The first group of these was written by juniors, to advise new juniors, and the second group by sophomores, to advise new sophomores. They are otherwise in no particular order.
Dear Rising Pre-Calculus Student,
If you haven’t heard it from anybody else yet, I’m proud of you for making it through pre-IB. The work may have been more demanding than you were expecting, but you got through it. You probably learned at least a few new things and made new friends, and I hope you’ve enjoyed the high school experience.
Congratulations aside, this is where I become brutally honest. The DP is NOTHING like your first two years in the program, or I don’t think it is. You must shape up or get shipped off (trust me, I’ve seen more than one of my friends realize IB was not for them). If IB is not for you, that is okay. There is no shame in having other goals in life, and I honestly applaud you for finding the strength to admit that the program isn’t for you. For those who decide that they are committed to finishing the program (or are being forced to), I hope the rest of this advice may at least be of some use to you through your junior year.
Some General Pointers
Don’t play the comparison game. I promise you that it isn’t worth the trouble and self-pity you feel when you look at your friends’ GPAs and see that yours is fractionally smaller than theirs. You have enough things on your plate during your junior year, and you don’t need to feel pressured by someone else’s performance. Instead, be supportive of your peers’ successes, lift them up when things get difficult, and cry together when you all fail a test.
Find something you enjoy that is NOT school-related. Whether it’s a sport, a new hobby, or just something small like watching your favorite show, having a way to de-stress is CRUCIAL. You don’t want to spend 7 hours at school to immediately come home and do homework. It’s extremely draining. If your friends have their drivers’ licenses, maybe find some time to do something on a weekend that isn’t busy.
Don’t overload yourself. Taking 6 classes with college rigor is a LOT for a regular student. If you think you can handle more, then go for it. If you picked a split that is not an AP or IB class though, don’t feel required to take multiple FLVS classes or Dual Enrollment courses. If you’re an athlete, factor in the time you’ll be at practice and games. If you’re in clubs where you hold or wish to hold a leadership position, you need to factor in that time commitment also. Do only what you’re passionate about; those 10+ clubs you’re only a member of won’t mean much on your college application, especially if you cannot quantify your impact in them.
Subject Specific Advice
I’m going to preface this by saying that I am VERY STEM-oriented. My experiences might differ greatly from yours. I’ll try my best to give you advice regardless of what your strengths and weaknesses are.
AP English Literature and Composition/IB Lang & Lit HL 1: This was the most difficult class I’ve ever taken, but that’s mostly because I have a hard time with analyzing literature quickly. If you read a lot of books and can understand literature easily, you’ll enjoy the class. You will not only be reading books but also analyzing nonliterary works (speeches, photography, and political cartoons) at a high level, so even if literature is not your favorite (it isn’t mine), you might enjoy the nonliterary aspects more. You will be writing and working in groups a lot, so it’s important that you contribute to group assignments to deepen your own understanding of the material. The workload was also one of my heaviest I’ve ever had with tight turn-around times. Late work is immediately 50% off. Do NOT procrastinate.
IB Business Management SL (Or year 1 of HL): I really enjoyed this class. If you’re taking the class at standard level like I did, you’re in good hands. Ms. Heaton works hard to present the content in a digestible and entertaining way. Keep up with the reading notes, but Ms. Heaton is very flexible with assignments, and the deadlines are not super tight. This is likely your first internal assessment, but it’s quite doable if you manage your time well and incorporate Ms. Heaton’s feedback. The Business SL Exam was my first IB Exam, and it’s very nice in that you get to choose which questions to answer in certain sections, allowing you to pick questions you’re more confident in scoring well on.
AP Chemistry / IB Chemistry HL 1: Chemistry is my favorite subject, but AP Chemistry is extremely demanding. Unlike Pre-IB Chemistry, Mrs. Loweke is more lenient with workload, and there are not many assignments; however, that means you must take initiative to learn the material and reach out when you need help. The course is very content-dense, and you need to understand the concepts well enough to make justifications and apply the correct processes to solve problems at the right time. I highly recommend watching videos from Jeremy Krug. Sometimes Mrs. Loweke does not use the exact wording of the exam, and Krug’s videos not only simplify tricky concepts but also tend to use the AP exam wording, which I found very helpful. If you have your notes from Pre-IB Chemistry, do not get rid of them, especially if you had a B in Pre-IB. They are extremely helpful in the first semester because Mrs. Loweke teaches the course assuming everyone understands the Pre-IB concepts. Having a graphing calculator helps immensely, and you’ll be able to transfer your calculator skills from Precalculus to this class.
Theory of Knowledge: Mr. Guice is a great guy, and if you do your work on time and fulfil all the requirements, this should be an easy 100. Do not blow the class off because you will have an internal assessment and an essay as parts of the course, but if you absolutely need it, you can use this class as a study hall sometimes.
AP US History/IB History of the Americas: The workload is by far the most intense of any class in your junior year: you have notes due daily instead of weekly, the content is significantly more in-depth than AP World History, and the tests are not curved. However, the sheer number of assignments provides a significant buffer to your grade. Also, the AP Exam format is the exact same as the format for AP World History, so if you did well in Mr. Henriquez’s class, you already won half of the battle by understanding the way College Board writes a history test. You’ll just have to learn the content itself, which varies in difficulty from unit to unit. One other bonus is that Ms. Kenney shares Mr. Henriquez’s late work policy.
IB Spanish 4: If you haven’t studied for Spanish and struggle, you NEED to study now. You’ll learn very complex grammar structures, so reviewing and understanding the function of each tense is important. Sra. Santiago will work you hard, and you need to have the desire to succeed and participate actively to do well in this class. The IB Exam you’ll take in your senior year has a section where you will have to speak with a high level of proficiency and be able to answer follow up questions. You have been warned.
IB Precalculus: Honestly, I did not enjoy math as much as I do until this year. Ms. Frisbie was able to make math enjoyable, and I do not think any teacher ever has or ever will push me to care about mathematics as much as she has. Unfortunately, she is retiring, so I cannot exactly advise you on how to succeed with Ms. Frisbie as your teacher. However, the upperclassmen are here to help if you have any questions about the content of Pre-calculus. If the new teacher continues “Trig Quizzes”, STUDY for them. When you see the “sine of pi over six” of you should know it’s “one half” almost instinctively (I put those in quotes because I do not think math notation will show up on the website. Sorry, Ms. Frisbie.).
There are a million other things I could say about how I feel finishing up my junior year, but I’ve already almost written a Mini-EE for an advice letter. If you’ve read this far… I question why you decided to read my massive walls of text. I hope you find something here helpful.
Good luck with your first year of the “Real IB”,
Navin Lall
P.S. Thanks Johnny, Kim-Linh, and Danielle for the format
Dear Future Pre-Calculus Students,
Congratulations for making this far into the International Baccalaureate Program! The actual diploma program may be difficult at first, but I promise that you’ll get the hang of it near the end of the year of junior year if you choose to actually put in the work and effort. While my schedule may not be like yours, the core subjects are always the most important classes to have advice on. In your junior year, you’ll have at least one IB class that includes an internal assessment, otherwise known as an IA, and different papers for exams on different days.
You may have heard this from other students, but please do not act like all of you are competing for each other because no College Board score, ACT score, or SAT score is worth the number of friendships strained or not coming to life because you believe you’re too good to have friends. Mark my words, you don’t want to be that kid sitting alone or being friends only with the upperclassmen since they’re taking advanced classes. Have a versatile number of friends and don’t judge one another if you’re in different friend groups or grades since friends come in all shapes and sizes.
This may be the thing I may stress the most in this whole advice essay, but please get rest. No, you’re not smart or cool if you don’t get enough sleep. And don’t try that BS saying “oh, you don’t know anything! I stay up all night and I’m okay.” Shut up. Oh, my goodness, shut up, you’re literally hurting yourself if you keep staying up. I have done the same thing and stayed up, have had several all-nighters, used coffee and other caffeine to keep awake to do assignments. You’re going to be miserable, and you’re going to absolutely regret it when you turn twenty-three when you’re dying of a heart attack with all the caffeine intake and all you can blame is yourself. Don’t try to sound sewer-cidal either, you will actually regret it and now, I adore sleep and my bed.
My classes in order that can be deemed as not that difficult:
Advanced Placement Biology:
The class consists of primarily AP Classroom quizzes and packets that may seem so much bigger than they should. However, I would argue that there is a lot of useful information and Dr. Mariano is knowledgeable in her field of knowledge. She’s one of those teachers that know a lot, but you would just need to ask her about anything you’re curious of. AP Biology may not be everyone’s choice compared to AP Chemistry, but it is a lighter workload for those who may be busier or cannot handle a lot of the math aspect in the AP Chemistry course.
IB Business Management Standard Level:
Despite there being only five units for standard level, there is a lot of content to be memorized and remembered. The IB Business Management SL paper 1 has its case study available in January, but only 200 of the 1000 words of information is available. Ms. Heaton prepares you pretty well but just like AP Biology, there needs to be a lot of memorizations of different terms since it’s easy to mix up a lot of the acronyms and other concepts. It’s an amazing class to take overall if you want a class that is actually pretty interesting.
Advanced Placement Literature and Composition:
Mrs. Harb is a tough cookie, and she may crumble under some pressure if people aren’t doing exactly what she wanted. It’s not bad for the most part but if you’re lazy, then it’ll be hard to really get on her good side. I beg of you, please don’t make it hard for her since Mrs. Harb also runs CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service). It isn’t a hard class to take if you like English and other stories, but your main focus should be on pacing for essays. You should roughly make an essay in around 40 minutes or so for your exam.
IB German Four:
If you’ve taken German before, then you’d most likely already know of Herr Porter’s rules and regulations when it comes to assignments, but I also know that he’s implementing a new way to teach German since he figured out that our classes were behind. The class is primarily chill, and his late work policy is basically nonexistent, thankfully.
Advanced Placement United States History:
The notes and homework in the class are the most important thing ever when it comes to the class since there is so much content to look over. In the 250 years of the country’s history and even a couple hundred years earlier, there are so many rebellions and reforms on different dates to keep in mind, but it’s actually pretty like Advanced Placement World History. Some of my peers expressed their opinions that APUSH was easier than APWH, but I believe the opposite is true. Though, it is subjective to everyone.
Pre-IB Inquiry Skills/Research (First Semester):
Please take it. If you think you need it, then please take it. It’s basically a study hall class and if you’re really busy, please take it no matter who thinks it’s “useless.”
IB Theory of Knowledge (Second Semester):
Mr. Guice is pretty chill when it comes to the theory of knowledge. You think and do assignments but if you ask me anything about what we learned, then I’d just say that we were thinking most of the time. Do your assignments on time along with your extended essay, and you’ll have at least a 91 to 100. It’s not that hard to do assignments, guys.
Pre-IB Precalculus:
My year of precalculus was good all thanks to Ms. Frisbie. Unfortunately, she is leaving this year, so I’d be a part of one of the last precalculus classes she’ll teach in her teaching career. I know most of the other students will glorify Ms. Frisbie and while I will do that a little, precalculus does actually require you to study no matter how good you think the lessons and units are. I promise that just like other classes, studying will benefit you so good since it was actually good preparation for calculus.
Congratulations for being here though, but I want you all to remember, if IB isn’t for you and has been driving you down to the bone, please put yourself and your health first. Good luck, future students.
