because the majority of us are on it and want to get these projects done as soon as possible to enjoy our weekends). You can have enjoyable and calm weekends if you just don’t fall into the pit hole of procrastination. Once the cycle of procrastination starts, it is hard to get out of; so, don’t let yourself start it in the first place. This goes to say, you can’t overwork yourself either (this tends to be my issue). You need to come to a balance in which you realize you’ve done enough for the day. You can only do so much in a day before your brain is fried and needs a break. For example, if you have been doing homework for four hours on a school night (AND DID NOT PROCRASTINATE THE WORK) it is time to give yourself a break. When you do work for an elongated period of time in one day, the work is no longer going to be the best possible work you could’ve done and will not benefit you mentally or academically. The hard part is finding the balance between not procrastinating and not overworking yourself. Life can get difficult at times and these bumps are tests we all need to endure and learn from. Don’t give up on yourself, persevere, and take it one day at a time.
I have yet to finish my IB career, but I have gone through roughly 3/4ths of it and have seen how it has shaped various graduated individuals, including my sister. Life after IB is the time in which you realize the true blessing IB is to your educational career. While students stress all week over not knowing how to write a paper, you’re going to be able to write it within two days and have the rest of the week free to do as you please and enjoy these young ages of your life. As a high schooler, you don’t have much freedom as you are living with your parents. Go through the struggle now that you have your parents to lean on and enjoy life once you’re in college without the limitations on your freedom. Mrs. Marsh, a previous counselor that you guys will sadly not have the opportunity of enjoying once told me, while I was contemplating dropping out, a figurative situation that really put everything into perspective for my young mind. The journey of IB is like that of a miner. While you’re mining you see no end to the continuous journey and see no sign of benefit on the way to finding gold. However, once you finally strike gold you reflect on the journey to the gold and don’t doubt a single bit about it as it got you to the prize. You don’t have to only strike gold at the end of your journey. Personally, I stroke gold when I found my first friends back in freshman year. When I started weightlifting back in sophomore year. When I finished and submitted my first IA (Please do not underestimate how helpful Mrs. Frisbie is during these times. She does more than most if not any teacher I have ever had). I won’t lie to you, I have tried to give up multiple times but what kept me here was insight on what other schools are like. I have friends and family members that go to GJ and Lakeland and these schools (as nerdly as it sounds) are way too laid back. They get little to no homework and the students are not built to persevere mentally like we are here in IB. Before college, we are given a 4-year long trial of experience while they are given nothing. From many stories of graduated IB alumni I can tell you IT IS WORTH IT.
Best Regards,
Danielys Estevez (Current IB Junior)
Dear Freshman,
Thinking back on my experiences in IB I have learned a lot about myself and other people. The most important thing I learned was to balance schoolwork and self-care. You have probably heard horror stories of IB kids doing homework all night and going to bed at 3 am and such. But honestly it doesn’t have to be like that, the only person making the work extended that long is you. While the work can be challenging, procrastination is the main reason why so many IB kids go to sleep late or not at all. In my experience if you just dedicate a good three hours to your homework you can usually get it done. I like to sprinkle in breaks periodically, and while that does extend the time it takes to do the assignment it ultimately helps me focus if I have a reward after, like phone time. I’m not saying to not procrastinate, because I do it all the time. I’m saying if you take the time to focus for more than 30 minutes at one time you can get real work done quickly. Also, if an assignment is taking you forever and you just can’t seem to figure it out and you look at the clock and it’s 10 pm, just go to bed. Most of the teachers are forgiving with late work and one late assignment is better than a crappy assignment turned in on time because you did it instead of sleeping.
Something I learned about people is that no matter what you do there’s going to be drama, that’s just what comes with being in a small group of people in high school. People are going to be fake; people are going to be annoying; people are going to be immature. It’s just what happens. If you have your own group of people who you love to hang out with and are nice then just tune out the drama. At the end of the day know it’s not that serious and nobody truly cares that much. As you move further through the program people start drama less and less because we’re all just trying to survive. So even if there’s a lot of drama in the beginning, know it will level out and nothing is really that deep to start a whole feud on. Even if you decide you cannot stand someone, at least be nice to their face, you don’t know what’s going on with their lives and petty school arguments are annoying to most everyone involved. If you get along well with everyone — at least to their faces — you’ll be fine. It is just awkward when you’re in a class partnered up with someone who you hate and hates you. It makes it easier for everyone if you keep your opinions about other people to yourself.
At the end of the day IB is only as hard as you make it out to be. It can be a horrible experience that makes you want to cry because you are so tired and stressed, or it can still be hard but tolerable because at least you’re sleeping. Getting on the energy drink dependence in high school is not cool, you look dumb drinking a Celsius after every book that’s due in English class because you had to stay up all night. Don’t be lazy, IB is hard, but cheating is not going to make you smarter, you’re just going to become codependent on someone or your phone for answers and eventually they’re going to let you down and you’ll be screwed. At least try the work yourself before you ask someone for help or answers, then at least you have a clean conscience and know you tried. Maintaining relationships with people will also make your experience better. Being friendly and open to people will get you a lot farther than being a drama-starter. Making friends here can be really easy because it is such a close-knit program. Once you have your friends try to hang out with them outside of school. Go shopping, play video games at their house, go to a park and run around and play volleyball. I know it sounds cheesy but going out and acting like a real teenager with your friends is a really good stress reliever and gets schoolwork off your mind. If you’ve learned nothing else from my advice, at least take with you that at the end of the day nothing is that serious. Not the schoolwork, not the drama, not the stress. Trust yourself that you’ll get through it like you have gone through so many things before that at the moment seem impossible, but looking back was not as hard as you thought.
Good Luck,
Hailey Turturro
I hear you are a freshman this year. How is it going so far? For some people, freshman year is the hardest year because of how much you must adjust. As a freshman, this is the year to get into clubs and find out which ones you want to get involved in. Being in many clubs is not important but you are deeply involved in them. Getting your habits set in stone and figuring out what study method works for you is also important. This is what will set you up for success in later years. Figuring out if planning on paper or on a computer works better for you and what type of homework you should get started on first is important. Remember that everyone procrastinates a little bit here and there but it isn’t something you should get in the habit of. Figure out what classes need more attention and put more effort into the class you are struggling with. As you get involved in more intensive courses you will figure out what you are struggling with ask questions and ask for help there is nothing wrong with needing more help than other people.
Although being an IB student, many people focus on academics it’s important to work on things outside of just school. Yes, getting good grades is important but getting a good score on SATs and having other volunteer experience outside of school events is beneficial. If you know what you want to be in the future finding an experience that is helpful for the job will be helpful. For example, I want to be an oral maxillary surgeon so since my freshman year, I have been going to one dental office and one oral surgery office and shadowing the doctors there. have learned so much from them and have created bonds that will last me a lifetime. Being able to see what my day-to-day will look like will help ensure that this is something I want to do in the future. Being able to find an experience that is different from everyone else will set you apart.
Apart from school work and just more stuff you have to do outside of school, it is VERY important to find an outlet. I won’t lie and tell you IB is easy because it’s not; it requires a great amount of drive and discipline and the hardest part about it is fighting to stay. I know it’s hard and if it’s not hard yet it will get harder but having something to look forward to at the end of your day like a sport or a hobby you like to do is going to come in handy. For me I like to swim, swim on a club team, and for high school which means swim 6 days a week 2 hours every day. Although did have to cut back during my junior year this was my way of relieving stress from school. Being able to manage time well to hang out with your friends or family is also important. You are a high schooler only once and it’s important to spend it to your best ability.
Grace Ham
Fellow student,
‘Freshman year’ is defined as the first year of a 4-year academic career; however, to you, this is the start of a new journey and a profound experience – that of IB. As a junior writing this letter to you, my job is to give you advice on some aspects of IB: the academic, the social, the cultural, and the balance. I’m sure you’ve already been introduced to the fundamentals and the basics of the program: the possibility of an IB diploma at the end of the journey, the great instructors that come along the way, the friendships built in a close-knit community, the scholarship money, . . . these are things you’ve been told more than once and have had time to consider before joining.
This key advice could sound repetitive but it’s very important for your success in the program: study effectively, ask questions, engage in your hobbies, and sleep adequately. Studying effectively is not just staring at your notes the day before a test or filling out a review sheet; it’s constantly refreshing your mind with both old and new material. Depending on what classes you find harder, you can allocate more of your daily studying time to those. Find a study method that works for you, whether that be using flashcards, the Pomodoro technique, blurting, or active recall, and use it daily. Asking questions is not only valuable for you, but for the entire class to understand the concept. In my mind, a question is one that expands knowledge of the concept rather than simply repeats it; make sure you prepare good questions by engaging with the class. Your teachers aren’t there to simply restate things from a PowerPoint, they’re there to make sure you’re gaining a new understanding. Being attentive to your hobbies is simply one of the most important things you can do, whether that be a club, a sport, or an extracurricular activity. Make sure you’re doing something you are passionate about; I’m sure you have an interest that can be materialized into an activity. In truth, sleeping adequately is something I haven’t done very well, but am recommending it to you for the difference it makes. 7 hours of sleep daily will – and I’m assuring you – help you follow the other advices and keep a healthy mental balance.
If I had to describe to you two major pitfalls to avoid, I’d recommend that you don’t lag far behind, and that you start your community service hours from the get-go. It’s easy to have a bad or tiresome day strung along a good week, where you might be out-of-focus in school and just ready to lay in bed, and these will cause you to lose some material or not understand the homework. Don’t let these few days deter you from your path. Don’t make a habit of having these days if it’s in your control to decide the mood of your day. Get the work done after you’ve cleared your mind, eaten a snack, taken a short nap, watched a movie – whatever works for you – so that you don’t lose the progress you’ve made in your classes. The last thing you want to do is begin building a base of difficulties and struggles that’ll eventually become an insurmountable mountain. Community service hours is something you’ve heard about and, probably, done before getting to the program. There is a certain number you need before graduation. Make sure you start accumulating these by reaching out in your community and being attentive to school posts about volunteerism. Bring friends along and make your experience worthwhile and memorable. Doing these hours before junior and senior year will get them off your back and let you focus on other IB requirements, mostly on the academic and CAS-side of things, which you shouldn’t worry about for now.
This isn’t a formula for IB success, but rather loose advice that could benefit you in the long run. Don’t think of IB as a code you’ve got to crack and perfect. IB is about making mistakes, learning how to learn, and expanding your cultural expertise and social outlook. Find a true balance between your grades, your interests, your social and family life, and your sleep by maximizing what you do and learn during the school day. IB is here to give you the opportunity, so seize it. Life is like a box of chocolates; let this journey be a chocolate worth your bite.
Alexander Andrade
Dear Freshman,
My name is Sumi, and I am speaking from a position you will soon see yourself in, a stressed out junior in IB. Jokes aside, joining IB has probably been one of the best decisions I have ever made. So, I will make sure to give you the complete and honest truth about IB coming from someone who has gone through the experience as well.
To begin with, I will give you an overview of some of my favorite classes and how to survive them. Math is crucial in IB, but as long as you have Ms. Frisbie you are guaranteed to succeed. Although Ms. Frisbie works extremely hard, you will still need to put in the same amount of effort. I strongly suggest that you do your homework by yourself, because this is what helped me the most. Since everything on my homework was all I knew, I was able to pinpoint exactly where I needed to improve and ask questions. Next, I strongly suggest that you take AP statistics, because no matter what profession you work you will have had to take a class in statistics. I really enjoyed this class because I was able to apply it to everyday life (and we did a lot of fun games).
Now I know the perception that other schools have of IB kids is that we are nerds, but that is not necessarilythe case. During my freshman and sophomore years, I enjoyed going to Friday Fests and actually volunteering with my friends was really fun as well. Not only this, but I also met my friend group through IB. I truly love my friends and without IB, I don’t know how I would’ve found them. I also recommend that you join any sport at Bartow. You might think that you won’t have time for this, but with time management, anything is possible. I joined lacrosse sophomore year, and I made multiple friendships, and now I am the captain of the team. Becoming captain took a lot of practice, but I will say that it was totally worth it.
So, I hope you enjoyed reading my advice, and whether or not you follow it, I hope that you do what’s best for you!