Best Regards and Best of Luck,
Quennie Jamero
P.S. Subscribe to Ms. Frisbie’s YouTube channel: FrisbieMath – YouTube
To anyone in class of ’27 and lower class men who may read this,
Coming into junior year, I had only heard of the aspects of it from upperclassmen prior to entering it. They relayed to me and others how it was going to be difficult and the weight on your shoulders can be overbearing at instances. I took this with a grain of salt as I believed that everyone experiences junior year of IB differently, of which I now believe that to be only partly true. While I can’t accurately depict the feelings and effect this year will have on you as your mind may bear the weight differently than mine, I have seen many others in similar situations than me where they shut down. Likewise, I am a victim of my own nature in that I shut down when the weight grew immense. I made the ignorant decision to neglect work often. Consequently, my agenda (yes, I ended up using one after Inquiry Skills) had days in it completely filled with missing and current assignments. I told myself that I was going to “lock-in” and make an “academic comeback”. Even though this method works for a lot of people, some may use this excuse so many times that they get sick and tired. So much so, that it takes an exterior source to hound them to the point of crying — me — to actually do something about the work.
Yes, it is a pain in the other-name-for-a-donkey to do work when you have some teachers you dislike being sticklers — in your perspective — about assignments, CAS, Internal Assessments, Internal Orals, your Extended Essay, Exhibition, practice for Exams, Exams, etc., but if you have commitment in your heart then you’re half way there, and some might even argue its more than half way. In no way, however, am I glorifying IB or saying that you should totally commit and grin through it… no. That is not at all what I am saying because in reality half of me wishes I never got a letter in the mail asking me about taking the entrance exam. I could’ve not gone to IB and been a regular student at George Jenkins with less objective weight on my shoulders. Though, subjectively that “weight” is comparative to past experiences so to have never gone to IB I could’ve just as well thought the load was too much. This is where it is a choose-your-battle situation.
One more thing: Pride can be the death of you. Admit your failures and let go of things you can’t or won’t control. If you can control it and it benefits you, however, reach for the reigns. As of writing this it is quarter 4 of my junior year and I almost went over the edge with assignments and neglection. Had I not controlled myself and done my work, I very well may have failed this quarter with Ds and Fs (not a very good look on college applications since that is my end goal for now). In all, do your work if you’re committed, take your losses, and make time for your social life (it helps your mental state very much).
Adrian Javier Gomez
IB 2026
Dear future precalculus student,
Congratulations! You’ve made it this far in IB; that’s a serious accomplishment in itself. I think a question you probably have right now is “is junior year that bad?”, and my answer to that is “yeah kinda.” As a junior (yes, I’m old), I have experienced 3 years of IB, which I believe is a sufficient amount of time in order to make me a somewhat of an expert in IB’ing. Because of my outstanding credentials, I will be transferring the knowledge from the deepest recesses of my conscience (and I mean REALLY deep because I can’t remember stuff) of most of my experiences in my years of IB to you (the reader), so that you would not make the same mistakes I did and have a more enjoyable high school experience.
The first thing I would like to impart to you is to not procrastinate. Now I’m sure you’ve probably heard from either teachers or students, one of the defining traits of an IB student is procrastinating. Now this doesn’t mean all students procrastinate, nor is it something to brag about. I cannot tell you how many times I procrastinated on an assignment and waited until the last day, and coincidentally I have 4-5 other assignments due. I get them done, but at what cost? Procrastination ruined my sleep schedule, sleep on school days at 11-12 pm, and I’ve seen other classmates sleep at 1-4 am. Heck, I’ve played ROBLOX or with my friends or just stayed on call with them until one, without doing my work. This situation is avoidable is along as you get your work done on the day it is due or work on it in increments or manage your time well. Sleep is important, because if you don’t get enough, you end up sleeping or being half awake in class and not learn as effectively (I sometimes am half-awake in precalc)
The second thing I would like to impart is to maintain your social life. Now this is an important one. What I mean about this is to make friends and try to spend time with them. Having friends to support you and hang out is an effective way to relieve stress from IB and work, and it helps with time management since you would have to plan and set some time of the day during or after study to hang out with them. I am incredibly thankful for my friend group (you know who you are), and I feel like I’ve grown as a person by being around them. But an important thing is not to spend too much time with your friends, because you might forget to do schoolwork or put it off.
The last thing I would like to impart upon you is to not worry so much about school. Now some of you (or your parents) maybe be like “HUH? Don’t worry about school. This individual is crazy, school is very important!”, and yes, school is important but as I hinted at in the previous paragraph it’s important to find a balance between school and free time. I have seen many people focus too much on school, that they make it their entire personality, and I have seen people honestly get depressed or have a toxic competitive mindset due to comparing themselves to others “like so and so got a better grade, or why does he/she get all the awards?” While yes, having an award in high school (like department awards) is very good and can help you on your resume, don’t disappoint yourself if you don’t get it. You can use that as motivation to try better next time, but even if you don’t, the real reward is passing IB, which is hard, and you could get the bright futures scholarship and have easier access to higher education levels. Another reward is the friends you made along the way, while I know this sounds corny, if you surround yourself with the right people (which thank God, I have been blessed with amazing friends, classmates, and teachers), it can provide motivation to do better or support even in your darkest moments.
All these, dear underclassman, is all I have for you.
Hope you do well, and God bless,
John Isaac Ares
Greetings incoming junior!
Junior year is undoubtedly one of the most eventful years you will experience in high school. I promise you many opportunities to expand your interests, attend more events, and develop the foundations of who you want to be. Equally so however, you should expect a lot of work, expectations, and pressure to come your way. It is important to recognize that facing such challenges and opportunities will inevitably result in desired and undesired outcomes, which are all part of the journey. As someone who has completed junior year, I would like to pass on advice that is seemingly obvious but often forgotten, always take the time to learn from your past experiences.
Oftentimes, we like to skip over our successes and move on with the illusion that the obstacle will forever be left in the past. In a sense this is true, for you will likely never encounter the exact same challenge; however, you will encounter similar problems, answer choices, or hard decisions in the future and in junior year, every chance counts. In the moments you are most successful, it is important to reflect on how you got there because the past is the best predictor of your future. Do not be afraid to take risks because while stepping out of your comfort zone may feel dangerous, the effort and outcome provide a basis to learn from for future success.
I understand that it is especially difficult to pick yourself up or face your mistakes. Ideally, we would all progress continuously at an exponential rate, but junior year and life in general—from my experience—never seems to happen that way. Your past mistakes are more valuable to you than your victories, for they directly reveal your shortcomings or oversights, and how you can improve in the future. In a high-pressure situation and under the high expectations in IB, it is reasonable and expected that you will fail from time to time but never discourage yourself from optimizing your experience. There will always be opportunities during and well beyond the year, so do not lose hope or stop learning.
Ysabella Barrientos
Hello, future pre-calc students…
I want to first recognize how amazing you guys truly are. Being in the IB program is difficult on both your—mind and body—and in my journey, I have struggled with the idea that—I’m never doing enough. if you remember anything I say to you I hope, it’s this: what you are doing is just enough—and a little more. We are all running a separate race, and even If your peers appear to be making leaps and strides you must recognize they’re on a whole different track.
The very fact you chose to join this program—for whatever reason, whether it was passion, academic drive, or maybe your parents forced you, the fact remains: “you chose to join this program”. And that is a commendable feat all on its own.
There are so many upsides of being surrounded by such incredible classmates: they hold you accountable, they teach you ideas and concepts perhaps foreign to you beforehand, and—most of all—they’ll inspire you every day. However, oftentimes admiration can encounter the poison of jealousy. There will be moments you will perform so horribly when others seem to be advancing forward without hiccups, and then that noxious idea starts clouding your mind: “I’m never doing enough”.
So, before that happens take a step back and look around… keep looking don’t turn away so quickly! Notice how everyone looks loopy with that toxin? We all have pitfalls where we resort to comparison and don’t even recognize that everything is happening to everyone.
“Others’ happiness is not your grief”. My brother told me this at some point with a lot less eloquence (and he probably stole it from the internet)! Essentially, what he meant was don’t succumb to the poison of jealousy, and instead choose to congratulate others. Promise yourself you’ll do better and don’t just complain to your siblings for hours like me.
I want to end by once more saying that you guys are amazing, and no matter how many F’s in Chem or D’s… in Chem you might get don’t give in to the poison. Just keep running at your own pace.
Warm regards,
Saara Bhushan
If I was given the opportunity take a class again with Frisbie, I would. I wouldn’t say the same about junior year though. But there are some things I would do differently, and I would need to figure out beforehand how much is too much on my plate earlier than I did. There’s going to be some teachers you love, some teachers that you don’t love, and some teachers that you think you can do their job better. I think my biggest advice is don’t procrastinate. That led to me having more failing grades than passing grades in the second semester. Followed by the biggest academic comeback every. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You have this group of kids your age you are stuck with for four years. There’s someone there that can help you, you just have to ask.
This leads me to this seminar I went to with a couple kids. It was at Florida Southern College. We listened to a bunch of entrepreneurs talk. One lesson that stuck with me was about chasing failure. It follows the whole “you miss 100% of the shots you do not take”. When you try something new, the worst you can do is fail, but you won’t be down on yourself if you don’t succeed. The main question is “what would you do if you knew you could not fail?”; and you come up with these insane scenarios and dreams. And the whole reason we don’t chase them is because we are scared to fail. I think sticking with IB is a big part of this. People drop out because it’s too much work or it’s too hard. They are scared to fail because they see everyone else succeeding. Everyone has their own challenges, but they aren’t fighting alone.
So, for upcoming juniors, don’t be afraid to fail. I begged my mom so many times to drop out this year. But the hard part, junior year, is now in my past and I’m proud to say I am one step closer to getting my diploma.
Addisen Cannoy
To future Precalculus students,
As you approach the time to take the Precalculus course, I would like to give you some advice to help you navigate through the year based on my own experience in the course. My first piece of advice – and one I consider far most important—is time management. Time management is a crucial skill in most courses and not just Precalculus. This skill is not just important during tests, but throughout the year with all assignments and homework assigned. It is wise to begin the assignments as soon as you get them, whilst the content is still fresh in your head for application, and to avoid getting overwhelmed later on due to loads of assignments that have compiled.
This leads me to my second piece of advice, which is to avoid procrastination. Continuously postponing your work that you know you will have to do at some point will only lead to unnecessary stress later on. Try doing your assignments as soon as you can. I also recommend that you keep a planner, both digital or paper-version can work. This helps you have a clear study routine and do work in good time.
Also try your best to update the planner regularly, whilst also checking it frequently as to be up to date with what needs to be done. I have had instances where I forgot that we had a test in class until the day of the test due to not putting it in my planner and at other times, not looking at it. This obviously restricted me from reaching my full potential had I studied. Lastly I would also like to advise you that you do not overwhelm yourself with too much work, rather find a good hobby — if you don’t already have one — to work as a distractor because IB can be overwhelming, thus I think it’s important to have time for yourself to do other activities that you enjoy doing to maintain balance.
Candice Hlahla
The advice that I would give to someone who is about to enter this class is probably to make sure you understand the concepts rather than mindlessly writing things down. For sure during the start of the year I would write down notes in my notebook while attempting to pay attention to which did work but as the class progressed, I began to become lost in my notes as I simply could not write all the information while being fully engaged. Thus, I began to simply pay attention and would do the homework which worked well. However, I am not discouraging any individual to pursue a way of understanding knowledge which is not applicable to oneself. I personally must put full engagement on one thing to genuinely understand it and get distracted very easily. For example, if I am working and I hear someone having a conversation next to me I will begin to split my focus and eventually become lost in thought once more. But if you are someone who can write notes and pay attention fully then by all means do that or if you have a different way of interpreting knowledge then go ahead. There is no specific way to bound knowledge to an individual thus one must learn how to interpret knowledge in the way that is best for them. Even if it is not a traditional way of learning, do not feel discouraged to follow that method. If you understand the material and can apply it effectively it really doesn’t matter.
Disregarding specific classes, I think it is very important to understand that grades really are not the pinnacle of life or determine one’s value as an individual. That does not go strictly for academics but honestly everything that occurs in one’s life. Though academics have definitely been a big part of your life as you go to school for over 150 days a year for 8 hours a day then yea it starts to seem like one of the only things that matter but that’s definitely not true. Don’t stress getting a B or a C or even failing a test as long as you recover from those experiences and understand what error you have made then it is ok. Just because you make a mistake it does not devalue you as an individual. If you are in this program then chances are you’re a try hard who stresses quite a bit about things, but I really think that most if not all things should result in stress or anxiety. For example, I am absolutely awful at history as in I had poor performance in regards of grades and genuinely believed that I would fail the AP World History exam but at the end of the day I was aware that I was awful at history and that the likelihood of me passing was not very high and didn’t let it overwhelm me but instead went in with the idea that I know I tried even with my horrible experiences with the subject and that from this AP exam I could either benefit from the score that I got or not be affected at all as a “failing” score did not negatively affect me per se. Now that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t put any effort and just free ball everything but definitely don’t stress too much on things whether that be academics or other aspects of life.
Try to treat everyone with respect, even if it’s an individual that you disapprove of in some way or don’t get along with, please treat them with respect. Not only does that go for teachers but also peers and over all every individual. That doesn’t mean you have to suck up to them but definitely don’t disrespect them. Try to be open-minded as well. Don’t be arrogant and stick to your own thoughts even when it is clearly wrong. Attempt to understand alternative perspectives and interpret them in a way that you are not negatively affected by them but rather learn from them and build upon your own knowledge and method of understanding. This way of learning and being open-minded will help you not only academically but also help you understand individuals and oneself.
I don’t really have much to say as of now but good luck in the coming years, academically and in general.
Juan Jimenez
Dear Future Pre-Calculus Students (hi there juniors),
Congratulations on sticking it out till this year! It may seem daunting right now, but the time will honestly fly by. Everyone says that these two years are the “hard part” of IB, and yes, I admit, the rigor is definitely challenging junior year, but you got this. The most important advice I have to your right now is to MANAGE YOUR TIME. I know this little piece of advice has probably been ironed into your brain about twenty million times, but understanding your schedule and your priorities will make you feel like you control the sails of your boat of this tumultuous sea that is the IB DP. This year, everything probably seems like its flying at you: SAT, ACT, college lists, homework, IAs, APs, extracurriculars, etc. And I’m sure you want to do great in all of it, but the cure isn’t just to stop procrastinating. What worked for me was to, a whole semester ahead of time, look at what I signed myself up for, and put a timeline of what was happening from when to when. That way, I would know what I was doing at a given point in time, and that way I could rely on my past organization to organize my present. Although I procrastinated still, keeping a timeline kept me on top of my academic goals, and I was able to fit other stuff I wanted to do, like trips and all that, because I knew when I had TIME to do everything.
Another piece of advice: stay a mile and some more away from drama. Drama can be inevitable, which if so, deal with it quickly, but otherwise the drama will only pile up more stress. This year, more than in your sophomore and freshman year, needs to be smooth sailing for you so that whatever the teachers decide to throw at you, you don’t go crazy. Other than that, explore the things you love! Soon you’ll be making decisions about your future that’ll be really important for you, but remember to live a little.
Now onto the details: Classes.
Lit: Please focus, Ms. Harb will make the homework easy if you participate in class. The tests can be hard at times, but if you do all the homework properly, you’ll be able to average out. Also, pay attention to the books and non-literary works, because these will save you during AP season and during your oral (just trust me).
Business (my 6th subject): Ms. Heaton is AMAZING, please take advantage of her knowledge, and pay attention when you do the case studies because if you do, the IB exam will be a breeze.
AP Chem: While I can’t say anything for bio, I know that most of you probably are scared of chem the most. While AP chem is much more difficult than Pre-IB chem, just make sure you know why each concept works instead of how to apply it, because this makes a world of a difference. If you can make a sort of mental web of all the concepts, you’ll be good. The first semester isn’t that bad, just study hard for every test, but the pitfall comes in the second semester with the acid-base unit, so trust me when I tell you to STUDY for that. Besides that, the AP exam is honestly easier than some of the tests she takes, but obviously don’t procrastinate studying like I did, a couple weeks is more than enough to review to do good.
Pre-Calculus: Although I’m sad you won’t be able to learn with Ms. Frisbie, who was absolutely fantastic this year, I’d recommend taking some notes with the new teacher, because the concepts are honestly pretty intuitive.
AP US History: Even if you don’t do good on a test, the grades will average out when Ms. Kenney puts them in, so don’t stress too much about it. Make sure to pay attention in class and in your notes though, because if you don’t, studying for the AP exam will be a nightmare (especially if you’re a chronic procrastinator like myself).
ToK: This class was nice to have this year, and it was fun to engage in silly conversations with Mr. Guice. Make the most out of it, it’ll be relaxing compared to the other ones. But also make sure to stay on top of those EE and Exhibition deadlines, because if you miss them, they’ll tank your grade.
Spanish: Ms. Santiago is super funny, just make sure you get your puntos! If you do, you’ll do great.
Okay, now moving on to extracurriculars:
Make sure to balance out what you do after school, and always align it with your interest, what some colleges consider your “spike”. I’d recommend having a balance between community service, competitions, clubs, leadership, and passion projects, which show that you’re well rounded. You might be tempted (once again) to join every club, but don’t fall into this trap. Be STRATEGIC (and join DECA lol). Although you want to look good for college, do things you love, explore your passions, go through with things that surprise you, and don’t follow what everyone else is doing if it doesn’t align with what you want to do.
Now, testing:
I’ve only taken the SAT, so I can’t give any advice about the ACT, but take the SAT as EARLY as possible. I recommend going through the practice questions on the CollegeBoard question bank and doing practice tests, as well as going through the Khan Academy curriculum for the basics. You got this—believe in yourself!
Now some closing words: Comparison is truly the killer of happiness. You have so much ahead of you, and your success in IB won’t make or break your future. So focus on your path, and remember to still have fun outside of school, because stressing about work can become a full time job. Also, I love this quote: The difference between a 90 and a 99 is a life. So live your life! Even if that means watching documentaries or reading books about calculus, explore all the possibilities.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Maia Munera
P.S. Thank you Danielle Howell for the format 😊
Hello, future pre-calculus student. You made it to junior year and committed to the IB program, Congratulations! For a junior year of IB, it can get hectic if you aren’t well-managed with your time, however, it isn’t impossible. In my junior year, I was on the Boys Tennis Team and participating in numerous clubs such as HOSA, FBLA, and DECA, so to manage the time needed for all of these clubs, I planned out what I had to do on the Apple Notes app which had my daily tasks and homework I have to accomplish when I get home from practice or school. I would highly advise having some sort of system like such because even if you think you will remember a task, email, or paper to revise, it’s better to have a system where you can never forget at all.
In terms of Junior Year IB 6th Subject, I took IB World Religions with Mrs. Dawn Chevallier, and overall it was an amazing time in her class, as well as learning about new religions and faiths. A piece of advice I can give for not just the juniors taking IB World Religions or Business Management is to please turn in your Internal Assessment papers on time.
For Chevallier, we had separated our paper into sections A-E, which overall helped with time management and the overall writing of the paper itself. I advise you to please stay on top of the deadlines. It’s better to be a day or two early than crunching on the last hour before it hits 11:59 pm to turn the document in on Turnitin (yes, I have done that).
Overall, try to manage your time properly since you will be most likely be overwhelmed at first from the intensity switch from sophomore and junior year however, you got this! 🙂
Yagnik Patel
The first piece of advice I would give upcoming IB juniors is to try your best on your IAs and turn them in on time. Although, IAs are only worth 20% of your IB score they can be quite easy marks to collect if you follow your teacher’s guidance and don’t procrastinate on collecting the research. In junior year you will have to do written IAs and oral IAs and both rely on time management and meeting deadlines. As implemented this year if you don’t turn in your IB assessments at the set deadlines you will receive a 0. If you create a habit of not turning these assessments on time these 0’s will pile up and your grade will drastically decrease. In addition, as you progress into junior year you will receive more and more deadlines and the more you procrastinate the more you will feel overwhelmed. Despite you receiving a 0 in the gradebook you will still be required to turn in your IA because if you don’t turn in your IA you will not be able to receive a score for the IB course. Meaning despite external assessments such as IB exams weighing more IAs are still crucial.
The second piece of advice I would give upcoming IB juniors is to understand what you need to complete to get your IB diploma. When I had started my junior year, I was guilty of not understanding the amount of marks needed from our SLs and HLs classes to receive our IB diplomas. Your standard level courses or SLs are Spanish, Math, and your IB sixth subject. You need to get 9 marks in your SL courses to receive your IB diploma. I also didn’t know that if you split a IB SL course such as World Religions that score will not go towards your IB diploma. Your higher-level courses or HL courses are Chemistry or Biology, English, and History. You need to get 12 marks in your HL courses to receive your IB diploma. Your TOK and EE grade will add to the marks needed to receive your IB diploma. You need overall 24 marks to receive your IB diploma.
The third piece of advice I would give upcoming juniors is to not use Artificial intelligence (AI) to do your classwork. I personally didn’t use AI this year to complete classwork, but I’ve witnessed people who use it for their classwork. By the end of the year when IB exams and AP exams came around they had to study harder to get to the scores they wanted. Although, AI can be a good resource there is a strong line between cheating and using AI as an educational tool. For example, in IB World Religions you must investigate for your IA. Some people used AI to create fake interviews that our instructor could clearly identify as AI. This resulted in these people needing to redo their IA. Using AI to do assessments or classwork is just a waste of time for you because the work will need to be completed by you eventually. For these assessments you’re losing the possible feedback you could have gotten and used to make your assessment better.
Laila Roberts
Dear future students,
In the time I have spent in IB I have felt myself be challenged more than I ever have before. I have constantly felt overwhelmed and drained with the amount of work and the difficulty of it. However, the connections I have had with friends have helped me through it all. Within my year in pre-calculus I have found myself struggling to understand or remember certain parts and conferring with my friends have helped me to remember and correctly utilize the information. This to all lead to my first piece of advice being, no matter how drained you are and busy you feel it is important to recognize your friends as they are the ones who can support you and that you can support in turn. The difficult classes that I have been through would not have been tolerable if it weren’t for the connections brought between others as the shared struggle allowed for better bonds to others and a greater understanding of each other.