Thanks,
Sumi Muthiah
Dear freshman,
High school is different from middle school. I am currently a junior attending IB at Bartow High school and I can tell you high school does get hard at times, but you just need to learn to persevere. Perseverance is key. However, it is important to find good motivators that help maintain your perseverance. In high school it is also important to find effective study methods that work for you. Once you figure out what things are going to motivate you to persevere and what study methods work for you, high school will become much easier.
Having the right motivators to continue to persevere will make high school much easier. During my freshman year, I did have days when I didn’t want to continue my IB journey because of my lack of motivation to persevere. So, I came to the conclusion that I was overworking myself and my motivation to continue working on work had diminished. I realized I couldn’t just always do school related things that didn’t let me enjoy every day. I needed to find something to look forward to everyday in order to have the motivation to get my work done. For me, running is my motivation to persevere through the workload of days. However, motivators look different for everyone, you just have to find the right one for you.
Having effective study methods will make high school easier for you. As soon as I started IB, I realized that I actually needed to study in order to get good grades. Studying for me was new since my middle school didn’t challenge me. So, like a lot of beginners I wasn’t good at studying at first. I would spend hours making flashcards and still not get the grades I wanted. So explored different study methods in order to figure out if I was an auditory learner or a visual learner. I finally found the study method that works for me and I only have to spend half the time I used to spend studying now. Finding the right study method will save you time and will improve your grades due to material actually being learned.
I hope these tips help you!
An IB junior,
Amanda Rico-Toro
Fun fact! Human beings evolved from early primates and have only existed in their common form for roughly 250,000 years! Fun fact! The seeds of civilization spawned roughly 10,000 years ago in the modern-day Middle East thanks to the cultivation of agriculture! Fun fact! The average life expectancy for all of human history (not counting the last two centuries or so) has been anywhere between 20-30 years (thanks in part to the high infant mortality!), and the most common causes of death were disease — such as tuberculosis, malaria, and smallpox! Very pleasant!… Or perhaps not… When you’re picturing life and death on its true scale, you realize it is quite meaningless. Nihilistic even. But you, incoming freshman, have yet to reach this realization — you have grades, friends, and crushes to prepare for; surely they are worth applying some meaning to! Otherwise… these next four years would be really depressing! Not inherently. Let me tell you exactly why you should subscribe to nihilism — here’s three things it solves:
- Meaning. Do you really think I went all four of these years without meaning? Of course not. But the perk of nihilism is that since you’ve realized there’s no inherent meaning to the universe, you are allowed to create your own rules and hold yourself to your own standards. That means you create your own sense of meaning, which solves a million more things. You don’t have to hold yourself to societal expectations and epithets — smart, pretty, religious, etc. All these things can be individually important to an extent, but no one can overpressure you with them when you realize how much their opinion matters on a cosmological scale: nil! It’s your life, your rules.
- Relationships vs Grades. You probably apply considerably less meaning to your grades as you do to your social life — friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. And that is completely okay! Because, once more, it’s your rules. Since nothing really matters, that means grades don’t matter either. Ironically, that also means relationships don’t matter either — but since you’ve realized that, you have the ability to impose your own meaning. When you fail a test, you won’t beat yourself up about it because let’s be honest — they were chosen by people you don’t know, who had little individual consideration for you, who rank you on an academic scale that arbitrarily promotes hierarchies of intelligence (that once again, doesn’t really matter)! When you get rejected or dumped, the same rules apply — if you can employ self-compassion as a shield against other’s restrictions, you’ll be comfortable with sadness. It’s a part of life that’s infected us 250,000 years.
- Death. The scariest part of nihilism. Now that there’s no inherent meaning to life, you realize the universe has no true reason to perform miracles on you, no reasons to care, and that death is a random factor hiding around the corner. Even if you have some religious beliefs on an afterlife, the universe confronts you with nihilism, reminding you to “Stop it with the wishful thinking and look at the indifference around you! The black abyss of nothingness is unavoidable!” And I say to you once more, who cares what others think? To hell with the universe’s opinion! So, what if she taunts you with the very nihilism you chose to embody? It’s your choice on how to interpret death, not hers! Her opinion is worth, on a cosmological scale, as little and as much as yours.
So, how should you handle the next four years? Should you care about grades? Love? Life and death? The universe would tell you no. But the point of nihilism, at least to me, is that the lack of actual meaning gives you the opportunity to impose your own. Perhaps these things will be important to you. Perhaps not. You are alive. You create your own future. You are your own purpose. If you have compassion for yourself, you’ll find happiness where your primitive human vices try to limit you. And so, after all these semantics, should you subscribe to nihilism? Should you listen to what I’ve said? That’s up to you, and you alone.
Anthony Cruz
To say my last two and a half years in IB have been easy would be very far from the truth. I have struggled through difficult classes, difficult teachers, and an overall difficult school, and I am not done yet. I would say one of the biggest lessons I have learned in my time in IB is how important it is not only to succeed in school, but also in life. Success in life means something different to everyone, but for me right now it means enjoying life. At times, IB has not made this easy for me, but through perseverance and time management I have made it work.
One of my biggest struggles in IB has been my time management. I have a very busy lifestyle. I have a job, play two varsity sports, regularly attend church, and travel often. Just this semester alone, I traveled to Gainesville 7 weekends for the home and neutral Florida Gator football games. During this, I had to balance working, running cross country, and completing all my school work. I have learned that it is important for me to complete my homework and studying when I can. I have also had to learn the difficult task of saying no to things. I am not always able to hang out with my friends because I may have a paper or project due or a test the next day. With that being said, I try to do my best to balance these things.
During these past two and a half years, I have also discovered the importance of taking a break from school. For me this break is tennis. Tennis is something that I genuinely enjoy playing and allows me to spend time with my friends. It offers a great outlet for me to just relax and mess around while also being productive and doing something that is good for me. I really like the competitiveness of tennis and the strategies it has taught me for dealing with everyday life. The biggest lesson I have learned from tennis is the importance of taking things one point, or one day at a time. Throughout IB I have often felt overwhelmed, but at the end of the day I can only try my best. This mindset has helped me get through some of my more difficult classes such as Chemistry and Calculus. My biggest piece of advice to an IB freshman would be to just do your best and to not things too seriously because at the end of the day, everything will be alright.
Liz Matteson
In my experience at BHSIB, I along with many others have experienced many ups and downs throughout my high school career. For freshmen just joining IB, my main tip of advice is to not let IB stop you from living your normal life, because high school is a time that you will never get back. Many IB students choose to center their life around being full-time students and while this may get you a better grade, you will not have nearly as much fun as you could. Having a balance of extracurricular activities and good academic standing is what truly matters to both colleges looking at applications and your mental wellbeing. In my life, I find that my grades are the best whenever I am the busiest, because I realize then that I have very little time to procrastinate, which is a trait of most IB students including myself. Not having activities outside of school makes your life quite boring, and while many freshmen going into IB see their academic standing or college acceptances representing their quote unquote “success” in the program, I personally believe that the best outcome of going through IB is a mix of this along with the friends made along the way and the experiences done before adulthood. More advice I would give is more specific and about standardized testing. Many students (including myself) have worried about their scores on tests such as the SAT, PSAT, and ACT and how not studying for extensive amounts of time could lead to a less than perfect score. In my opinion, while study prep is obviously necessary to some capacity, I noticed that my test scores drastically improved over the three years I have been here so far due to the amazing teachers who have improved my skills that could be applied to testing. Specifically, my math score went up by 140 points on the PSAT following one year of being in Ms. Frisbie’s class. So overall, my main points of advice are to not let IB stress you out and to have fun in high school as you should.
For IB kids, the most common pitfall is dropping out due to a lack of academic success, which is often quite preventable. Most people with low grades are not necessarily less intelligent than people with higher grades, it’s just that they do not work as hard. For example, most classes’ grades are primarily based on assignments, so if you do all of the classwork and homework, a high grade is nearly guaranteed even if you score badly on exams. Also, working hard on classwork and homework often causes exam scores to go up, and this becomes less of a problem. In my opinion, IB is very easy to be able to complete, but very difficult to commit to completing. To elaborate on this, most students with decent academic standing following middle school could do IB if they put in the work ethic that would be needed for their academic success. However, the dedication and commitment to hours of work required for a good grade is not for everybody, which is why IB is a highly prestigious program. In discussing why not completing assignments causes many to drop out is what I like to call the snowball effect. When you miss one assignment, it may not seem that bad; however, this can quickly escalate to 2, 3, 4, even 10 missing assignments due to falling behind the race that is the IB curriculum.
When discussing specific subjects that require the most study, I will pick two difficult classes from each year, freshman to junior. In freshman year, most classes are pretty easy as teachers try to ease their students into the rush of IB. However, the two most difficult classes in my opinion from freshman year are English and Biology. Both of these classes I would consider difficult due to the workload, but Biology especially simply requires a healthy amount of studying to guarantee a good grade. Although, both of these classes are easy to get good grades in if you put in effort. Moving on, in sophomore year, the two most difficult classes are IB Pre-Calculus and Pre-IB Chemistry. Pre-Calc especially requires a good amount of work, but the class is easy to get good grades in as long as you study for the always difficult semester exams. In chemistry, sophomore chemistry isn’t bad at all, but there is a good number of tests and if you don’t know the material, the assignment grades will not save you. In all, sophomore year is just like freshman year but a little more difficult. However, junior year when you first enter the IB program gets more difficult with every class being either AP or IB. The hardest classes of junior year so far are AP Biology/Chemistry and I guess AP US History. Most classes junior year like APUSH aren’t difficult to get a good grade in, but have lots of homework compared to the past. The same principle applies to AP Biology, but AP Chemistry from the few weeks I had the class was a humbling experience as opposed to Pre-IB Chemistry. It wouldn’t have been difficult to do well in AP Chemistry, but with my hectic schedule I didn’t have enough time to thoroughly study for the difficult exams that used many applied concepts which I didn’t fully understand. I would say as a rule of thumb that if you get an A in Pre-IB Chemistry, then you will get a high B at least in AP Chemistry.
All in all, the IB program isn’t as bad as it seems to be, which really caught me off guard given what I had heard about the program before my freshman year. The main idea that I wish to share is that hard work in IB will lead to academic success and that while grades and GPA are obviously important, what matters the most is having a fun 4 years of high school by joining clubs and making friends.
Nicolas Miller
Dear Freshman,
Congratulations on making it into IB. As you embark on your journey at IB, there have been some important insights that I learned from my own experience that might help you navigate through the next four years.
One important lesson I learned from IB is to have a good balance between school and extracurricular activities. I know it sounds very generic, but I have seen and experienced both extremes. Having too many clubs will result in overworking and burning out. In the clubs I am a part of I have seen overzealous freshmen drop out of clubs like crazy because they wanted to have a lot of extracurriculars to appear good on college transcripts. Colleges can tell if you are joining clubs just to impress admissions officers. On the other hand, if you don’t join any clubs at all you will not get to explore your interests. I joined only one club freshman year because I was scared that I would not have time for anything.
Also, don’t hesitate to seek help when needed. IB is not easy, and no one is expected to be able to handle it all easily. You may find it hard to seek help or ask questions in class. It may seem embarrassing at first especially if all your classmates are doing just fine, but, in the end, the only person you are hurting is yourself.
Finally, enjoy your 4 years. You will make friends that will stay with you for a long time. Do not regret not doing anything fun in high school because now is the time to make memories.
Alberto Chaves
Dear freshman,
IB is not like the other schools, you have to use your time wisely in IB. The biggest advice is always to use your time wisely and that advice becomes repetitive, however that advice is repetitive for a reason. Whenever you get home you should start doing your work and finishing anything that you have regardless of its due date besides large projects. I did not use my time wisely and am staying up to do this essay. Time management is essential when you come to IB and having all your work done relieves the stress that comes with IB.
Just because you go to IB doesn’t mean you have to give up enjoying life and friendships. While you’re in the program you will meet amazing people as well as the stupidest people who you will soon call friends. There is a delicate balance between having no life and fully dedicating yourself to IB and having a good social life and hanging out with friends. Understanding that sometimes you can have both is key to walking that fine line but it is okay to go out with friends and hang out. Don’t lose contact with friends that go to other schools because you go to IB, keep in contact with them and hangout with them.
Put in effort to IB. That sliver of advice sounds stupid but by actually trying in IB and not off-putting work IB becomes so much easier. IB is not a hard program overall, there are difficult times with multiple exams that spring at once but once you get in the rhythm of doing work on time and having a set work schedule IB becomes easier. Everyone experiences burnout with IB and loses motivation to do any work. Choosing your friends wisely in IB helps with this burnout because you see that you aren’t the only one struggling and that you are not alone. The teachers are amazing and are open to talk to anytime. You can talk to them about any of the problems. When you are burnt out make sure not to live from break to break. Many people, such as me, live from break to break and when they come back to school, school hits them like a truck, everyone feels burnt out. Enjoy your time at school with friends, you’re going to be stuck at school regardless, might as well enjoy your time there. Key advice to survive is to get all your work done early, have good friends who motivate you and enjoy your time and hangout.
Jon Dacalos
Greetings, Freshman
Greetings from BHS/IB! I wanted to offer some guidance based on my experiences to help you make the most out of your high school years as you start this exciting adventure. It is my hope that these observations may help you in your academic and personal endeavors. Above all, don’t be scared to explore and discover your interests. Numerous options are available in high school, both for recreational and academic pursuits. Join groups, give sports tryouts, and become involved in things that you actually enjoy. Making friends, identifying your strengths, and growing into a well-rounded person are all made possible by it.
Time management is crucial for academic success. Although BHS/IB coursework can be demanding, you can manage your time well to balance your academics and still possess time for other interests. To be organized and make sure you meet deadlines, make a timetable or utilize a planner. In order to prevent feeling overwhelmed, break up major jobs into smaller, more manageable chunks. Procrastination is one of the dangers to stay away from. Although it’s simple to wait until the last minute, doing so can result in tension and poor quality work. Begin tasks ahead of time, ask for assistance when necessary, and don’t be afraid to consult instructors or fellow students for advice. The BHS/IB community is encouraging, and there are tools at your disposal to ensure your success.
Your capacity for critical thought and information analysis will probably be the most crucial component of your education. In IB, the development of these abilities is prioritized. Participate in class debates, challenge presumptions, and acquire the ability to see problems from several angles. These are the kinds of abilities that will help you in life after high school as well as in your academic endeavors.
Finally, never forget to look after your health. Finding a balance between academics and self-care is essential because high school may be a rigorous time. Make time for enjoyable and relaxing activities, consume a balanced diet, and get adequate sleep. Maintaining your physical and emotional well-being is crucial for long-term success.
To sum up, seize the chance, use your time sensibly, exercise critical thought, and put your health first. You can grow and learn in BHS/IB, and if you have the correct attitude, you can not only get through high school but also thrive there.
I wish you luck as you travel!
Regards,
Tahsin Iqbal
Dear Freshman,
“Everyone thinks that IB is very hard, maybe you should get out while you still have the chance.” “Why are you in IB, isn’t it stressful?” These are sentences I have heard before. Hi, my name is Dhanvi, and the first thing I am going to tell you is that “everyone” is totally right. IB is hard and IB is stressful. But this is not meant to scare you; now as a junior, I can tell you that IB is also accommodatable and that it is your choice to choose the way the program will affect your life. I believe that a person’s journey through IB, and honestly even high school, is one where you must go through the ups and the downs. My chemistry teacher, Mrs. Loweke, loves to use an analogy about the progression of difficulty in her course. In her description, she draws a curve that goes up, and then down, hits rock bottom, and finally goes back up again. Not only is this analogy a useful way to view the progression of difficulty in chemistry, but can also be representative of your next 4 years in IB.
There is a popular misconception that IB is a collection of naturally genius and gifted students. This stereotype is one that makes you feel great and maybe even provides a way to comfort yourself from reality. To be completely honest, it is not getting into IB that proves your intelligence, it is what you do after (developing courage, perseverance, and an ability to work hard). Everyone I know will talk about core IB topics such as procrastination (I am going to talk about it too), GPA, and hobbies, but instead I, firstly, want to talk about pride.
When I was in middle school I was that kid. I would go home every day and not have a single thought about school. I would finish my homework in school, and never once worried about tests. It was almost a peaceful cycle of school, play, sleep, and repeat. If you can recognize yourself in these sentences you are in for an eventful awakening (notice how I didn’t say ‘rude awakening’ – don’t worry it is most definitely not ‘rude’, it is just different). I had to learn how to work hard, how to struggle, and most importantly how to ask for help. Everyone has pride, whether they would admit it or not. I cannot emphasize how important it is that you learn, as fast as you can, how to swallow this pride. IB is all about connections. Asking for help from someone who may obtain more knowledge than you can be extremely helpful. Trust me. It will seem hard at the moment, but it will also benefit you in the long run. That being said, here are some things I knew in my freshman year (both about IB and high school in general).
Volunteering hours: My advice would be to earn more than 100 hours before the end of your sophomore year. As you probably have already heard, IB only gets harder. Therefore it may be to your advantage to earn the hours you need for the Bright Futures Scholarship before junior year.
SAT/ACT: Though this isn’t particularly an “IB” thing, it is still important. TAKE THE PSAT IN YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR (and yes I am yelling). The SAT/ACT are very standard testing examinations, but you would be surprised how much you can improve just by understanding the format and how the test is meant to measure your skills.
Friends: This is probably one of the most important things I can convey to you as a current junior. Choose the right people to surround yourself with, as they are going to influence you in more ways than you can imagine. Your friendships should make you feel comfortable and encouraged (of course it is essential that this comes from both sides). I can promise that you will know when someone is or isn’t meant to be your friend, but it is up to you to have the courage to trust your instincts and make that decision.
Procrastination (told you I was going to talk about it): It’s simple. Don’t. IB implements a lot of ‘big projects’ in the rigorous coursework, not to mention that this takes place in all 7 classes. Let’s just say you do not want to be the individual praying to the IB gods at 11:43, the night before your IA is due (you will learn about the IA more soon, but for a quick idea it’s just a really long essay).
Dual Enrollment: This is an excellent way to explore subject areas of interest that are not offered at school. There is a caution to this though, as there is in most things. Dual Enrollment should be taken for your genuine interest. Not for a GPA boost. Not because your friend is taking it. Taking Dual Enrollment or FLVS classes for the wrong reasons can lead to stress/burnout (which I am telling you from personal experience).
Comparison: Just like what I said about procrastination, it is as simple as just don’t. In IB everyone is self-motivated to do their best, as they had to meet some sort of requirement to be accepted in the program. That means that this new environment might not be similar to the one in middle school where you may have been, naturally, one of the best. One student may have to work harder than the other, and that is completely okay. Remember, a doctor who got a 91 A in grade school and a doctor who got a 100 A in grade school are both still doctors today.
Today, I am writing this submission a couple of hours before it is due. I know I just discussed procrastination as well, and I guess my actions don’t qualify me to have done so. Nevertheless, the reason I am telling you this is to convey that it is inevitable. No matter how many times someone tells you “Don’t procrastinate!” it’s going to happen. Frankly, that is just how life in IB works. Some days you will be motivated and productive, and some days you won’t. And that, freshmen, is perfectly fine. The main point is to manage your time correctly, have the perseverance/grit to continue, and most importantly, work hard to show effort in everything you do. I wish you the best of luck in your journey through IB and hope that you enjoy the ups while learning from the downs.
Dhanvi Lakshmanan
Towards the end of middle school, IB was seen as a boogeyman of sorts when people were making their high school choices. Although many people got into the program due to the relatively lax requirements compared to what they used to be. However, after the pandemic began, there wasn’t really time to think about how difficult the IB experience was, or how much more I’d have to do as I jumped from middle school to high school. I just logged into Zoom calls every day, spending most hours of my life on the computer. In a way, I think this experience, which will hopefully no longer occur to future incoming freshmen, both benefited me and negatively affected me. Due to the fact I didn’t really have time to think about the challenges I was facing, I was able to complete things that I would’ve thought dreadful the year before. However, the negative effects of this experience also coincide with the pitfalls normal incoming freshmen might want to avoid.
It’s clear to anybody that online school is going to reduce the social interaction one has with their classmates. What I didn’t know however, was how detrimental not being a part of the greater student body/community can be. Without connections to other students, you won’t have any idea what you have to look forward to in your other classes, what questions might be on a test you have to take, or even what material you went over on a day you were absent. I’ve experienced this myself and I can attest to the difficulty this brings to an already difficult program. Thus, I’d warn any new freshmen to avoid being too quiet or nervous your first year of school. Although you may know some people from your middle school, high school is a chance to become someone new that can be an integral part of the student population. I didn’t exactly have this opportunity, as I came to school in person a year later than most of my classmates, significantly hindering my ability to insert myself into previously formed social circles. Now, in my senior year, I am proud of how I’ve been able to fight against this hinderance and feel a lot more connected with my fellow IB students, allowing me to enjoy all the benefits I mentioned earlier. So, if you glean one thing from these words, make as many friends as you can.
Lastly, I want to touch upon what has been most important for me to study these past years. This is hard to answer, as things come easier or harder to different people based on their strengths. However, some things I believe should be universally focused upon that aren’t necessarily academic study material are sleep, spaced repetition, and habit formation. Sleep is one thing I have invested a lot of time into researching recently, as it had been the bane of my existence for nearly two years. I’d constantly fall asleep during classes, even on days I’d gotten good sleep. With the research I’ve done, I was able to form a routine that works for me and has been keeping me awake and alert about 95% more than before. However, sleep and routines are unique to everyone, so put in your own study. Spaced repetition is savior for any test or just for remembering concepts. This coincides with my next point of study, habit formation. If you are able to make spaced repetition a constant habit and essentially gamify studying, you will be set to feel very comfortable for any tests you take. These are, once again, two things that I’ve put a lot of study into myself, and I think everyone in the IB should too.
Raheel Mir
I want to start with the most important thing, do NOT take your freshman and sophomore years for granted, because those will be the best and most relaxing years of IB. I am not saying that junior and senior are terrible, but it will test your ability to not stress out. To make sure you do not stress out just remember that Balance is Key, and the value of balance is one of the most important things I have ever learned. The difficult requirements of the IB program can easily stress you out, but it is important to keep a healthy balance between schoolwork, extracurriculars, and personal stuff. Just make sure to have fun while trying not to stress.
Even though you want to try to be stress-free, do still try to Embrace Challenges because IB is designed to challenge you mentally and individually. Do not be scared of challenging coursework or difficult assignments and do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it, from instructors, classmates, or online. Getting over challenges is a necessary part of learning, and any obstacle you overcome makes you stronger. It is important to look after your physical and emotional health. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and enough sleep will all help you succeed overall. Recognize how stressed you are and do not be scared to take breaks when you need them. Remember that having a healthy body and mind improves your chances of success.
Make sure you Celebrate Small Wins because that will be one of your main fuel sources to not give up, but while celebrating your progress is important, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Celebrate your success when you finish a tough project, ace an exam, or just understand a tough concept. Acknowledging even the smallest of your accomplishments helps you stay motivated. Finally, welcome the chances and difficulties that IB offers. Remember that personal development is just as important as academic success. Make important friendships along the way, have fun, and do not be afraid to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.
Krish Nair
Dear Incoming Freshman,
I hope you’re extremely excited about coming to IB because I sure was! This program is a program like no other. I am writing this letter to advise you about what you are going to experience here. Before you even step foot onto campus here you’ve got to understand something. IB is nothing like what you experienced in middle school. For many of you, I’m sure that in middle school you got all A’s without putting in any effort and that you never had studied before. IB is nothing like this. You are going to need to prepare for exams and put in effort to do well here. No more yapping in your essay to make it look big and turning it in for full credit. You will get called out on it. For the rest of this letter, I will give you advice on how to succeed at this school.
I’m sure that almost everybody has told you this, but still, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. At first, procrastinating might seem very tempting as you think that you’ll have plenty of time the next day or morning to do your homework. Well sometimes emergencies come up and you don’t find any time to finish that project that was assigned a month ago. To avoid procrastinating what I would do is hold your friends accountable. First, create a group chat with all of your friends. Then each one of you type out what homework you were assigned or have due. Next, keep bothering your friends until they finish their homework. There is nothing more motivating than a bunch of friends texting you 24/7 about finishing your homework. By holding your friends accountable, you also hold yourself accountable.