Although I do find it particularly important to keep up with the social aspects of life, I have found that sometimes isolation has done me some good. I love hanging with my friends and bonding, but because of that stress that comes from rigorous courses, there is only so much you can do before burning out. My advice is to take some alone time when it becomes too much all at once and recognize that putting yourself under more stress isn’t good for you. My first two pieces of advice may contradict each other, but they do so on separate levels with acknowledgement being the action in the first and isolating being done in the second.
Lastly, the best piece of advice I can give is to do your work well before it’s due. I cannot count how many times I have done homework the day it was due just a class before because of my constant procrastination. This action leading to more stress because of the pressure I put on myself over a very short time period. As I have progressed through the year, I felt my procrastination get worse, but I highly advise that anyone who shares that trait to try to create a system against it to try and limit stress and pressure. Overall, my main advice is to consider those around you, prioritize yourself, and stay on top of things.
Isla Spiegel
Dear Future Juniors,
This school year will be very difficult for you but will also be very important. Your academic performance in Junior year is integral when applying for colleges and universities. One of the hardest aspects for me was keeping up with all of my assignments because three of my classes gave me daily homework assignments. One of the biggest helps for me was getting a daily planner. Every day I would write down all my homework and the day it was due, that way I could work on my assignments in order of closest to farthest due date. I suggest that you get yourself a planner or find some other way to keep track of your assignments because I can guarantee that you won’t be able to remember them all without it.
The best way to finish assignments quickly is to work with others. You’re not going to be an expert in all of your classes, but your classmates might be able to help you with your less proficient subjects. This is especially important for IB students because there will be times when you just won’t understand a concept without help from your peers. Don’t forget that this is a two-way street. If you understand a concept really well and you see that someone else doesn’t, you should try to help them to the best of your ability. The best way to make people want to help you is to help them first.
Volunteer hours are important for scholarships, and they make you look good to colleges. I highly suggest getting the hundred needed for Bright Futures, and I suggest getting those hundred out of the way before Senior year. This is because I am a firm believer in getting things done early so that you can relax for longer. My best piece of advice is to work hard during your Junior year so that your Senior year is easier, and you can focus more on college applications.
You’re going to do great Junior year,
Connor Tyree
Future pre-calc students,
I could give the basic advice of “don’t procrastinate”, “do your assignments as soon as possible”, “don’t let your work pile up”, “make strong connections with others”, “keep your school-life balance healthy”; but those don’t really register much do they? I’m sure you hear them all the time, and yet they probably don’t work anyway. You, like many IB students, might procrastinate on those assignments, spend too long on those assignments due to that procrastination, and the time you lose might affect your plans, causing distances between the relations you’ve built and the things you enjoy. I know I’ve had all of the above happen to me before, left with nothing but a pen, my desk, my homework, and my notes.
I don’t think procrastination is something people want to do; however, it seems to plague most of us anyway. I feel that procrastination shows that your mind is healthy. I think it’s okay to check your phone every once in a while, or answer a call or two, as long as you don’t lose sight of the main goal. But it should also be important to track that time and ensure it doesn’t track off for too long. I feel that finding a way that works for you to keep yourself from doom-scrolling, or taking a long nap, or losing yourself in a game. A way that works for me is to:
- Identify when I have begun procrastinating
- Take a sign that I’m having trouble focusing
- Find a good spot to stop what I’m doing
- Set a short timer
- 1-3 minutes
- Do the thing I was distracted by
- Get back to work after.
If it is too frequent, less than every 25 min, I power through the assignment and take a slightly longer break, ~5 minutes.
On the topic of not letting things pile up and doing them on time. I can definitely struggled with that too, but a way that works for me is to attempt to start the assignment for some time, 30-60 minutes, and get a feel for the difficulty of the assignment and from there. I use the progress I made to determine how long it would take me, and compare it with how long I have, as well as other assignments I have, and work out when and how to do it.
Strong connections ARE important, but don’t put big things at risk for them. This doesn’t mean “Hey dude, I know we’re friends and all, but I don’t care about you anymore because I have a big important test in three weeks, bye!”, I mean it more as, if you have spent 3 weekends gaming with your friends and have a big project due in a week, tell your friends that you have a big project coming up and you need to work on that instead of gaming this time. They are your friends, they’ll understand that you do still want to game with them, but you’re busy THIS time.
Overall, don’t just think of those pieces of advice and go: “that would be helpful, I’m going to do that.”, and then never do it, because things like NEVER procrastinating aren’t very likely to happen. Instead don’t take anyone’s words verbatim; rather, consider how it would be beneficial and mold it to fit you. You as in the unique person that YOU are, because most tips aren’t one-size-fits-all, and you need to stretch those ideas and form a way that is beneficial for you, again not the normal-everyday-person, but the YOU that you are.
Dakota Medler
Konnichiwa, students! 😈
Firstly, it’s good that you pushed through freshman year – the EASIEST of the four years… sorry 💔 – and that you’re ready to continue progressing through IB at BHS. While some of the classes this year might’ve seemed pointless, there’s actually some stuff you SHOULD remember and practice (that I didn’t and regret not doing so).
Devore taught you about different ways to study and take notes. While I brushed this off and forgot lots of it, lots of her lessons on this are ACTUALLY REALLY USEFUL AND IMPORTANT. I really regret not taking advantage of the information she was giving the class… I had a really hard time adjusting to taking two AP classes this year after taking ZERO last year, and I think that if I applied some of the things Devore taught us, I wouldn’t have struggled that much. 🥲
ALSO! Determine what classes you CAN turn in late work to. Sometimes some things slip your mind, or stuff happens at home and some teachers are NOT sympathetic (while the majority are). Learn what teachers are more lenient when it comes to late work. For example, Mr. Guice (the ELA one, not the math one) is lenient depending on the situation, but Eaken (according to my friends because I don’t have her) takes 50% off assignments submitted even an hour too late. So, if you’re doing work for their classes and find you won’t be able to complete them both in a timely manner, you can push off the more lenient teacher’s work for another day.
DON’T rely solely on AI. AI is super cool and all, but using it on EVERY assignment you receive does NOTHING for you. Remember when your elementary and middle school teachers were like, “Hey! Don’t cheat off each other, you won’t learn anything!” the same is true for AI; however, that does NOT mean AI can’t be useful. Some of my friends use it to help them study or further explain topics they’re struggling with (ChatGPT can even put it in Fortnite terms), but they’re not dependent on it so that they gain an understanding of the material being taught in their classes. And unfortunately, yes, you shouldn’t use it on busy work. It may seem useless and not beneficial, but usually, teachers don’t assign things JUST to assign things. They’re meant to help you master the subject, so don’t even use AI then.
Try to balance both your school and personal life. It’s difficult sometimes, but time management is one of the main things you need to master in IB. I really struggle with this. I had a hard time both living in a challenging household and completing work. I let my frustration and exhaustion bleed into my school life rather than pouring all my energy into it. This may be inevitable though, but do things like taking classes you enjoy and completing as much homework/classwork as you can IN CLASS, at SCHOOL! If you want to get home and immediately hop on that Fortnite, you better have that work done (or else your mom will take away your beloved XBOX), or you’ll really regret it when due dates come around.
Speaking of which, DO NOT CRAM. DO NOTTTT DO IT. I do it SO often and BOY!!! No wonder I struggle so much in my classes. Finding the perfect balance has been so hard, so try to find it EARLY into your time in IB. Don’t push off homework or studying for the day before, start homework and projects WAY before they’re due (I know it sounds obvious, but it is SO easy to fall behind and push things off). Don’t make current you hate past you because you PROCRASTINATED.
Sometimes, though, falling behind isn’t inherently your fault! Many people, myself included, have a really hard time focusing. My personal advice is to get some HEADPHONES!! What really helped me was blocking out conversations around me so I could focus on my work (because I LOOVE talking to people).
Now, to things I LOVE about IB:
- I never felt like I was surrounded by people that really understood me until I got to IB. Not to sound like… CONCEITED or anything, but I always felt as though I was more sophisticated than the people around me and that I couldn’t really have intelligent conversations (except with other people that advanced to IB with me). What’s so cool about being in IB is that everyone is SMART. Everyone knows what they’re talking about, has complicated thought processes, and they’re able to have INTELLIGENT CONVERSATIONS. I hated when I would talk to someone and mid-conversation, they stop to ask me what a word I said meant or how I was able to come to conclusions that I thought were common sense, so I think it’s awesome that everyone in IB already understands what I’m communicating and can add meaningful thoughts to our conversations.
- EVERYONE IS FRIENDLY, even the teachers! Nobody is truly mean (unless like… they’re miserable, but they usually end up leaving IB anyways) and everyone is so easy to get along with. If it wasn’t for IB, I wouldn’t have met so many of my amazing friends. Everyone is smart, kind, funny, and all around, super awesome. I’m sure that I’ll be remembering all of my teachers, too. They teach so well, they truly understand the material, and they know exactly how to help when people come out about struggling.
The only bad thing about IB, in my opinion, is the workload; but, like I said before, learn how to properly manage your time to complete work quickly and you won’t have to worry.
Best of luck,
Abrianna Steward
If you’re about to start IB Precalculus, remember the best way to learn is through application. Classes go by faster than you think and being able to understand it all is rough but through notes and staying awake the work becomes easier. Also, try to keep your notes neat and in one location or maybe go back over them. Even though it’s not much, reviewing can really help everything make sense.
Practicing is very important. Math isn’t something you can just memorize and be done with. You’ll eventually have to replicate math that you did months ago in semester exams or finals. The more problems you’ve had, the better you’ll understand how everything connects. Homework is good, but IB questions sometimes ask things in weird ways, so getting used to that style ahead of time will help you feel more confident when test day comes.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone gets stuck sometimes, including the smartest kids in the class. Start by asking a friend, however, if that doesn’t work, going to your teacher to get another explanation can make a big difference. You might also want to join a study group or find someone to go over tough topics with. It’s way easier to get through the class when you’re not doing it alone.
George Sapp
I know the kids next year and following aren’t going to experience the teaching of Miss Frisbie. So this is my baseline advice for kids progressing through IB. It’s very easy to fall behind if you don’t keep track of all your assignments and test dates. These dates will help you know what to turn in on what day and indicate when you need to start studying for a specific test. When progressing through the year, people tend to give up their commitments to complete work, which should not be an excuse you make in IB. Even though the program is quite demanding, it’s just as important to give time to yourself and your family. Remember to always balance work with personal life. No matter how much work you are given in one day, always make sure to converse with your family every day.
Throughout IB, you will fall, and that’s okay. Friends make up a great component of your life throughout this program. Make sure you choose your friends wisely, don’t let them take advantage of you, and vice versa. The right group will remind you of upcoming due dates and maybe teach you some tricks to score higher on an essay. Treat your teachers like your friends as well, don’t treat them informally as you would a classmate, but make sure you have a tight relationship with them. Not necessarily a glazing level of relationship, though, just enough for them to say good things about you. The most important part of your relationship in IB is not letting yourself get compared to your friends or other classmates who may be performing better than you. Remember you are way different from them and probably have different styles of learning than that person.
Lastly, study smarter, not harder. At least once in a week or two, you will be put on a tight schedule. This can pile up the amount of tests and assignments you may have to complete in a short window. Hold on tight, because it’s gonna put you on quite the rollercoaster. Make sure that you learn using active recall and methods that work best for you. Pace yourself to make sure you complete the assignments quickly and move on to the next task. When you feel like you’re losing focus, that’s when you need a break. Always make sure to take small pride in your accomplishments, even though you may not recognize it, it’s what keeps you motivated to do more than what you did previously. Ciao!
Manasa Rajkumar
Dear Freshman,
Welcome to the IB program! This program has so many great opportunities and it teaches you many skills helpful for your future. A lot of the time it can be overwhelming with all the tests you have to study for, but they’re just a way to help you grow. IB has a variety of sports and clubs for everyone’s preference, and those are great ways to meet new people and make new friends.
Transitioning into high school is a huge change and it can be scary, but as you get used to it, you’ll be just fine. My biggest piece of advice would be to not procrastinate. Whenever you get an assignment, you should do it right away even if it’s not due. The pressure only increases the more you put things off so get everything done as soon as possible. Even if you’re stressing about everything, one big thing is your sleep and health. Don’t stay up late just to study for a test. Manage your time well after school and get at least 8 hours of sleep to be well rested and ready for the school day.
For me, sophomore year was a big step up from freshman year. In sophomore year the teachers are way stricter about deadlines, and they assign loads of work. A lot of tests are assigned on the same day and it’s a great amount of stress but if you study well and keep up with the teacher in class you will get good grades in every class. You must put effort into your work and if you ever have any questions your teachers because they’re here to help.
Overall, IB isn’t an easy program, but keep trying and never give up and you’ll make it out just fine.
Sincerely,
Mahi Patel
Dear Future IB Precalculus Sophomore,
Congratulations, you have completed your freshman year at IB! If you are reading this to understand the essence of the sophomore year, you have come to the right person! Progressing into the conclusion of my sophomore year, I will provide you with advice and insight into your forthcoming experience of the sophomore year.
The International Baccalaureate program is a rigorous program requiring your effort and dedication to its utmost extent. Along your journey, you need to implement studying tactics and time management strategies to your personalization. For example, you should frequently review your notes to memorize key or difficult concepts. Additionally, you should create studying or homework sessions without distractions and stay productive for a solid amount of time. I also highly recommend you avoid procrastination and complete your work early, preferably the day you received the assignment.
School clubs are an excellent way to develop skills and leadership experience. You should join school clubs with interests/passions similar to yours. Limit your clubs to a few and dedicate your time and effort to the select few that you are committed towards achieving success.
Dual enrollment and FLVS courses are a wise choice and can help you decide your future profession. You can try out new courses unavailable at our school; these courses should reflect your interests. When selecting your online course, you should carefully research the professor and class description. Careful selection can prevent unnecessary setbacks and will prepare you for success in the long run.
During your sophomore year, you will have Mrs. Loweke, Mr. Henriquez, and Mr. Guice as teachers. These teachers will help you succeed in your future courses. Mrs. Loweke, the Pre-IB Chemistry teacher, gives 200-point unit tests and teaches new concepts every day, providing worksheets with practice problems to help you understand. Mr. Henriquez, the AP World History teacher, will give daily assignments and weekly homework; his resources can help you be prepared for the AP exam. Mr. Guice, the Pre-IB English teacher, helps with your essay writing, which will become useful for your Extended Essay and college applications.
In conclusion, you should avoid procrastination, take courses that align with your interests, and take time to understand most of the concepts in your classes. The sophomore year can be rough, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can achieve success.
Siddharth Sivakumar
Oh gee willickers… hey future Precalc students!
I’m Louis. If you’re reading this, then you probably will be taking IB Math Analysis and Approaches Standard Level Year one next year. You’ve successfully gotten through freshman year! Hooray! Now listen up buttercup, because to me, sophomore year is way more difficult than freshman year (as opposed to the people who say the opposite).
It definitely needs to be addressed that the teacher for IB Math A&A — Ms. Frisbie — will be retiring next year. She is an amazing and dedicated teacher, so IB Math may become slightly more difficult of a course when she leaves.
Course Load
The main concern for your sophomore year will be the courses you take. Hopefully, you choose electives that you are actually interested in. These can range from the academy courses offered or even difficult courses such as APs. There are five main core courses that you will be taking though, excluding your electives.
Pre-IB English. Your English course for sophomore year will be instructed by Mr. Guice. He is bald. He is also a really good teacher. Generally, his class is easy, but there are times when his class can take a toll on your sleep schedule. He will often make assignments due a while away, which can give you a false sense of security; however, these dates were designed with continuous progression in mind. Sooner or later, the due date will come, and you’ll be put into a frenzied panic. The books. Please read the books that he assigns throughout the year, including the Scarlet Letter which will be given over the summer. I personally am an avid procrastinator. Do not be like me. A reading quiz will be given when the annotations for each book are due. The catalogue of literature throughout the year will consist of The Scarlet Letter, Of Mice and Men, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Lord of the Flies. There will also be a few poems, speeches, and grammar lessons sprinkled in during the year. The mini-EE. This is the second main concern I had during the year. The miniature extended essay is a 2000-word (maximum) research paper that will include progress assignments throughout the year. You will need to come up with a topic, do research, make notes, actually write the paper, format the paper, and proofread it. Try not to procrastinate and also refrain from AI usage.
Pre-IB Chemistry. A lot of people struggled in this class for my cohort, although I wouldn’t say this was an issue with the instructor— Ms. Loweke, who is indeed a good teacher. Many students did not understand certain topics or were not well-studied in the basics. Try not to be the latter. You will be assigned a list of items to memorize, including elements on the periodic table, polyatomics, and common charges. It’s ok if you do not understand what this means right now; however, please memorize as soon as possible. You will be given quizzes on them and the remaining course in chemistry will be based on these values. How well you do in Chemistry will influence your choice of IB science route in junior and senior year, so try to do well in Chemistry to increase your options.
IB Precalculus. If you’re in this class, then you have taken Algebra II. I am not sure how it will be structured next year since Ms. Frisbie will be leaving, but it is generally important to have a good foundation in math. You will be covering certain topics in Algebra II such as linear relationships and quadratics, while also covering relatively new topics such as trigonometry, probability, and statistics. Make sure to do your homework and have plenty of practice.
AP World History. This may or may not be your first AP class, but if it is, then it should be noted that this is college level. It will be instructed by Mr. Henriquez. His assignments will include weekly one-page notes for each topic based on the AMSCO book given at the beginning of the year — usually including between two or three topics. In class, you will review each topic and learn more about the themes for each unit. If you keep up with your homework, do classwork, and know your stuff for tests, you will pass the class. His assignments are also quite organized, and he is lenient. The AP exam for the course may allow you eligibility for college credit based on your score. It will be administered in the first few weeks of May, so try to review topics a few weeks beforehand.
Language. There are two main pre-IB courses that the sophomore cohort will be taking, including pre-IB Spanish and pre-IB German. Personally, I am a German kiddo. Herr Porter will assign work both online and on paper — usually having an online submission spot for the paper assignment on Schoology. Keep up with the assignments, learn vocab, learn syntax, and make connections to the English language if possible. Otherwise, sophomore year should be very similar to freshman year in the case of German. On the other hand, I cannot say the same for Spanish…
Electives. The electives that you take next year can really shape how difficult you find your courses. Some people take double APs while others may take more fun electives. It is truly up to you. Do you want to be a sweat? Or do you want to have a chill year?
Online courses. Some students choose to take courses online, usually through FL Virtual School or through dual enrollment at Polk State College. Don’t feel discouraged if you’re not doing any. They are 100% not necessary to your high school life. If you would like though, you can take them. They can range from courses such as Driver’s Education, to 5.0 weighted APs (on FLVS) or DEs. Remember not to take them entirely for a GPA boost, but with the mindset to gain knowledge from them. After all, that’s the point of education. Do not be a monkey as well. The monkey sees and the monkey does. But you aren’t one of those right?
Extracurriculars
Extracurriculars are the activities done outside of your school courses. Generally, you should try to engage a bit in such activities. For example, many students do sports such as volleyball, tennis, football, swimming, etc. There are also clubs that are offered on campus. Some are academic and competition-based while others are more community oriented. A few popular academic clubs are Academic Team, Science Olympiad, FBLA, HOSA, and DECA. Some more community or cultural clubs are Key Club, Interact, Amnesty International, Asian American Association, etc. There are also a few honor societies/clubs such as NHS, World Language Honor society, and Mu Alpha Theta.
Do what you like to do! If you don’t like a club you’ve joined, you can simply drop it. Hopefully, you’ve gained a little bit of an idea about the roster of clubs on campus during your freshman year though.
Community service. You should also be trying to gain community service, whether it’s through the aforementioned community service clubs, through school-related activities, or outside establishments. You will probably want to get 100 hours by the end of senior year so you can get the FL Bright Futures Scholarship, assuming you meet the other qualifications. If it piques your interest, you can also get a pin during the annual IB Awards Ceremony every year based on how many volunteer hours you have at the time, although it’s not a necessity. The following years correspond to a certain number of hours: Freshman – 50 hours, Sophomore – 100 hours, Junior – 150 hours, Senior – 250 hours. Remember to volunteer at places you are passionate about, whether it’s something you simply have dedicated time to or if it pertains to a certain discipline you’re interested in.
Social Life
IB is absolutely destructive to social connections. If you can, try to find time to hang out with friends and have fun. Go outside! Just make sure to get your work done. It’s hard to do terrible in your courses if you simply do the assigned work.
One piece of advice I would also like to give is to not feel discouraged. By nature, IB is a difficult program. “They” (the IB people) love to talk about how rigorous it is. Therefore, you are certain to meet people that will amaze you. I definitely have. You can choose to idolize them or engage in friendly competition; however, try not to compare yourself to them. You are not falling behind. Instead, work on yourself. Focus on your mental health. Compare yourself to you from the past, or even to how you perceive yourself in the future.
Wow I talked a lot… but maybe you gained something useful…?
Good luck!
Van Louis Montilla
Over the past year I have overcome many challenges. At the beginning of the year, I had an extremely rough start as many of my classes and teachers were a lot stricter compared to my freshman year. I also was having a hard time balancing my sport with schoolwork. During my freshman year I didn’t struggle at all in my classes; I think this is why the start of sophomore year gave me so many problems. Once my sport ended in February, I slowly was able to pull myself out of my slump and finally adjust to my workload.
What helped me the most during this time was not overloading my plate. During my sports season I was extremely exhausted by the time I would get home, and I would have no energy to complete my homework or study. Often, I would just not do my homework and lose the easy participation points. This later came back to hurt me when the end of the semester came near, and we took our semester finals. The final was weighed so much more than my other assignments, that it caused my grade to drastically drop right at the end of the semester. Since I had decided to not do my homework it affected my grade even more. Once my schedule cleared up more and I had more time to do things that I wanted to do, my grades showed a huge improvement. I learned from this that I work better when I have time to do the things that I enjoy doing, while still making time for school and work. It’s important not to overload yourself with activities, especially at the start of school when you are still adjusting to your classes.
Another thing that helped me this year was not being so consumed by grades. If I didn’t do well on a test, I wouldn’t let it bother me the rest of the day. It is also important to not let other people’s comments bother you. Being in IB it can be very competitive and if you don’t have one of the highest grades you might get made fun of depending on how competitive your friends are. You have to remember that they are just playing around with you and to not take what they say seriously. If you do choose to listen to them then you need to use their comments to try harder. It can help you to find motivation to do well in your classes. You can make it a game between your friends to see who can get the highest grades. That is what encouraged me when I was having a hard time finding motivation. School doesn’t just have to be something you are forced to go to; you can make it fun, and I highly encourage you to do so.