Next piece of advice, prioritize your health. It is ok to not stay up all night to get your work done. It’s all good if you have to turn in an assignment late. Trust me the world is not going to end. Get those eight hours of sleep in, as it will allow you to be stable in IB. If you keep staying up and not resting, eventually all that’s going to happen is that you’re going to burn out. Take a break, go out for a walk, or go hang out with your friends. Not everything has to be about school and getting into a good college or being valedictorian. It’s good to relax for some days and rest. I’m not saying that getting into a good college or having good grades is a bad thing. But your health is more important. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll just burn out and all of the effort you put in will have gone to waste.
That’s about all of the advice I can give you. I could tell you about things that I’m sure you’ve heard a million times like using a planner or taking notes, but this is what I wanted to tell you as a junior in IB. I hope you learned something from this. Good luck and try to have fun!
Adi Patel
Dear Freshman,
Hello and congratulations on being accepted into IB, one of the most intense and demanding but rewarding programs offered to high school students like you. My name is Amir, and I am here to serve as a mentor for you in this letter. I will essentially give you tips on how to improve your experience here at IB and, hopefully, things to avoid so you can have the smoothest high school experience possible while maintaining exceptionally great grades. I want to let you know in advance that IB is not for any regular student; you must have a sense of drive and ambition to succeed, and you must be fine with giving up certain afterschool activities that you may have become accustomed to as the workload is demanding here. However, it will all be worth it in the end, I promise.
The number one piece of advice I would give to someone just starting IB is to not procrastinate. As generic and repetitive as this may sound, it is nothing short of the truth. What makes IB difficult is the demanding workload given to the students, as mentioned above. It is not the material that is necessarily complicated; rather, it is all the work given that complicates the class or subject. It is vital for you to try and complete all work given to you on the day it was assigned, so you don’t accumulate a large amount of makeup work and end up pulling an all-nighter trying to get caught up.
Another piece of advice I would give to someone beginning IB is to make sure you complete all your work on your own and not copy someone else’s work. Not only will this benefit you in the long run, but you will also perform better on your end-of-year exams, and you will show that you actually mastered the subject. I am not saying that you can’t work with others on homework or assignments (with the teacher’s permission, of course); I would actually encourage this; however, make sure you are all helping each other out and actually understanding what’s going on rather than just copying your friends work and being completely lost.
Lastly, a very important piece of advice I would give to someone starting IB is to carefully select their friend group. Given that you are in the IB program, you will most likely be surrounded by exceptionally bright students; however, it is always important to surround yourself with like-minded people who will encourage you to excel and succeed in school. I’m sure you won’t have to worry about this, but it is always good to be cautious and aware.
Reflecting back on my experience at IB, the most important and deserving of all the study time allocated towards my classes is most definitely the sense of pride and excitement I received after opening up focus and looking at the A I received on a test after studying so much. It makes you feel good inside knowing you studied hard, and all that studying paid off. Also, passing your AP and IB exams after a year of intense studying and curriculum is very rewarding. Knowing that you received college credit for something you completed and worked hard for in high school just makes you feel really happy and proud of yourself.
Ultimately, you will be just fine at IB. Even though many may make it seem like the worst four years of their lives, it is really not that bad. It is possible to excel academically while at IB and still have a life outside of school. It all comes down to how you manage your free time and make sure you don’t procrastinate. I hope this was helpful, and good luck on all your future endeavors!
Sincerely,
Amir Sallem
The IB Program at Bartow High School is very challenging, as you will find yourself in situations where you may doubt your decision to go to IB. Even though this may happen, the benefits of IB definitely outweigh the negatives of the program. The amount of work that you put into your daily assignments, quizzes, and tests will determine how much value you will get out of the program. With that being said, the program is not all about school work and studying.
An important aspect to the IB program is the small student body across all four grades, resulting in the possibilities close connections and friendships regardless of class. Throughout my four years of IB, I was able to make many friends through various clubs and other activities. As a freshman, I was able to meet upperclassmen and talk to them about their experiences in the program. They gave me great advice on how to succeed in the rigorous courses and overall understand the benefits of staying in IB. Making friendships early on in the program, especially with your classmates, will result in great friendships and support during stressful times.
Another value that IB teaches is the importance of balance. Although the IB program requires dedication to studying and completing work, I was able to learn how to use my time wisely after school and on the weekends because I played sports. If you choose to play a sport or participate in an extracurricular activity that requires a lot of time, it is very possible that you will experience some stress of keeping up with the workload; however, with the right planning and preparation, being a student athlete will not be a problem. Overall, IB is a very difficult four years of hard work, but with the right friends and the right mindset, you will learn to grow as a person and succeed in future endeavors.
Nathan Sandoval
Dear incoming freshman,
I want to begin by saying that the IB program is not as bad as what you’ve probably heard from other people. I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy, but I do think that if you have the right mindset and if you keep up, you can get through comfortably. The IB program is probably unlike anything you’ve done in previous years, and it’s not like any other school, so don’t come in thinking that it’s going to be anything like middle school. Even if you were the best in middle school with straight A’s, that may not be the case here, and that’s fine. Approach the challenges in the IB program with an open mind and embrace them, because often times, they come with opportunity.
I know that you’ve probably heard this hundreds of times, but I’m going to reiterate it again because it becomes increasingly important in the IB program: don’t procrastinate. If you keep putting things off until tomorrow, things will keep piling up because that “tomorrow” never arrives; however, if you keep up with your work, you’re going to be the one laughing when everyone else is scrambling to finish their essay five minutes before the deadline, or spending their entire birthday annotating a book (like me) even though it was assigned months earlier. I would say that one of the best ways to go about this is to find yourself a schedule. Find a balance between your hobbies, extracurriculars, and school-life so that you’re not overworking yourself.
Another thing I want to emphasize that most people don’t think about is your relationship with teachers. All of your teachers are great people, and I think it’s important that you talk to them and build a relationship with them. Most people underestimate it, but your teachers are very understanding. If you’re ever having a rough time, talk to your teachers about it so they can help you out because it can take a lot off your shoulders, especially if you’re behind on work because of something going on in your life. The teachers in this program are some of the best teachers, and they know how it feels to be in your place, so don’t be afraid to ask them something If you ever need help. In the end, even though your journey will be filled with many ups and downs, the experiences and relationships that you gain along the way are what make it worth it. Those are the things that make you stand out compared to someone who didn’t take the hard way. I don’t really know how many people are going to actually read this, but I hope that if you do, you can take something from it and apply it to help you be more successful in your IB journey.
Sahil Ande
My advice to a freshman just starting at BHS IB would be to take school seriously. At times the amount of work and tests that teachers expect of you can be kind of overwhelming and seem pointless, but in the long run it’s going to be worth it, and you’re going to regret not trying your hardest in the future when you look back. Don’t put off work when you know that you have time to do it; letting multiple assignments pile up over the course of the week is only going to stress you out more than you need to be, and it will make your life so much easier. Also, study for tests even if you feel that it will be easy or that you know the material- developing good study habits now, even if it’s just to review things you already feel confident about, is going to help tremendously in the long run, especially when the tests start getting harder. You’re going to be glad you learned how to effectively study early on.
Another piece of advice I have is to go out of your comfort zone and talk to people! For the first year and a half of high school I was very reclusive and barely had any friends; it wasn’t until I recognized that I needed to make a change that I started to force myself out of my comfort zone and started making tons of friends. Your experience in IB is going to be pretty miserable if you don’t have people around you to lean on. Surround yourself with people that you genuinely enjoy being around, but also people who push you to be better. If you become friends with people who are unmotivated and don’t care about school, that mentality is going to rub off on you, so be friends with people who have a positive and hardworking mindset.
Finally, I’d say that it’s extremely important that you respect your teachers and show them that you are a hardworking student. For a lot of the IB program, you’re going to be seeing mostly the same teachers around, and those same teachers are going to be the ones helping you meet your requirements for your diploma and writing your college recommendations, so behave in a way that you would want them to tell others about. Don’t sleep in their class if you can help it, show them that you’re paying attention and genuinely trying to understand the material and I can guarantee you that they won’t hesitate to help you any time you’re having trouble.
Best of luck!!!!
Ezequiel Centeno
Your time as an IB student will not be easy; however, that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun. The biggest struggle you will face in IB is balancing your social life with your academic life in a manner that allows you to have good grades and still partake in the social struggles of high school. It would be in your best interest to get to know your fellow IB students as they will help you more than anyone else in pushing through IB. Be sociable and make friends with as many people as possible so that you have plenty of people to push you to keep going when things get hard in IB. You will be working closely with these people for four years and probably into college, so it is in your best interest to get to know them.
There’s also the one thing that everyone in IB is gonna tell you that is most important to your success in IB: sleep. You should always try to get as much sleep as possible because without it there is no way you will perform well in your classes without it. Staying to study all night for a test will probably cause you to perform worse than if you were to just go to bed early and study a little in the morning. Furthermore, staying up all night to write an essay won’t do you any good because that essay is going to suck since you’re writing it at 3 am when your brain is begging you to go to sleep. You’ll also just mentally feel better if you get enough sleep every night. I know from experience that not sleeping tends to make you more depressed and anxious which is just going to make everything worse for you.
When it comes to academics, the science classes will almost always be your hardest class. IB science is no joke and should be taken very seriously. I would suggest trying your best in both Chemistry and Biology during 10th and 9th grade so that way you won’t feel forced into one or the other. One thing that’ll help you in both classes is reading your textbook. Even if it’s not assigned, read the textbook that corresponds to the unit you are on to supplement your learning in class. Math will probably be your second-hardest class but I highly suggest you go through the calculus route. Even if you don’t really like math, calculus is when math gets interesting and you understand why you’ve been learning all this math. It changes the way you think and is a genuinely fun math class.
Joshua Gray
To the incoming Freshmen, the most important advice is to ask for help when necessary and to never be afraid to do what is necessary. There will be times where your workload has piled up, and rather than power through it all, it would be in your best interest to work with someone to get the work done faster. You will see a sudden jump in the course difficulty and workload, and some people may be prepared to handle it while others will struggle with all of it. Make as many friends as possible, not just because socializing is important, but because when you need it the most you will turn to your friends to help; IB is a marathon that all the freshmen take together. Many of your peers will not make it to the end of senior year often because they struggled far more than what was necessary or strived to be perfect rather than be the best they could be.
During my freshmen year, I noticed many people that tried to prove that they were the smartest of the class, and I beg you to not be that person. Coming into IB you should not try to focus on being the valedictorian because of how much stress and work is necessary to achieve that goal, but rather focus on enjoying your high school career and doing the best you can be.
Don’t forget to still have hobbies! I’m not talking about joining school clubs and having those be your extracurriculars because no college cares for those and in all honesty most clubs are extremely boring. Having hobbies allows you to forget the extreme stress you’re under as well as helps you look forward to something every day also, they look really well on your college applications. Living life is about having experiences and creating memories, not just being a student who studies.
Martin Hernandez
Hello freshmen, I will be writing an essay in which I tell from my personal experience as an IB student and as a junior. I will include personal stories, advice, and other stuff in the hopes to aid your high school journey. First off, what everyone says, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Seriously, it may seem exaggerated and maybe even annoying when everyone is telling you not to procrastinate but it’s really true. It’s very easy to fall into procrastination, even if it’s involuntary, it starts off with putting off one small assignment and then it turns into various assignments, and ultimately a lot of assignments, both large and small. Before you know it, you have dug yourself a deep hole that will be hard to get out of. To prevent this always do your assignments as soon as you receive them. I would advise you to create a planner, agenda, or something to help you stay on top of your assignments. Your method of remembering assignments doesn’t even have to be formal like a full-on planner or agenda that is color coded and all, although that wouldn’t hurt, it just needs to be something that works for you. For example, I never found the idea of writing everything down on a calendar planner, as it seemed tedious, and it just wasn’t right for me. What worked for me was to have a pad of sticky notes on which I would write my assignments in a list form, and I am always carrying a pad of sticky notes with me to write down what I need to do for homework, and as you can see it’s not a complicated method, yet it greatly facilitates doing homework for me. If you do happen to forget to do an assignment or you don’t do it, as it will happen at some point in time at least once, do it as soon as possible. Many times, I left assignment I forgot about for the last minute and at the end of the quarter I was rushing to finish them and turn them in for credit, so be warned, do not procrastinate,
Now, in regards of learning and being ready for tests, always take notes and study. I personally recommend taking handwritten notes as they work for me and a lot of people too as it activates something called muscle memory in which the brain remembers information better when it is handwritten. Also, it’s always good to have something to look back at for review. Speaking of review, always study. Studying is going to be essential if you want to pass all your tests with a high grade. Even if you think the material is easy of that you don’t need to study, you should as you never know when you might forget an important detail, all because you didn’t study. I would get so upset & mad when I was taking a test and one of the questions had content that I remembered in my notes but could not recall for the test, all because I did not study for the test. Studying does not have to be for hours on end every day, it can be in short intervals spread throughout the week. If you do not know what to study, think back on important people, dates, formulas, items that can help you expand into more detail.