Kate Matteson
This year (2024-2025) is the last year Ms. Frisbie is teaching at IB Bartow High School. It feels strange to be one of the last students in a 35+ yearlong career, but I wish you, the reader, good luck with the new teacher, whoever that may be. Reflecting on Ms. Frisbie’s teaching, it has been the most unique math class I have taken, the first one I’ve had to write multiple essays. The best way to describe it would be a college lecture but with more emphasis on daily homework, rather than notes. Although this homework was a bit tedious at times, in many cases it taught me more than the actual lecture, which extends to my other classes as well; so, I advise you to do your work on time, not only for your grade, but for an overall greater understanding of the course material.
Now, looking back on IB Precalculus purely on material, at least in my opinion, it’s nothing to be scared of. A large portion of the curriculum is review from Algebra 2, and the other majority is mainly strengthening your core mathematics skills in preparation for calculus. Later in the year, the material deviates into more specialized topics like trigonometry and probability and statistics, which are new, but not too great of a challenge building on your current foundations of geometry and algebra. My advice for these units is to pay attention in class and learn how to use the full abilities of your Ti-nspire calculator, it will be your best friend on tests. The biggest mistake you might make is not learning the easiest way to do things, which most of the time are done with your calculator.
On another note, use this class as preparation for the PSAT and SAT; a lot of the curriculum is part of the SAT material. This class will really strengthen your skills for the math portion, without a doubt. Considering this value, I urge you to try and understand the formulas and methods on a deeper level, rather than just thinking of plug and chug. A deeper understanding will make you quicker; you will get stuck much less trying to manipulate equations when you know what each component does and how it works.
With that, I’ve exhausted my advisory skills for now, and I wish you good luck once again with the new teacher, hopefully you won’t need it.
Aksh Ladegaonkar
Dear future sophomores,
Congrats on passing freshman year! I hope you were paying attention in Mrs. Devore’s class, because those seemingly useless studying lessons are going to really come in handy these next 3 years. While sophomore year is exceptionally harder than freshman year (in my opinion), there are some things you can do to make the experience exponentially better.
The #1 piece of advice I can give you is to do all assignments the day you get them. We all fall into procrastination sometimes; but trust me, while it feels nice in the moment, it is not your friend. Procrastination is your worst enemy. On top of the daily homework given in Spanish, precalculus, and usually chemistry, you will also have weekly notes for AP World History and any other assignments and projects that will be assigned. Many of the due dates for these projects and assignments will overlap, so be prepared for that. Avoiding procrastination is the best way to avoid having assignments build up or becoming missing/late. Those will kill your grade.
My second most important piece of advice for you is to get enough sleep. I struggle with this myself as I am prone to procrastinate and pull all-nighters, so I can tell you from experience that it is a bad idea. Not getting sufficient sleep will cause you to be tired the next day in class, which will cause you to not comprehend the material and fall even further behind. I recommend making up a “bedtime” for yourself and trying to be in bed around that time. Doing your assignments early will also help with this as you will be able to sleep less stressfully knowing that your assignments are done and not piling up.
Good luck,
Kylee Hill
The first piece of advice I would give to someone about to take the same courses I have just completed would be to take neat and organized notes. Some teachers such as Ms. Loweke and Profe Vega check notebooks for a grade. By having great notes in their notebooks, they will get good grades on notebook checks as well as make it easier to study. Some courses have long units so when studying for a unit test or an important exam, it is essential to have organized notes to make studying easier. Adding detailed examples in notes is also very helpful to remember processes.
The second piece of advice I would give is to not cheat. Most of the topics you learn about are tested on the rest of the year. For example, for summer homework for chemistry, they would need to memorize polyatomic ions which is a topic that is used in different processes throughout the year. Also, they should not use AI because it is usually answers very well or very wrong. Teachers run papers through AI detection and if one’s assignment is too good the teacher can tell they did not write it. AI is also wrong a lot of the time so do not be dependent on it for assignments.
The last piece of advice I would give is to be involved. Participate in class, join clubs, and go to events at the school. Participating in class helps students get a better understanding of topics and show their teachers respect by engaging in their lessons. Joining clubs not only looks good on college applications but also brings students together and help the community. In National Honor Society, there is a campus clean up every week which allows students to partner up and clean the school. Going to events really shows your school spirit. While supporting your school, may also have a really fun time which can help your social life.
Kara Harris
I would like to begin this essay by saying that this advice is not for everyone. This is a combination of what I would have needed to hear and what people with slightly better mental health need to hear. Half of this advice is from my therapist, and I will be eternally grateful to her for throwing me a lifeline when I was drowning.
The first thing I recommend you do is ensure that IB is the right program for you. This is what possibly saved my life in December, when I was depressed, anxious, and at a very low point in my mental health. It had never even occurred to me that I could quit the IB program until my therapist brought it up. I was worried about what my parents would think, and though I initially faced some pushback, they eventually agreed that it was for the best. I do not see my quitting as a negative thing. For me, it’s just a matter of finding out what is the best fit for me. For those who have stricter parents, I want you to know that your mental health will always be more important than disappointing them. You are your own person, not your parents’ person. It does not matter why you joined IB, there is always a way out and there are other programs. I encourage you to look at the statistical benefits of IB and really think about if it is right for you and your future and whether it’s worth the immense effort and sacrifice that you need to make.
Regarding this specific class, I will begin with how to handle the homework. The main thing I would like to emphasize is that you need to prioritize. By this, I mean you need to look at what is most needed to bring your grade up and you need to get that thing done first. Sometimes that thing will be math homework, other times it will not be. For example, if you have a chemistry worksheet and a math worksheet due tomorrow, and you have a B in math and a D in chemistry, you should do the chemistry homework first. Additionally, use your class time to do your homework. For me, I have trouble focusing on a subject while in its class, so I tend to work on other things because it allows me to be more productive. Regarding math class, all of the notes are always posted online, and I’ve found it’s a lot faster to take them on your own time while using class time for other things. Again, this will not work for everyone, but it worked for me and I would like to inform you that it is an option. I would also like to remind you that you can turn in things late. In fact, I encourage you to turn in things late if it means prioritizing sleep or your mental health.
Speaking of sleep, if you’re like me and your depression causes you to feel like you’d rather stab yourself in the eye than do homework that night, then I recommend trying to set your alarm a few hours early and doing homework in the morning. I know you’ve probably been told to separate your sleeping space from your working space, but sometimes you can’t get out of bed to work. And that’s okay and totally acceptable. Studying in an obscure way that only works for you is still studying and being productive. Another thing that works for me when I find myself repeatedly lacking the motivation to do homework is surrounding myself with things that I love. Get glitter pens and cute, childish notebooks. Put stickers on your school laptop, decorate your bookbag with patches and pins. All of this will make you want to use that stuff, and you’ll be a little more inclined to start working. Your reason for being motivated is yours and yours alone, even if it’s a Spider-man notebook or a flowery pencil case.
The final piece of advice is not so much advice as it is a piece of comfort or reassurance. In the event that you get a bad grade on an assignment, a test, or even in the class as a whole, it is not the end of the world. It’s good to feel as if your grades are important, but don’t agonize over them if you get bad ones. They should be taken seriously, but what’s done is done. The only thing that you can do is plan the next step and try to avoid it again next time. Your grades do not define you, especially in what is an outdated and somewhat pointless public school system.
My main points of advice are to make sure IB is right for you; prioritize your homework not in a whole, but the separate pieces; find strategies that work for you, even if you’ve been told not to do them; surround yourself and your workspace/supplies with things that make you happy and motivated; and don’t stress over grades too much. This is what has helped me pass most of my classes this year and not downward spiral into a ball of depression too much. Hope it helps you do the same.
Madison Fedler
Dear Future IB Precalculus Student,
Congrats! You have come a long way, and you deserve to be congratulated. I recommend that before you start this year, you take a break and relax. Enjoy a vanilla milkshake or a matcha drink from Starbucks, you earned it. This year has been a bit tough; however, your friends/peers will make the year go by so much funnier and better. For example, I sit by Shlok, Kate, and sometimes Sid, without them I wouldn’t have been able to do so good in the class. Whenever I didn’t understand a topic, I could relate to my friends since they had a bit of confusion as well. However, this is the best since when you finally understand the topic, you do so together, which in turn makes the process 10x better.
One thing that I regretted doing in Precalculus was not putting much effort into the homework, which had an effect on me when I started studying for the chapter tests. Instead of just having those “oh that’s right” and “okay I’ve done this before, its easy” thoughts, I had “holy cow I’m cooked” and “T-money’s not making it out of this one”. If only I had spent some actual time doing the homework instead of just getting it done to get it done with, I would’ve been able to do so much better and be way more productive. What I’m trying to say is, when something doesn’t really click, learn it then and don’t wait. After all, you don’t want to be a procrastinator.
This year is going to be a bit tough without Ms. Frisbie, however I’m sure that you’ll get through it. Especially, if you learn the T-money trig circle—the best way to learn the unit circle (in my professional opinion). It’s going to be a new experience for all of us, which I think is the best part. Just make sure that you have a good time, that is the main priority. The best way to have a good time is working with your peers, and don’t forget to laugh! The last thing I have to say is that there will be hard times and the best way to get through them is to have something that makes you feel good, for me that is music. That may not be your thing and that’s fine, some of my other friends relax through sports or sleeping or even watching TikTok’s (don’t watch too many though). Whatever that special thing is for you, make sure you use it and if you need any help finding it, just do whatever you do when you get bored. I wish you the best of luck and always remember that the hard things are the most fun!
Sincerely,
Tej Desai 💰
Hi Pre-Calculus Student!!!!!!!
Congrats on finishing your first year of IB! My name is Camille Clements, and I am currently finishing my sophomore year. I’ve learned a lot from being in IB for 2 years, and I want to help you succeed. I would say the most important things are time management, good studying habits, and prioritizing your mental health.
I know you don’t want to hear this, but the planner is actually useful. It’s super annoying to have to turn it in every week for Mrs. Devore’s class, but learning to organize your upcoming assignments and getting in the habit of doing it on time will make managing the workload much easier. Sophomore year was harder than freshman year with the amount of work assigned, but keeping a planner helped me to keep track of what assignments I had and when they were due. Also, do not get in the habit of taking after school naps!!! Trust me, I know it’s tempting, but it makes starting your homework and studying very difficult.
Speaking of studying, developing strong studying habits is super important. Find a method that works for you and stick with it, and no, just rereading your notes does not count as studying. For chemistry and pre-calculus specifically, I would recommend watching YouTube or Khan Academy videos and making sure to do practice problems, and for any AP courses make sure to familiarize yourself with the test format. Knowing how long you have for multiple choice questions and what kinds of FRQs to expect will really help on the exam.
Most importantly, remember school is not all that matters. You are so much more than your GPA or grades! Try to find an outlet for stress, for me personally I love to go on a run or bake, but whatever works for you is good. Make sure to take care of yourself and not overwhelm yourself by trying to do so many things. This year will be tougher academically, but don’t dwell over one bad test or assignment, instead learn from your mistakes and fix it. Yes, the IB program is hard and yes you will be stressed sometimes, but you do not need to add to your stress by trying to be perfect. You got this!
Camille Clements
To begin, this year was a whole lot more fun than last year. There’s more freedom, you’re not a little freshman anymore, and you start to drive all the time. The only problem is that there’s a thousand times more work. My freshman year, I barely had homework and I got A’s and B’s pretty easily. This year, it’s the norm to get home and literally do work for hours. Keeping up honor roll grades is a lot harder because it feels like every teacher is giving homework and nonstop work.
An example is Mr. Guice’s class. In the beginning of the year we didn’t have much work but then randomly in the 3rd quarter it became our busiest class through the whole rest of the year. In many classes, there’s daily homework along with other homework assignments not due till later. Get those long homework assignments done asap. Y’all won’t have Ms. Frisbie, which I feel sorry for because she’s a great teacher. In her class there was nightly homework along with longer homework projects but it was worth it because it helped with math skills. You’re gonna want to slack off in ELA and history but don’t. Before you know it, you’ll have 5 assignments due in 2 days. If you have free time in your elective, as much as it sucks, do homework. I played football and I didn’t get home till 7 every night and I felt real overwhelmed. I’m not saying don’t do a sport, but you have to find time to get work done. Usually my homework day was Saturday, which sucked because I’m a huge college football fan and that’s all I wanna do on Saturdays. You gotta sacrifice things sometimes to get that diploma.
About each class: Chemistry with Mrs. Loweke is easy if you’re good at math but MEMORIZE THE POLYATOMICS. I didn’t and it messed me up for the whole 2nd quarter till I actually memorized them. If you’re not good at math, grunt through chem by studying and keeping up with work and pick bio for 11th/12th grade. History with Mr. Henriquez is a breeze. He’s pretty lenient but don’t abuse it; pay attention and get your work done. ELA with Mr. Guice is also easy but there is A LOT of work. Don’t put off reading/annotating books or else you’ll be reading a 200-page book 2 days before it’s due and annotating it the period before it’s due (personal experience). I don’t know how your math is gonna work but basically pay attention and do your work. Spanish with Profe Vega is also pretty easy, just do the nightly homework and try your best to study.
In conclusion, you’re gonna have a lotttt of work. Sorry. Freshman year is deceiving; after finishing, I was like dang that was easy. It doesn’t stay that way sadly. You’re gonna have to do homework instead of fun things but getting a full ride to any college in Florida is worth it (ask your parents). If I finished this year with A’s and B’s, y’all can too. There’s still plenty of ways to have fun, but get all your work done. The main theme of this year is don’t procrastinate or you’ll regret it bad. I know I’m being brutally honest but nobody’s brutally honest to kids anymore. Anyway, have fun and don’t you dare drop out.
Lucas Chaves
Advice essay to future precalculus students
Studying
In my experience in IB, I wish I could try a little harder with studying for my tests beforehand rather than at the last minute. The middle school that I went to was filled with a bunch of students who did not study whatsoever. The teachers did not teach us how to study. Coming into IB I did not know how to study effectively, but I still somewhat passed the EOC’s. In IB, learning how to study with various studying methods helped me during sophomore year being bombarded with multiple tests with different complexities a week. Personally, I really like the Pomodoro Technique. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management that uses a timer to break down work into intervals, with short breaks in between. I aim to study for an hour and have five-to-ten-minute breaks. During those breaks, I try to stay motivated by doing something productive such as taking a walk, cleaning my room, or reading. Getting back to work is less difficult by doing so. In total for tests; I repeat this technique four-to-five times each topic. In the morning, I do some reviewing, so the material is fresh in my mind and then I am ready to take the test. To help with figuring out what to study, I look back at previous worksheets and redo them. I make sure I understand what I need to do on this worksheet. Solving problems that Ms. Frisbie provided in her chapter review was helpful for studying. Making sure that you study in general is most important for surviving IB.
Time management
In IB in general, time management is one of the most important skills to me. If I know that I must study for multiple upcoming tests, I ought to study for some weeks before the test. That was not the case for me. Most things from what I experienced my sophomore year is that, not just me, but sophomores, waited until last minute to complete an assignment that was assigned weeks ago. That is not effective for being tested the day the assignment due. For example, books that Mr. Guice assigns. Mr. Guice assigns a book and gives a due date for the annotations; he gives you your leeway for how you annotate the book. The due date is set for at most two weeks later. For multiple books, most sophomores waited until the last day to rush through the book and sometimes not finish. Time managing what you have due later helps with obtaining the knowledge better and you do better on the tests. Mr. Guice’s tests are far from easy. For math, especially Ms. Frisbie’s math class, I have learned to do the homework and aim to turn it in on time. Sometimes I did not understand it, and I failed trying to reach out and getting help on the assignments. This led me to fail assignments and tests because I was setting myself up for failure not asking.
Reaching out for help
Throughout my school life, I had trouble reaching out to teachers when I needed help. I was embarrassed for getting anything wrong. Mistakes help you learn. I did not see it that way. Going to tutoring or asking questions from your teacher gives you the ability to understand the material. I wish that I did those things. I feared my own failure but I’m forgetting to learn valuable material that I need for courses to come. Reaching out also builds a good relationship between you and your teacher to get to know you better. I wish that I had tutored Ms. Frisbie more often than I did because studying for her 2nd semester exam would have been easier if I had asked for help while learning the material the first time besides having to learn it myself. Asking for help to better understand what you are learning prevents you from cramming at the last minute for a test you thought was easier than you intended.
Backpack space (Textbooks)
During my freshman and sophomore years one thing that I noticed between the two of them was my backpack space. Freshman year I thought I needed all these notebooks, realizing that I did not. I repeated the process for my sophomore year, and my back, neck, and shoulders were aching. I walked home and walking 15 minutes to my house was a nightmare with a heavy backpack. Walking anywhere with my backpack was dreadful. To solve my problem, it came down to what I really needed in my backpack. I carried my laptop, textbooks, notebooks, binders, and folders. Did I really need everything? Taking out my textbooks made my backpack significantly lighter. Something that I concluded is that most of my textbooks are online. Additionally, if I brought my laptop charger to school, I could access those textbooks. If I had a binder for a class, I could take notes on paper and put it in the binder instead of having a notebook and a binder. Rethinking how I managed my space made walking home better for my body.
Aubrie Brady
Dear Future Student,
Now that you are a sophomore, I say here is when things begin to get serious. Make sure to stay on top of your grades: pay attention in class, turn assignments in (on time), and ask for help when needed. Unfortunately, I didn’t do these things. I failed to realize how important it was to be on top of my work, and more importantly, ask someone for help when I needed it. Make sure you’re organized so you’re more productive and better time managed. And try not to procrastinate; my procrastination often led to me not doing an assignment at all and turning it in late. Sophomore slump is real.
Keep exploring the things you are passionate about. Join more clubs and challenge yourself. It’s ok to still not know what you want to be when you grow up, or have your whole life figured out. I took me a while to realize that many people around my age also felt the same way. And you don’t do something just so it looks good for college. Unfortunately, I feel as if many people my age have fallen victim to this. Just do something you love.
As for friends, you will still meet new people. You might have a falling out with people you became friends with freshman year. It happens. It happened to me, and that’s ok. Just don’t let the social aspects of school overpower the real reason why you’re here.
I think my most important advice is to not stress. It’s easy to get caught up in a cycle of stress due to the pressure of getting good grades. Make sure you don’t lose your mind and your sleep over grades. Honestly, that’s all the advice I have. I don’t think sophomore year is hard, just that it’s hard to navigate due to the complexities of high school and being a teenager. Regardless of the outcome of this coming year, everything will be ok.
Good luck with your sophomore year!
Shriya Bhashyam
Dear future pre-calculus Student,
Looking back at my Sophomore year, there have been many ups and downs however, it is manageable. Even though at times you think to yourself that it’s not worth it and you can live more peacefully in an easier class. Sometimes, the amount of work may be overwhelming, but the perseverance now can greatly help you in the future. Although it may be tough, there are many things which I have learned which can help you.
Make lots of friends, friends in tough times are crucial. If you have any questions or any doubts, access to a friend that you have. For example, if you had a doctor’s appointment and couldn’t make it to class for the notes and the homework given, friends can help you. Friends can also help you feel better even when the whole world around you is falling apart, someone to lean onto is extremely beneficial. Although this isn’t a good thing, competitions and rivalries between friends regarding academics can also help you do better at school, as you have motivation to do well and learn more.
Procrastination is your worst enemy in high school, even in your future, procrastination is harmful. Even though I say this, and everyone else says it, you are most likely going to procrastinate on assignments. Even I know not to procrastinate, but I have procrastinated even on typing this essay assignment. It was assigned many weeks ago but I decided to do it the day it is due. Even if you procrastinate, spend time on things which are meaningful, don’t just waste time watching reels and brain rot all day. One advice to prevent procrastination is to do as much as you can when you get an assignment rather than saying you will do it later, as something could occur preventing you from completing a task.
The last thing I want to stress about is prioritizing your things to do. Calendars are your next best friend, in high school, especially IB, the workload is very heavy. Prioritizing when to do the certain tasks you need to do is extremely important. If you want to spend time watching reels on Instagram and you have an assignment due, do your assignment first and enjoy after. This also gives peace to the mind as you finished all your work and don’t have any work which needs completion. Although you think you know everything you need to do, any thing could happen causing you to forget there is an assignment due tomorrow. Instead write things to do on a calendar and check them as soon as you have free time, and try to complete them as soon as possible.
Nathan Choppara
To whom it may concern,
Perplexed by the purpose I’m meant to serve in this last-minute letter, I write to you not to lecture, but to pass along a few tips for surviving your dreadful pre-IB years. Think of this less like a formal guide and more like advice from someone who’s been through this doom – late nights, heavy workload, the occasional identity crisis, and practically no social life (none of this will happen – just lock in).
I have to discuss the cliché and I’ll get to the point: don’t procrastinate. I know, I know – it sounds obvious, and I’ll admit, I’m probably the worst offender. In fact, I’m writing this minutes before it’s due, right after just completing an IA Exploration Plan that’s been assigned for about a month. Now I don’t find myself in the midst of such a crime because I am – as some may say – lazy, but because I’ve lowkey done it forever, and it’s never been detrimental. As I’m saying this, I realize I should be deterring you from such habits – so seriously, don’t procrastinate. It’s essential to be responsible and hold yourself accountable.
Another thing: productivity is key. I can’t emphasize this enough. Find your flow and your methods – whatever they may be – and stick to them productively. And by this, I don’t mean sitting in one place studying for countless hours. I mean setting small, daily goals and holding yourself to them. If you do end up procrastinating, at least be productive the night before. But for real, do not make it a habit – I repeat, do not do it. We’re not all necessarily gifted the same.
Here’s the biggest tip you’ll ever here from me: live your life. You are the only one who gets to live your life – no one else, just you. Don’t let IB take that away from you. Make sure to leave some time each day for yourself – something that makes you feel like you. Hang out with your friends, make memories, because in the years to come, those are the moments you’ll cherish – not the random assignment that was due the next day (which, let’s be honest, you’ll get done anyway). We only get one shot at this this life, so make the most of it. Work hard, stay real, and don’t forget – there’s more to life than any grade.