Lastly, an important thing that many students forget is that being in school is not all about having the highest gpa and only caring for school just for that. While it is good to get good grades and a high gpa, and it is encouraged to try your best to get those grades as high as can be, they are not the center of your life. You should not be spending your afternoons and time outside of school, on more school. You should be able to enjoy your secular life. Many students will often take up extra classes online just to pad their gpa and increase it. If this is all you do, colleges will be able to tell if you tried and cared about learning in these classes. Also, your health is important, you should not be reducing the normal amount of sleep humans need to sleep to a dangerously low amount. While there will be nights where you may have to stay up late to finish an assignment, this should not become habitual and normal. Lack of sleep will have negative consequences on your health and even in school as the brain needs sleep to function properly. Do not let school control & dictate your whole life.
My final take is that as you enter school remember not to procrastinate, take notes & study, and do not let yourself and your normal life get too distracted by school.
Snaider Lopez
To the Freshies,
High school can be intimidating, especially since ours is three schools in one. My first day coming to the school after being a freshman during covid year was an absolute disaster. I was 30 minutes late for chemistry because I got lost between buildings and was just wandering the halls hoping I’d come across the room because I was too afraid to ask for help. Don’t be like me. The only way you can conquer high school is if you ask for help. I’ve learned that the smartest people are always the ones who tend to ask “stupid” questions because they know what they’re talking about and what they’re asking, so they can expand their knowledge and understand what they’re learning. If you’re an IB student, I’m pretty sure being inquisitive is part of the wonderful IB learner profile, which you’ll hear tons about during your four-year stay.
A big tip is don’t procrastinate; I’m sure you’ll see this in plenty of letters from years back, but no one ever listens, so I’m keeping it to one sentence. A major pitfall I’ve seen many people fall into is becoming overwhelmed. Balancing schoolwork, extracurriculars and hobbies is hard, and I’m still figuring it out, but the best advice I can give you is to have a schedule and do things one at a time. Sometimes you’ll need to forgo things in order to get other things done, and that’s okay. Make time for the things that matter most, and don’t get too caught up in little things or stress yourself out. That’ll only lead to procrastination and self-sabotage. And if things do feel like they’re beginning to be too much, my mantra has always been “At least I’m going to graduate in X years!”; it’s like a very very very extended countdown.
To cut years off your college time, if that’s your plan, try to focus your studies on subjects required for your major (if you’ve even decided it yet) or requirements that you can knock off now. I took a bunch of APs and my IB classes will definitely help as well, since they’re college classes. It’s okay if you don’t know your major yet, I literally decided mine this year, but it’s definitely helpful as you’re choosing classes to take. Something that’ll help you in life more than the academics you learn here is the connections you’ll make. I’ve joined so many clubs, and applying for college apps was a breeze, but I gained so much more from them. I want to say something cringy like, “Maybe the real high school was the friends we made along the way” because it really is like that for me. I love my friends, and I don’t think I would’ve made them without the proximity of high school classrooms and clubs (and like you I’m nervous to be a freshman in college and make new friends), but the friends I’ve made in high school are forever; I can talk to them about anything, and there’s a sort of kinship in knowing you’re in this together. So, if you really think high school is gonna be horrible academically for you, this is something to look forward to in the least. BUT make friends that support you and you can trust, never settle for less. Wow, this is long. Can you tell I like writing?
You’re a teenager!!! Make the most of it. Don’t be mean. Don’t let others define who you are. You’re an amazing, wonderful person, so go show the world that! These four years are yours to conquer, and when you’re famous or so impactful you’ve made the news, don’t forget about your nervous freshman self reading advice letters to prepare for the big scary world that is high school. I wonder if Gen Alpha is going to be reading these letters. That’d be crazy.
Have Fun Writing a Letter When You’re a Calc Student,
Esha Modi
The two best pieces of advice I can offer are these: get a good sleep and avoid being too hard on yourself. I am sure that every IB freshman will hear these two things over and over again, but I feel as if it is necessary to reiterate these points, until they truly sink in. For me, it took till my junior year to truly implement these practices and, in all honesty, I still fail to follow my own advice sometimes. However, the only way IB will become any easier, or at least seem more achievable, is by applying these ideas to everyday life.
Adjusting to IB is a struggle, I will admit, however, failing to get a good sleep is what really screws you over, not a lack of studying or forgetting to do your homework. There have been days, especially in my freshmen years, where I couldn’t keep my head up or my eyes open. I couldn’t pay attention in class if I couldn’t even stay awake. Countless times I found that missing a lesson in class would be detrimental to my grades and my testing skills. I fully believe that every single person could do well in each class, but by not getting a good sleep, you automatically set yourself up for failure. Now, the prospect of getting a good night’s sleep of 6+ hours sounds difficult, especially when you have yet to read and annotate a book due the next morning, however, there are ways to do so. The biggest way to get a better sleep is to stop procrastinating, however impossible that might sound. Personally, I was able to stop some of my procrastination by dedicating a study space and a relax space. It might sound strange having separate places for studying and for relaxing, but it helped provide more structure and focus when I need it most. The second-best piece of advice I can give to help prevent procrastination, is to delete social media. You don’t have to give up all it but give up those apps that really pull your attention away (this includes TikTok). Apps like these tend to get you stuck in that cycle of mindless scrolling perpetuating that cycle of procrastination. So get rid of them, do your homework, and get to bed!
One of the bigger hurdles you will face as an IB freshman is confidence. Sometimes your biggest enemy is yourself, especially when it comes to IB. The large majority of IB kids come from “gifted programs” where you have been placed upon a pedestal. And I don’t mean this negatively, but reality hits when you come to IB and see the workload. You may have so many expectations for yourself: all As, valedictorian, highest GPA. So, it can be tough at times to stay on this “pedestal.” But I think it is important to keep in mind that failure is a wonderful thing. I am sure you have heard this before, but failure helps you grow and learn a person. Getting that B is okay. Failing a test is okay. Not being the best at everything is okay. The most important thing is that you try. If you know that at the end of the day you tried your hardest then let it go. You will still be able to get into the college you want. So, don’t worry when you can’t meet those too-high expectations you have, they were unrealistic to begin with.
Madison Odum
Hello Future Freshmen:
As you start your journey through high school, it is important to keep your grades up and makes new friends who are willing to help you get through 4 years of high school. Some teachers that may seem like mean teachers such as Ms. Rossi, are just nice and have great teaching abilities. I want you freshmen to know that it is okay to be yourself in IB, and don’t try to be like someone else just because you’re trying to be cool. It is important to be kind to all your teachers and make good relationships with your peers in class. There are many clubs I recommend joining such as tennis or any other sports club since it helps you build a strong resume when looking for colleges. Some things to avoid while in IB is procrastinating and having a buildup of assignments to do later. If you procrastinate on an assignment, you will feel stress and it will cause your grades to lower a lot.
Some other things to avoid while in IB is to get caught up in school drama. It is better for you to keep your friend group small and only be friends with people who are willing to listen and support you in your hard times in high school. Some classes that I believed that needed the most study times is all AP classes since if you don’t pay attention in class, you will be lost for the whole year, and you would constantly be asking questions that have been covered already in class. Some specific things to pay attention in is stoichiometry from chemistry since this unit is used continuously in the chemistry class. Also, it is important to be on the good sides of teachers so that you can get recommendation letters from teachers.
Another advice that I give is that you take the SAT early in junior year so that you don’t have to stress about getting a good score on those tests for colleges to see. It is also important to get a lot of sleep whenever possible, and doing your homework early so that you don’t have to do it late and lose sleep. Getting sleep is important because school starts at 7am and in order to be awake during classes you need to get your sleep. I also recommend you to not turn in assignment later since assignment are the things that are going to hold your grade up if you fail a test which are worth a lot more than assignments.
I know that all of you freshmen are going to do great in your path to success. It is important to have fun, and it is important to understand when you need to be serious in school. I wish good luck to all you freshman. I know you all will do good and be successful after your amazing high school experience.
Soham Patel
Honestly, if I could go back in time to freshman or sophomore year, I would choose a different program to attend, because for me IB itself wasn’t worth it at all, and it’s mostly been a miserable experience, especially senior year. It’d have been so much better to just go to normal Bartow and take advanced classes. Obviously, I wouldn’t say that to a freshman, though.
The most important thing for freshman to learn is time management and being able to form habits that allow them to be productive with their work. It’s easy to put off assignments, but then they start piling up and that causes loads of necessary stress. It’s best to instill those habits early on. It’s easy to think “oh I can do that later I’ll have enough time”, but if you do it now then you won’t have to do it later, so it’s best to do it as soon as possible. This applies to things outside of school assignments too. For example, community service. You need to have at least one hundred hours, so instead of stressing yourself during senior year trying to reach that goal, you can start regularly volunteering in a reliable place every once in a while. I started volunteering at the Polk Education Foundation in sophomore year, so now I have over 200 hours. Doing a little bit each day is healthier than doing a lot at the end, so implementing doing a little bit each day is the most important thing for freshman to learn early on, in my opinion.
Although I personally hate IB and regret going, it’s not totally bad. I’m not personally into the competition aspect of IB, but it’s useful for people who thrive off competition. Also, the friendships you make in IB will be great, since you have most of your classes together and you’re stuck suffering together, so the bonds you make will be strong. Trauma bonding. Importantly, most of the teachers are excellent and intelligent, so the material you need to know will be covered in great detail. Plus, they’re very understanding if you’re having a difficult time at home or with your mental health and will help you through it, so that’s nice.
IB is different for every person. My feelings towards it are obviously negative, but that’s not universal. Freshman, first of all should stay at least until sophomore year, but also evaluate their personal experience and whether they think they fit IB. If academia isn’t that important to you and you want to spend more time experiencing things outside of school, then maybe IB isn’t for you, but if you’re very ambitious, competitive, and like academics, then you should probably stay.
Estefania Quiles
Dear Freshman,
This is my third year at IB and I have learned many things which and I have lots of advice to share. My first piece of advice is not to procrastinate because that will be your number one enemy. Now I know everyone tells you this but let it sink in because if you procrastinate you will be drowning in work. A way to help with procrastination is time management because the workload is not too bad if you manage your time right. Managing your time correctly allows for fun because I know it is a stereotype that all IB kids never have fun; however, I am still able to hang out with my friends all the time. I think having fun or going out is really important because it gives you a break from school but also it is important to live your life as a kid. It is easy to get caught up in the small things in life, but looking at the big picture can help you see that being stressed is a small part of life.
Now one thing you should avoid is staying up late because that can be your downfall. Staying up late leads to being tired during the school day and you do not process things the same way you do if you are energized/well-rested. If you are not comprehending what is being taught, then that can hurt you long-term when there are tests on the material. Energy drinks/coffee are not the same as sleeping because I found that when I sleep more, I learn the material faster. Another thing is avoid talking to just the same people because IB classes are very small and no new people come into the class, so it is good to be friends with everyone. Talking to everyone will help you feel more comfortable while presenting in class because you know the people. This leads me to my next thing which is to avoid getting into drama because it is not worth it and if it is normal high school drama then it is probably stupid and you probably have better things to spend your time on.
Subjects that seem to be the most important to study are chemistry, math, and history. You will take chemistry in your sophomore year and possibly junior and senior if you take the chemistry track. Chem is a subject where you cannot just read your notes a couple of times and be done, you have to do practice problems to know how the questions will be worded and what formulas to use when. But you also have to understand the conceptual stuff and know how to apply it. The only way to study for math is by doing practice problems which will help you avoid making stupid and small mistakes because they can add up. Now history is the weird one because you have to both memorize information also know what the big idea is which is important while writing LEQ or DBQ. For history, I like to watch Heimler videos as my studying and make sure I am not distracted so I retain the information.
Nandika Sreeram
Well, I just want to start off by saying that I definitely have not had the most enjoyable IB experience. I have procrastinated on many of my assignments and gotten not so good grades. However, I still try and push through this struggle that I have put myself into, despite how hard it can be. The IB curriculum is definitely not easy, but by persevering, many are able to come out with a diploma and great amounts of experience for when then get to college. I just want to give some guidelines for what could lead to a less stressful experience as an IB student.
I believe that starting out as a freshman, it is necessary to start making good habits that will stick throughout the years. I know a lot of people who make will make a checklist of each day’s tasks and complete that checklist in order of priority. This is an extremely beneficial habit, so that no homework is forgotten, and the most important things are done first. Along with this, it is vital to understand the limit of what you can do before you burn out. Sure, it is good to do all your homework the night it is assigned, but if you have no time or energy and the assignment is not due the next day, then it is ok to take a break. Finally, an extremely good freshman habit is organizing everything from day 1. Without that organization, life becomes significantly more stressful for no reason.
Places I struggled were when I was doing sports and had practice every day; even though you may love your sport, school should always come first, even if that means taking a break from practice. My lack of understanding of this made it extremely hard for me to keep up my grades because I felt the need to support my team, even though I needed time to myself. Along with this, start your projects as soon as possible because before you know it, you have 3 hours to annotate 250 pages of a text in older English. Mainly just find a routine that works for you and try to create the least amount of stress possible for yourself and you will do great.
Amil Tavares
As an IB junior, there are so many things I wish I had known when I came into IB. I wish I had known just how much work it would be. I wish I had known how much time it would take out of my life. But looking back at the last two years, I think a few things stand out from the rest.
I wish I had actually done all of my work on time since the beginning. Honestly, I still struggle with this, but it has improved over time. Waiting until the last minute to get your work done is an awful idea, like annotating an entire book in one night. But I know that if I say not to do that, you won’t listen – so instead, I’ll just say to pick a favorite energy drink now.
I wish someone had told me not to be so caught up in my own head too. Whether your grades are incredibly good or incredibly not as good, keep in mind that just by being in IB you’re already in the top percentile. Everyone else is also smart, and you should find a group of friends that can help you through the years so you don’t end up stuck in your own ego.
If you’re the top of the class, realize that your classmates are probably right behind you, and don’t let yourself be caught up in your ego. If you’re the bottom of the class, realize just how high up you are compared to the average high school student, and remember that your classmates can be here as support.
Xander White
Hey freshmen,
Listen to Dante’s Divine Comedy and “abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” What you’re about to experience is an unreal and hellish environment. Disregard most of what I said above except the words of Dante, you’re going to have to abandon not just hope but also your sleep and soul. Experiencing the ups and downs of IB, lessons have been taught and learned by everyone, and here are just the basics.
Before starting anything in IB, look around your class and try to meet new people, find people who have similar interests to you, and find people who are real, please don’t do anything dumb in the first quarter of the year. First impressions are a big factor in IB, whether teachers or other students, you will be judged. Communication among others is important and is one of the main ways you’ll make it through the depths of assignments and tests that make or break your straight A’s you got in middle school.
Since everyone is different there is no definite way of studying, but there is a way of learning and that’s by paying attention to your teachers and not getting on their nerves that means being quiet in class and not acting dumb. However, a really good tool you should use going further into IB is The Organic Chemistry Tutor on YouTube. He is one of the best tools you can use if you need help with geometry, algebra 2, chemistry, physics, and basically any math-related subjects.
Something everyone says here in IB is to get good sleep but they’re just being hypocritical because the only people in IB that get good sleep are the teachers. Anyway, the lesson is just to not procrastinate. It happens to the best and worst and a bit of a mix in between us. If there was a procrastination cure, IB would be as easy as a normal high school, but the main factor separating this rigorous program and a ‘normal’ high school is the amount and difficulty of work, although your teachers teach you everything you need to know. Thus, the defining principle is just workload, and that is why you have to learn how to procrastinate less. An easy tip to pass all your English and History classes is to just yap about anything relevant that comes to mind on your paper and hope it makes sense, basically the method I am using right now.
Overall, IB is not really as bad as it is made out to be by others. Once you start finding the flow of how to do your homework on the bus ride to school or during lunch, IB becomes a breeze until tests roll around and that’s when you pray and hope someone is listening.
Sincerely,
Johnny Wu
This essay is going to explain three different parts of IB and my advice as junior on each of them. These parts include your science choice, sixth subject, and your elective split.
At the end of your sophomore year, you get to pick between either biology or chemistry to be your science subject. For your decision, consider your choice based off more factors than just which you are the best at. For example, since my arrival in IB, there has been five separate biology teachers in three years. Even though I was better at biology (as I even got the award) than chemistry, since I did not know who the next biology teacher was going to be nor how good they were at teaching, I picked chemistry. Another major factor for your decision is what you are interested in. If chemistry is a major part of what you want to major in the future, I would take it if possible in IB, especially since Loweke is a great teacher and will be willing to help you if you do not understand a subject.
For your sixth subject, you only really have two options: taking World Religions because it is said to be the easiest, or to follow what you are interested in. Either decision is valid; however, I would follow your interests as I took business and I love the subject and the teacher, Mrs. Heaton. Also, let’s be honest, you’re not interested in World Religions.
In junior year, each person also has to take a split. Since a large portion of people reading this plan to take precalculus and will have some knowledge about IB tests, I recommend that you take the type of course with final exam format that is preferrable: IB or AP. For me, I believe AP tests to be a lot easier than IB tests, and since I am good at math, and Loweke is a good teacher, I decided to take AP Physics. I recommend you use a similar train of thought when considering your sixth subject as I did here.
Samuel Frierson
Reflecting on my experience at IB, I would offer some advice to incoming freshmen. First, I would emphasize the importance of time management and organization. High school, especially in the IB program, can be demanding with various assignments, projects, and extracurricular activities. Developing effective time management skills early on will not only help in staying on top of academic responsibilities but also in maintaining a healthy school-life balance.
Another piece of advice would be to engage in extracurricular activities offered by the school and just have something to do after school. Whether it’s joining clubs, participating in sports, or hanging out with friends, doing something outside of school can help with the repetitive cycle that school starts to feel like. Building positive relationships with teachers and classmates can create a supportive network that helps towards academic success and personal growth. In terms of studying, I would prioritize subjects which I am not strongest at and to start within a reasonable time.
Regarding potential pitfalls, procrastination, and demotivation are things that I struggle with. Avoiding last-minute cramming and doing assignments at the last minute throughout the semester can significantly reduce stress and reduce the feeling of being burnt out. Becoming burned out and losing motivation to do anything is a real risk in a challenging environment like IB, so taking breaks, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle outside of school is necessary for one to achieve success.
Jeremy Meneses
Dear Incoming IB Freshmen,
Welcome to the exciting and challenging journey that is the International Baccalaureate Program. As an underclassman you will hear a lot of the same thing, complaints on the workload, deadlines, and homework. Cutting through this noise, here is some advice and insights that might help you navigate the next few years successfully.
First and foremost, let’s address the notorious issue – procrastination. You’ll undoubtedly hear it everywhere and to be honest, I have had my fair share of procrastination leading to the common all-nighter, but the truth is, that it is probably the most common pitfall amongst students. We’ve all been there, but knowing how manage your time effectively, the smoother and more fulfilling your experience at IB will be. Creating a schedule, prioritizing tasks, and not leaving assignments until the last minute makes a world of difference.
About the classes, each subject can bring a unique set of challenges, but it’s crucial not to neglect any classes, even those that you might not like. Take the time to understand the concepts thoroughly, and don’t hesitate to seek help from teachers or classmates when needed. One of the most valuable assets IB can provide is the teachers and building a good relationship with your teachers is vital. They are there to guide you, so don’t hesitate to seek advice or discuss any concerns.
Beyond academics, having balance in your academic life and personal life is very important. Senior and junior year can be taxing, so find an activity you enjoy maintaining balance whilst not taking too much time away from your academics. This can be in the form of club participation in areas which you enjoy, like FBLA and A-TEAM. But, building a supportive circle of friends and being social can greatly help through the vigor of the IB program.
In the end, the IB program is your investment in your future. It allows for unique opportunities for your future, by building a robust academic foundation. learn from your experiences both good and bd and remember that you’re not just preparing for the exams; you’re developing skills that will “give you the edge” in college and the workspace.
Teryl Benjamin
Dear incoming freshmen,
There are many things that I wish I would have implemented into my regular schedule that I would have never thought of before taking AP classes. AP classes are much more difficult than your average classes and show how much you learn and prepare you mentally for college. There are very important things that you should implement into your daily routine which may include studying every night and reviewing the materials before you go into class the next day. Nothing feels worse than when you do not fully understand a concept from a class and say, “Oh I’ll figure it out later”, because then everything you learn is now being built onto a faulty foundation in a sense. Most of the work that you do may not make any sense if you do not understand most things in the beginning.
There are many things that I wish someone would have told me before going into high school that I hope I could help spread to you. One thing that I wish someone told me was to study no matter what even if there is a topic that you understand very well. If you do not study the concept and do many examples of said concept, then you may forget and must relearn instead of keeping the knowledge in the first place. In middle school and elementary school having straight A’s was very easy and not very labor intensive for me. High school is completely different in the way that you must do a lot more work to understand everything completely. Many people do struggle in AP classes and want to drop out after a month or two, but that should be your motivation. You should want to prove to yourself that you are able to do any class that you want to do.
AP classes and IB are both intensive but prepare you so much more than other classes do anywhere else. I was in IB my freshman year but dropped out during the summer because I believed that I wouldn’t be able to do all of the work that is required in those types of classes. Many people are stereotypical about joining IB and AP classes and that it is pointless. In that sense they are wrong because you can have a lot of experience in classes that are practically the same classes that you will take in college. Another tip that I would share is just to not procrastinate. There are some people that would rather do little things that bring them temporary enjoyment such as playing video games or scrolling on social media. But if you just go ahead and do your work, then when you are older you won’t have a hard time focusing on a task and can produce better quality work. The biggest regret that I have made is not taking more AP classes than I am. They teach you how to manage your time and stop procrastinating. So, my biggest tip is to just get involved in IB or AP classes; the worst that could happen is you learning from your mistakes. You won’t succeed if you don’t take any risks.
Sincerely,
Toby Folds
Dear incoming BHS students,
The one thing I would suggest, as a senior who has attended other high schools in the past, is that you appreciate the quality education you receive at BHS/IB. The teachers here are well-spoken, motivated, and care deeply about the success of each of their students. Educators at other schools often seem preoccupied; the staff here has always been devoted to their jobs and to the children they teach. It’s important to be appreciative of the welcoming staff and to respect them in turn. Nobody at this school wants to see a student fail – it is their goal to help you become a critical thinker who can consider the world around you with the kind of intentionality that sets you apart.
From a purely academic standpoint, I would suggest taking extra care to stay caught up in classes. The education standard here is set high (which is an objectively good thing despite presenting some possible difficulties), so you should remain alert and attentive in each of your classes. Respecting the teachers’ rules will help you focus better in class. Take part in active learning and study often. I fell victim to a bit of learned helplessness this year and can attest to the struggles caused by my lack of devotion. Never give up, even if you are struggling; always seek new and helpful ways to remain caught up in class. Don’t be afraid to speak to your teacher and request help. Find reliable outside sources to supplement your learning when necessary.
I also found that it is important to monitor yourself throughout the year. Pay attention to how you perform in each class. Learn from your successes and failures; what is the studying method that best helps you learn? What is the teaching method you prefer? Which exercises do you believe most encourage active learning in the classroom setting and how can you implement them in your other classes? Each person has different needs and will learn in different ways. Figuring out which studying/learning methods you need early in the year will set you up for proficient education throughout your entire high school career.
Overall, put great care into your education. Respect your teachers and respect your classes. Your decisions now will impact your future; it is in your best interest to remain motivated. There will be difficult periods, but working through your troubles will help you far more than giving up ever will.
Best wishes,
Dorothy Medina
Starting high school as a freshman can of course be a difficult experience for anyone. You must worry about more rigorous courses, college and career choices, scholarships, and having a good time. You must think wisely about what courses you want to take to set yourself up for the future without giving up. Paying attention from the start of your high school life is the most important thing. Do not put minimal effort into any of your courses, otherwise, you will not be able to be as successful as you could be when you graduate. Make sure you make the right friends too, that way you will have someone to help you when you need it. Plus, you will not get into as much trouble as possible if you make the right friends. Try to think about what you want to do after high school while you are here, so that way you can change your courses to fit your plans. Work ahead if you can, it helps a lot.
Pitfalls can be very stressful, especially when you have up to seven classes worth of homework every week. This homework can end up piling up and snowballing, leading you to become stressed and falling behind in your classes. My best advice to avoid this is to make sure you check with the teacher when you are or will be absent to see what work you can make up. You can also see what work is already available before it is assigned so you can work on it ahead. Paying attention in classes and taking notes when needed is also very helpful as you will not be as punished for it. Ask your classmates and teachers for help, that is what they are there for. Your teachers are there to teach you material and guide you to success, not failure. Working ahead combined with asking for help, taking notes, and paying attention can help you be less stressed in the future and hopefully pass your classes.
In my experience, focusing on classes I needed to graduate first was very helpful. I believe there are three types of courses: needed to graduate, GPA boosters (honors and AP), and future. In your freshman and sophomore years, I would recommend focusing on the courses you need to graduate while thinking about what you want to do after high school. You can also take some courses online through Florida Virtual and as long as you pass the class online, you will get the credit towards graduation. In your junior year, I would recommend solidifying your future and signing up for classes that will help for that, and of course, signing up for a few honors and AP courses. Finally, in your senior year, I would recommend taking courses you want for your future, honors and AP courses, and finishing up any requirements needed to have a solid future. You can also search for scholarships that you can apply for and apply for them. All these tips can help guide you to a solid and successful future.
With best regards,
Zachary Stip
As a high school junior, it’s safe to say I’ve had my fair share of good and bad experiences. I’ve aced tests, bombed them too. I’ve made some of the best friends in the world and I’ve lost some along the way. High school is all about choices, you really do have the freedom to be who you want to be and find people who fit in with you. In my experience, the best thing about high school is the fact that you can get so much out of it, if you just try.
In academics, the most important thing is time management. If you plan out your assignments and keep up to date with what’s due, you should have no problem getting good grades. The way I do it is I write down what my assignment is as soon as I get it and when it’s due. Its like this that I make sure I don’t forget when to turn in work. I normally use an app like Apple Reminders or Notion for this, so that I can always have it with me, whether on my computer or my phone. This is a good use of technology, however, when studying or working, phones and social media can be the biggest downfall. I’ve wasted entire days’ worth of working time to my phone, and I believe that when working, its best to have it away and on silent. Also, in high school, you’re likely to take difficult classes that require lots of focus. Some people give up and say it’s too hard, that they’re not smart enough, but in my opinion, there is no such thing. I believe that everything boils down to effort. Something I realized recently when talking to my friend, is that nobody is stupid, just lazy. Some people only like to say they’re stupid as an excuse, so they don’t have to work towards something, just say they can’t do it. This is another great way to use technology, if there’s something you just don’t understand, try YouTube, or Khan Academy, or talk to a teacher. There’s nothing impossible for you if you put your mind to it and try hard enough.
Along with academics, friendships are the most important part of the high school experience. Making good friends that have your back and build you up is irreplaceable. However, it’s very easy to make bad friends, and even though you think those people don’t influence you, they do. “If you hang out with idiots, you’re going to be an idiot. If you hang out with geniuses, you’ll feel stupid for a little bit but then you’ll start to think like a genius.” This is something my teacher, Mr. Eckman, would say a lot. We both believe that if you surround yourself with people who are ambitious and have goals in life, it will help you to be successful. Being in my third year, I’ve experienced this firsthand. My advice is to be respectful to everyone, of course, but be diligent with who you let in your circle.
High school is an amazing place full of opportunity and growth, but it’s up to you to get the most out of it. You’re not always going to make good choices, but this is the place for you to learn who you are and what you want to be.
Josiah Perez
Hello incoming freshmen, I know that this is confusing yet exciting time for you. You leave middle school and enter high school. Today I am going to give you some advice to help you get through your first year of high school.
My first piece of advice to you is to be kind and friendly to your teacher. If you are both kind and friendly to your teacher, they will be more inclined to help you with anything you are struggling with. By being kind and friendly to your teachers you can save and or preserve your grade and your GPA won’t end up dropping.
My last piece of advice is to stay away from troublemakers. I know you probably have heard that a million times by now; but it’s true, by staying away from the troublemakers you eliminate the chance you get involved in any foul play that may ruin your chances of anything negative happing to you such as going to jail, getting expelled/ suspended, and more. All these things can destroy someone’s life forever.
That is some pieces of advice that may help you avoid any pitfalls you may experience. Trust me and listen to the advice I gave you, because if you don’t then you might regret it in the long run. I hope you have a wonderful high school experience.
John Kinney
When starting high school, a student must realize that the amount of work they put in, will account for the results they get. As a freshman, a student should be diligent, don’t constantly put off work. Procrastinating in high school and in life in general is one of the biggest mistakes a person can make. Procrastinating only makes life more stressful because imagine you have a big science project due in two weeks and you put it off until the day before it’s due, you would have to stay up all night researching when you could’ve done it over the course of two weeks. Plus, the project would be sloppy and have a more rushed result versus if one took the time to do the project. The grade you would receive on that project would be better if you spaced out your research over time. Therefore, I never procrastinate with any of the work I receive, I try to finish it as soon as possible, so I won’t have to stress at the last minute.
Another thing to avoid in high school is not studying. When it comes to taking tests in multiple classes such as English, math, and science, not studying is just setting yourself up for failure. Studying helps you catch up on ideas or topics that you’re not too familiar with. It can help refresh your mind so you can feel more confident when taking the test. If you study, you are more susceptible to receiving a higher grade in the class. So, when you feel like you don’t know much of the contents of the test, always study.
One more thing to remember is to always have fun even if you’re in school. It’s not a good thing to worry all the time, so make sure you have friends and family you can hang out with. Join clubs or classes that you genuinely enjoy so you don’t have to be bored and have something to look forward to every day. To me this is the most important piece of advice I can give I because I know people spend most of their time studying and worrying about work, but it’s a good thing to just take a break sometimes.
Kimmor’e Zipperer
When starting high school, it’s important to stay organized. Especially when having many accelerated classes, organization will be your key to success throughout high school. Staying organized could mean keeping track of important papers from all your different classes in different folders or it could just mean turning in all your homework on time. Just know that having some sort of organizational skills will not only help you throughout high school but also in life. Staying organized is the easiest way to pass all your classes with good grades. These skills could also help when you get a job in the future.
It’s also important to not procrastinate on your assignments. Procrastinating on maybe one or two assignments is not that big of a deal, but if it becomes a habit, that’s when it becomes a problem. It’s important to turn all your work in on time, even if the assignment is not complete, anything is better than a zero. Studying is a great skill to practice. There are many different techniques you could use to help you study such as the Pomodoro technique. Some techniques may not be for you and that’s okay.
Remember that going through high school doesn’t mean you have to focus on work all the time. You should have fun and make friends with people who are a good influence on you. Working shouldn’t be your priority all the time. Having fun every once in a while, is the key to success throughout high school and throughout life. Being stressed all the time is very tiring and could burn you out quickly. Finding times to have fun and just let loose is very important in leading a healthy and bright life.
Kylee Zipperer
Making the change to high school from middle school can be very hard and you might think that you will have a hard time adjusting to it. High school is not all that big and bad as people may make it seem. The main thing to do is be yourself and open to the people around you and make friends.
To my sister who is a freshman this year, I know we may only have one year together but this one year I will remember forever. To my sister who was once that young nervous freshman if there is one thing to remember is to take this seriously because these four years go by quick and one day you will look back on it and think, did I really give it my all or were there some things I could have changed. Make sure you set aside plenty of time to study and make sure you get all your homework done and completed to the best of your ability. Also, when you start driving to and from school make sure that you get out to the parking lot early, so you do not get caught in the ridiculous traffic after school.
So while in high school to all the freshmen make sure you live it up and take every advantage of the time you have because it go by so quick and will be gone in the blink of an eye.
Jordan Schley
Dear Freshman,
First off, congrats! You made it to high school. In these short 4 years, you will grow the most you ever have before. I can agree, it’s very intimidating, so I hope my advice can be of some help to you.
I’ve noticed as I advanced through high school that there is a major increase in homework. Eventually, things will pile up and you’ll start to feel overwhelmed. I get it — been there, done that. My advice to you is to step back and breathe. List out all the work you need done, noting the due dates and importance levels. It should be self-explanatory on where to go from there. I recommend looking into the 15-15-30 method. Work for 15 minutes, take a break for 15 minutes, then work for 30 minutes. I found that this method was the most efficient for me.
Parents and teachers will most likely always ask you what your plan is for college. You may already have a plan, or you may not. When I was a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to pursue. You should use your freshman (maybe sophomore) year to experiment with different electives and clubs. Since those two years usually have the least amount of work, use the time to get to know friends, volunteer for clubs and communities, and narrow down your career path. By junior and senior year, you should be set on a path and starting to take tests that will get you rolling on said path.
Nonetheless, high school isn’t as bad as it seems. Just make the right friends and do your work. You’ll do great!
Signed, An average Junior
Rebecca Nerove
Dear Upcoming Freshmen,
As someone who is finishing my last year at Bartow High School, the most important piece of advice that I would give to incoming freshmen is to not procrastinate. After a long day at school, all you are going to want to do is hang out with your friends or lay in bed on your phone. However, it is so easy to lose track of time and you end up choosing between getting enough sleep or getting your homework done. After a while, your missing assignments will pile up and can have a huge impact on your grades. Once you start missing assignments, it is hard to catch up and the workload will start to seem overwhelming. This will add on a lot of unnecessary anxiety and tension. The only way to avoid falling in this rabbit hole is to stay on top of your assignments and ensure you give yourself enough time each night for your schoolwork.
Another important piece of advice that I would give to incoming freshmen is to make sure that you dedicate yourself to things outside of the classroom. Although grades and school are very important, it definitely should not be the only thing on your mind. High school is your chance to explore your interests and talents, and maybe even discover new ones. As Bartow students, we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in the wide variety of clubs, activities, and sports the school offers. It is important to remember that colleges want well-rounded students, and not just the smartest ones. Aside from making your college application stand out, participating in clubs and activities will also help you make new friends with similar interests. High school can be intimidating so having those people can be extremely comforting.
A final piece of advice that I would give to incoming freshmen is to be careful of who you surround yourself with. Being a high schooler comes with a lot more freedom. It is important to watch how the people surrounding you use those freedoms and how they portray themselves to others. If you feel uncomfortable with the decisions they make, or the way they act, you may want to reevaluate who you are letting in your circle. Ever heard the saying “birds of a feather flock together”? It may seem cliché, but it is true. It is easy to tell yourself that it’s fine to be around those people because “you would never do that”, but peer pressure is a thing, and it can be hard to recognize and resist. If you find yourself questioning the actions of those around you, it is always a good idea to just separate yourself and not be associated with their behavior. People will associate you with the group you are in. Make sure you are happy with that relation and how it makes you look. A true friend is one who will support you and want only the best for you. It doesn’t matter how long you have known them, if they do not have your best interest in mind, you do not need to have them around you.
Lastly, remember to enjoy your time in high school. It definitely will not always seem like it, but it truly goes by so fast and will be over before you know it. Go to the games, participate in activities, and make new friends. High school is only 4 short years so take advantage of them.
Good luck!
Jasmine Perry
Going into High School one of the things you should do is join an after-school club. After-school clubs are a great way to make new friends and find your passion in life. After-school clubs can also be a good way to just have some fun. One of the best things to do to make your High School experience the best it can be is to have school spirit. It may seem silly, but it can actually be really fun. In addition to having school spirit, you should go to sports events like football games, basketball games, etc. Another thing you should do in High School is try your best in school; you don’t have to be the best in the class but do what you can do. One way to do your best is to study for upcoming tests or exams, especially if you feel there is content you could improve your knowledge on.
One of the things you should avoid is staying up late. Yes, sometimes life gets crazy, and you really need to finish a homework assignment or project, but you shouldn’t make late nights a regular habit. If you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t be able to stay awake in class and you might miss an important lesson. Avoid joining too many after-school activities, yes there may be many exciting options, but you should find the best one for you, that way you can still have time to focus on your studies. Also, participating in too many things can leave you burnt out. Sometimes it can even make you feel like doing those things are a chore and you just need to get it over with.
Depending on what you’re good at you may need to study one subject more than another. Some people are great at math and others are great at reading. I have found that math is definitely an important subject to study. Math tends to build on itself, so you must know how to do new parts of it, while also remembering how to do older lessons as well. Science is like that as well, so I would suggest that science and math should be studied the most. Though studying for core subjects is important, many elective classes have certification exams that can be helpful later on in life if you have them. You should try your best to pass these certification exams, since they give you the opportunity to have a better college application and resume for when you get a job.
Anna Parmer
Dear future freshmen,
Throughout my years in high school, I’ve learned lessons and had experiences that I wish someone had prepared me for. I wish someone had told me about the stress and expectations that someone meets in high school, and how important it is to surround oneself with dependable, supportive friends and peers. Regardless of the amount of advice someone gives, it’s truly up to you to either listen or disregard what someone says. I’ve found that no matter how much advice you’re given, it’s the experiences you make in high school that truly prepare you for the atmosphere and culture of this point in your academic life. I’m not going to lie; high school is hard and there are times you will ask yourself, “Why do I care so much?” Or maybe you’ll ask yourself, “Am I caring enough?”. Regardless of the answer to these questions, it is without a doubt that high school is an exciting and unique time in your life as you move on to the next phase of finding your purpose in this world. I hope the advice I give you is helpful as you find your way through this confusing, but equally exciting time.
The first bit of advice I’ll tell you is to always remember your values and priorities. High school is a time of fun and excitement where you meet new people and have fun experiences. But it’s important to remember the things you value and the goals you’ve set. There will be times in high school where you’re faced with decisions of doing something that’s fun or doing something that’s productive. Regardless of what you choose, you need to understand the consequences of each decision and think them through. Ask yourself, “Is this something that will benefit me? Am I doing this for my good, or someone else’s?” There are decisions you will have to make that cause you to ask yourself these questions and you must always keep in mind three things. First, you are in high school to learn and earn an education. Second, you are responsible for you; you are not responsible for anyone else. And third, your actions will follow you even after high school, because actions always speak louder than words.
I also think it would be beneficial for you to understand a very important concept. Logic ALWAYS wins over emotion. This will be applicable in making decisions and almost in every other aspect of your life. Regardless of if you’re in high school or if you’ve graduated, this concept is important to understand. High school is a very emotional time as one goes through changes and works to figure it all out. Before you make a decision, ask yourself if it is one of logic or emotion. The logical decisions are the ones that will benefit you the most. Emotional decisions, while sounding good in the moment, have only short-term benefits and will eventually catch up with you. There have been many times where I’ve made a decision and looking back, I regret it, because I didn’t take the time to logically think it out first and realized too late that I should have made a less emotional choice.
Have I said that high school is hard? If I haven’t, then here is it again: high school is HARD! However, it’s only as hard as you make it for yourself. When you’re first scheduling your classes and clubs, it’s very important to remember that you don’t have to do it all. You don’t have to always schedule something in your downtime. It’s very easy to sign up for things that you don’t have time for. You may think you have time and rationalize that you can make time for one more thing, but it’s okay to say no to things. Speaking from personal experience, you cannot make time, and there are only so many hours in a day, and they go by quickly. If you keep in mind your habits, your needs, and the time you’re working with, it will decrease your stress level throughout high school. I wish someone told me that it’s okay to not schedule every hour of the day. Remember, school is important, but so are you. Your studies are not more important than your health. And I mean that physically and mentally. If you need a break, take a break. Fifteen minutes for you isn’t going to make you a bad student. And if you achieve that balance between schoolwork and taking care of yourself, then you’re golden. I’m a junior in high school, and I haven’t even achieved that balance yet. High school can truly be a balancing act sometimes, and you must know when something is too much and be mindful of what your body is telling you.
Lastly, I want to take a moment to stress the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are supportive and want to see you succeed. The simple truth of it is that there are people out there that want to see you fail. They want to see you struggle. And these people are so small for that, but sadly it’s true. There’s a saying that quality is always better than quantity, and this applies to the friends you choose. It is better to have five close, caring friends; than twenty “friends” who don’t care about you. It’s very important to choose people who will lift you up and help you succeed. These are the people who will stand by you when you need them the most, or when your week is just too much to handle. These are the people who won’t bring drama into your life just for the entertainment of it. (Avoid the drama, when possible, it only brings confusion and a mess of a complication that you truly do not need.) If you choose your friends wisely, your experiences will be more enjoyable, and you will smile and laugh with these people more than you even know. I guarantee it.
I hope what I’ve said is helpful. I wish someone had written an essay full of advice for me as a freshman. Take what I said into consideration but go out there and make your own experiences and memories! I will say as a final warning, high school is an important part of your life, and it’s important to enjoy it while you can. Because after you graduate, you’re a part of the real world, and that can be scary. But what’s amazing about the country and situation in which we live, is that there are so many opportunities out there. The memories and lessons learned in high school will follow you throughout your life, and I hope you make a million happy memories. I hope you find the people that will be there for you through thick and thin and make decisions that will benefit you and keep your future bright. Remember to have a little fun along the way, but always keep in mind your priorities. You’re going to be very successful in high school, and after you graduate, if you remember your goals and walk the straight and narrow. I hope this advice helps you in any way you may need it, and I cannot wait to see what you do with your time in high school, whether that’s at Summerlin Academy, IB or Bartow High School.
Sincerely,
Ella Lannon
Dear Student,
Starting high school is kind of scary when you first begin. But with help from friends, teachers and family members you can pass with flying colors. I have learned a lot in my three years of high school. But the two most important pieces of knowledge that I have acquired is not procrastinating and taking the time to study the topics that I have learned in class.
I had and still do have a problem with procrastination. But I have learned that if I do the work early not only will I feel less stressed out, but my work will be finished giving me time to do whatever I want. It may be tiring but it pays off in the end. If I learned to not procrastinate in my Freshman year, I would have learned better habits for the rest of my high school career.
The second most important thing I have learned is to study after learning a subject. I say this because you think you actually understand the topic you learned a out but when it comes to taking the actual test, I struggled with remembering everything. What helped me though was studying the day of learning it so when it comes to studying for the test I only needed to do review. I think this could help a lot of future students as it is an easy way of learning subjects.
Elyssa Eichar
Dear freshman,
At first, being a freshman seems frightening. It’s not all that different from middle school, even though you’re going to a new school and getting to know new people. Some teachers are highly severe, and students are a little more mature. You could get confused by the somewhat complicated schedule at first, but you’ll get used to it. Don’t live in fear your entire first year of high school; everyone has been in your shoes before.
Even if you may still be friends with people from your previous school, you should always make new ones. It’s a good idea to establish friends in your classes because your classmates might not be taking the same classes as you. You can study with them and seek for assistance whenever you need it. But be careful who you choose as pals; there are plenty of fake individuals here who will use you and talk badly about you behind your back. Everyone will forget mistakes and embarrassing moments, so don’t worry about them. You won’t accomplish the things you want to do if you worry about what other people think of you. So stop worrying about it. Finding the most amazing, reliable friend with a similar personality might be facilitated by being yourself. Avoid causing or engaging in drama.
Next thing is to choose your classes wisely. My freshman year I made the mistake of choosing Japanese, which required perseverance and was challenging for me. It is usually advisable to research classes you are thinking about enrolling in before making a request. Select electives you are interested in taking, not just because your friend did. Choose an honors class if you excel in the subject; it will improve your GPA. In order to be considered for scholarships and top colleges, your high school GPA is crucial. Make it a habit to complete your assignments and homework on time because many teachers don’t accept late work. If you submit anything late once, you might do it again and it might evolve into a habit. Strive for, anticipate, and achieve 100s. Never be afraid to seek for assistance when you need it—if not from a teacher, then from a friend.
Remind yourself that this is high school, not middle school, and that you are getting closer to being an adult and attending college. Avoid making decisions that you will come to regret in the future. You get to decide what you do and with whom. Consider your actions before taking them. Be authentic at all times. The next thing you know, you’ll be a senior, so try not to worry too much about being a freshman. Time flies by fast and you will regret it didn’t. All you need to do is have faith in your own abilities. Think positively, exercise patience, and don’t allow anyone stand in your way. Reject bad individuals from your life. Just be yourself, and I promise you will thrive in whatever you do as a freshman!
Sincerely,
A junior
Jazelle Bechtold
If I were to give advice to a freshman going to Summerlin Academy, I am going to presume that this is a freshman that chose to come to this school themselves because they wanted to gain something of value like how I had. If this is a freshman that was made to be here by their parents and has no desire to be involved in the program, then this advice does not apply to them. So, for those students that want to be a part of the program and are willing to put in the effort, I will give advice based off of my experience going down this path.
The first piece of advice that I want to give is to try and get involved as much as possible. The key to getting the most out of this program is to put as much as you can in it. The instructors select the cadets that they know do the right thing and put effort into the program for leadership positions and medals, so show them that you are one of those cadets by displaying your motivation going after whatever rank or position that you can, and I can guarantee that your efforts will be rewarded with higher positions and opportunities further down the line.
Secondly, one piece of advice that I want to give is that rank doesn’t really mean much in this school. Being promoted and having high ranks primarily relates to what position you have within the program. Outside of JROTC, rank does not mean that you are above or below anyone, and at the end of the day we all are just highschoolers like in every other school, just military. So don’t let others with higher rank hold it above you as a sign of superiority, and if you get promoted to a high rank don’t let it go to your head, just focus on doing your job.
The last piece of advice that I will give is one that I hope you will use to avoid a huge struggle that I faced during my time here: don’t let the kids that don’t listen and disobey the rules get in your head. With the positions I have held I have had to deal with kids that would not listen to me on a daily basis for long periods of time. This can be the most frustrating thing in the world since them not listening and being incompliant makes you look bad at your job when it’s not your fault. When you’re in a position or job like this, don’t let these kids make your life miserable and make you have a bad day every day. If they listen to you, great, if they don’t, try to see if you can get an instructor or an administrator, but other than that, there is not much else that you can really do, so don’t let it upset you, just focus on yourself and doing the best that you can do.
Chris Sempert
If there is anything I regret when starting high school is not having a clear goal or idea on what I wanted to do. I pretty much just took the classes I thought sounded cool, a good example being kendo. I planned to go to college after high school yet I wasn’t taking many steps to ensure that would happen mainly due to ignorance. I would suggest taking classes that aid in your success after high school and taking AP or dual enrollment classes to raise your chances of getting into a good college if that is your goal.
Something else I also regret was my habit of procrastination. When I was a freshman I usually left my assignments till the very last minute, sometimes doing it the day it was due during my classes. This habit is royally unhealthy as it made school even more stressful than it needed to be. My laziness also stopped me from studying properly making tests even more stressful than they would be had I been prepared. Time passes a lot faster than you may initially think and those deadlines will pass much faster than you think.
The transition from middle school to high school is a big change and it takes a long time to adjust. The world begins to grow more and more unforgiving as you are being prepared for the real world and you will usually be left on your own to overcome this. Being able to adapt is key and failure to do so will make the transition painful and overwhelming. However, despite this it is also important to remember to make the most out of these years while you can. As stated earlier this is the final hurdle before entering the real world and time won’t be going any slower. Enjoy these years while you still can and take as many steps as you can to make them something you can happily look back on without any regrets.
Nathaniel Gonzalez