Farewell for now,
Dhiaan Dhaduk
Dear future pre-calc students,
Welcome to precalculus, this class is definitely not for the faint-hearted and will acquire a LOT of academic discipline and guts. You all may feel a little nervous about coming to pre-calc, but trust me, the class is a lot easier than you think. So, in respect to all new students to this class, I will give some quick tips (and life saving advice) that you will need for your precalculus next year.
Tip number 1: DO YOUR WORK
Now I know it sounds like a no-brainer to most students, but even if that’s the case, you’d be surprised just how many people either turn in their homework super late or just not at all (I should know, I was one of those students). Now you may think “I know what I’m doing, I don’t need to do all this work,” or even maybe, “Homework is so stupid!” Now albeit, I used to think that way too (even I still do every now and then), but soon you will realize that not doing your work and not turning it in when it’s due can really bite you in the butt in the future. Unfortunately, during my time in pre-calc I had to learn this fact the hard way. When I didn’t do my work, not only did my grades reflect my discipline in school, but it also made my test scores tank. It sounds stupid, but it’s true! Not doing your homework will not only just negatively impact your grade, but it can also make you feel less confident during tests and hinder your memory about the unit you’re taking a test on. Overall, doing your homework is important in making dure you don’t get Ds and Fs on your report card and get grounded for something you could have easily avoided if you just did your work.
Tip number 2: Study, Study, Study
I get it, when it’s been a REALLY long day at school, the last thing you want to do is spend hours studying for some class you don’t even want to be in. Though eventually, you’re going to realize that taking these tests aren’t easy anymore, you’re going to need to reflect on each unit you’re taught throughout the school year. Fortunately for all of you, you will have some of the best teachers that Florida can offer! Your precalculus teacher is an amazing teacher who will give you IB Exam regulated questions and assist you in learning all the formulas and equations that are essential in making sure you get 100% for all your exams.
These two tips, though simple, are very important to utilize when it comes to being the best IB student possible. With school coming back anytime soon at about the time you read this, you’ll have to take advantage of every possible learning opportunity that you can get. When it came to that I ultimately failed, so don’t be like me and you’ll be amazing at IB. I know it feels short but I’m on a bit of a time crunch when writing this essay. So may God be with all of you and best of luck to all of you this new school year!
Wyatt Douberly
Hey freshman,
I don’t have much to say on IB workload that hasn’t been said before. You’ve probably seen that “procrastination” word so many times, I assume it’s meaningless by now. So instead, here are some things about your classes I’ve learned in my own experience.
- For your mathcourses, you can grind them out with Art of Problem Solving (AoPS)and you should be set for the year. It sounds really tedious but you can just keep doing problems until the ones you see in school are repetitions or slight variations. Doing this along with math competitions has saved me a lot of stress when it comes to math classes, and I advise you to practice math outside of school for peace of mind.
- For Englishclass, read the books please. I know nobody wants to read about this Puritan girl getting some silly letter, but your grade will thank you. Out of all the tests and quizzes I had this year in the class, the only ones I failed were for the book I didn’t read (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Take it as either a very inconvenient coincidence or as the sign you actually need to read (you get like 200 points worth of assignments, why not).
- For chemistry: it’s very tempting to Google “just a few” homework questions but don’t do it. The tests are exactly like the homework. Do the homework = pass the test.
- For extracurriculars: Do ones that matter. I’ve seen so many freshmen brag about their “12 clubs” when they literally just put their name on the signup sheet and never showed up to any. It’s fine to try out clubs but don’t try to get in everything. You can be good at a few. Don’t be mediocre at everything.
- For random letters: Ignore the “National Society of High School Scholars” and the like. All colleges (except maybe Polk State) know it’s pay-to-join. They don’t care. Save your time and money.
I hope at least one sentence here sticks.
Adrian Hernandez
Dear Freshmen,
I understand that the transition into sophomore might be challenging, but I know you can do it! Freshman year might have been tough for some or maybe even light for others but always know that you can do it twin! After all, getting new teachers is pretty scary >.< but in the end it’s just another year of high school! You’re going to get through this!
- Academics wise, I recommend that you brush up on your note taking skills. All those days in Devore actually come in clutch! Sophomore teachers expect a lot more from you from now on (especially my goat/opp Guice 😉) and they expect for you to turn in your work on time!!! I recommend studying for your math classes (you gotta do the reviews gang🙏) So you need to lock in twin!!!
- I know we all procrastinate, however procrastination + IB is a deadly combo. The workload piles up real fast. You don’t want to get in too deep cause it’s all going to pile up and you’re going to fall into THE pit (as Ms. Loweke calls it) and you won’t be able to get out! You have to find a system that works for you and stick with it! It may take some trial and error, but you got this gang!!🤜🤛
- Friends wise, choose your friends wisely!!! Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’ve probably heard this millions of times before but actually take heed. Make good and supportive friends because they are what makes IB bearable at the end of the day👥! And don’t forget to watch out for the opps!
In conclusion, you got this! Don’t be nervous! Enjoy your years of high school!
No matter what anyone says, you’ll be fine.
Just remember, IB is all about the friends you make along the way!
Sincerely,
Galina Jean
Dear future precalculus student,
I would like to congratulate you on making it past your first year in the International Baccalaureate program at Bartow High School. While freshman year is by far the easiest year academically, the first year of IB is definitely everything but easy. The step up from middle school is something everyone struggles with. To make the transition from your freshman year to your sophomore year in precalculus as easy as possible, I’d like to share a few pieces of advice.
To start, please take your summer homework seriously. I’m assuming that you have summer homework for English, Chemistry, Spanish, and World History. All of these classes have assessments on these summer assignments at the beginning of the school year, so make sure to try and understand and learn the content (also, if you don’t know your polyatomics by October, you will not survive chemistry).
To continue, I would advise you to avoid procrastination at all costs. I am currently writing this letter the day that it is due, so do not be like me. My procrastination habits started in freshman year and have continued even up until right now. If you procrastinated in your freshman year and think you got by just fine, just know that sophomore year will not be a cakewalk. The workload increases immensely. My first mistake this year was procrastinating my summer homework — and let me tell you, reading and annotating an entire novel written in an antiquated form of English the night before school is NOT the move. Saving one assignment for later can create a domino effect and this is what happened to me this school year. I felt myself struggling to catch up to the next assignment as the next due date was already approaching. I remember that in the third quarter of Precalculus, I used up both of my late passes to complete a review worksheet and a homework that I had put off until the morning of the day they were due in 7th period. Staying on top of your assignments and turning things in on time will do good for your mental health and your grades.
Furthermore, I would like to talk about extracurriculars. Extracurriculars are a large part of high school and are integral to your development as both a student and as a human. A big mistake to make is participating in extracurriculars for the sole purpose of padding your college application. I went into my freshman year with the intent to pad my college application, and I hated staying for after school activities because I felt like extracurriculars were a school obligation instead of a choice. This year, you should seek to narrow down the number of clubs and activities to which you can fully commit. Make sure that the clubs and extracurricular activities you participate in genuinely interest and motivate you.
Finally, have fun! While the above paragraphs might have made sophomore year seem like the worst thing ever, it really isn’t all that bad. Sure, the work may be harder, and there will definitely be more of it, but I trust you’ll learn to manage after a while. Hang out with your friends every so often and do things that make you happy to ground yourself when times get tough. Enjoy this final year of Pre-IB, because next year, the real deal starts.
Good luck,
Ethan Nacor
Hey upcoming Freshmen,
The school year of 2024-2025 may have been one of my not-so-great years academically, but in terms of making friends and building relationships with my peers, it was one of the best years I have had. Reflecting upon this past year, I came to realize that it wasn’t even that hard, it was just because of my own procrastination towards stuff and waiting until the last day to do it. Honestly, you just must pay attention and grasp the knowledge of the class, so you don’t suffer and complain later.
When I think about this class, IB Pre-Calculus, I think back to my first couple days and how I was so clueless and lost half of the time. But now, when I look at the present me, I can’t thank Ms. Frisbie enough for all she has taught me and my peers. She truly is one of the best things that has happened to IB Bartow and me. English is not bad either, it was one of my favorites because of Mr. Guice. Guice is such a fun teacher, and he always kept us engaged with the lessons. The advice I have for his class is to really study those works of literature and grammar, or else you just might not make it.
Chemistry was one of my absolute favorites because of Mrs. Loweke. Such a fun-loving teacher who knows what she is doing. Queen for a reason. Chemistry is not hard; it is just a lot of memorizations. Her tests are worth 200 points, so you should study hard for that. Make sure to take notes because they are extremely helpful and if you do not have them, copy them from your classmate because they are worth a grade.
AP World History, another class with a lot of memorizations, but Mr. Henriquez made is fun and interactive. Even though he is lenient with your grades, you should not take advantage of it because he makes all the topics so easy to understand that you just have to focus, not like me who procrastinated quite a bit in his class. Take notes! They are helpful.
Lastly, make real and genuine friends here at IB Bartow, because when in time of need, it is only them who you will find by your side. Enjoy your high school years here while you are at it and stress with your friends together – it is healthy and funny. Live your life with your friends and laugh a lot because these years go by fast and there is no stopping time, you just move along with it. So yes, even if it is hard, even if it does get tough, enjoy every bit of it because in the end it was worth it in one way or the other.
Sincerely,
Aarchi Patel
Sophomore and rising Junior.
Dear Future Sophomores,
Congrats on making it through freshman year! Now it’s time for the real challenge: sophomore year in the IB program. Sophomore year is definitely a big step up from freshman year. The classes are more challenging, the expectations are higher, and yes, the workload is heavier. But this is also the year where you’ll grow the most, both as a student and as a person. Some days will feel overwhelming, but it’s definitely manageable if you stay organized and have the right mindset. This year is all about learning how to balance academics, extracurriculars, and your personal life and if you master this now, your junior and senior years in the actual IB Program will feel way easier, and a lot less stressful.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give you is to stay on top of your work and avoid procrastinating, I know you have probably been told this a million times before, but the work really does pile up faster than you think, especially this year. Don’t wait until the night before to start projects or study for tests; spread things out so you’re not getting stressed out. You might be able to get away with it in some classes, but the long-term projects and concepts you have to learn like in classes like English, Chemistry, and AP World will catch up with you if you leave everything until the last minute. Use a planner and take advantage of weekends to catch up instead of pushing everything off. At the same time, don’t feel pressured to load up on dual enrollment classes just to boost your GPA. I’ll be honest, I learned this the hard way. It’s tempting to get caught up in the GPA game, always comparing your grades and classes to everyone else’s. But that mindset can drain you so quickly and even push you out of your limits. Focus on what you can manage and colleges care about your overall performance and balance not just the numbers.
Along with your academic life, your social life is important as well, use your energy to get involved in extracurriculars you genuinely enjoy. Make sure to have a life outside of school, you don’t have to be productive and work all the time, sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to take a step away from all this and spend time with your friends. A good way to do this is by getting involved, for example by join clubs like HOSA, FBLA, DECA, etc, playing a sport, or using the year to get volunteering hours. Not only does this look great on college applications, but it also makes your high school experience a lot more meaningful and adds some fun.
Overall, you will have your hard days but if you pace yourself and stay motivated, you’ll get through it. Focus on what matters, take things one step at a time, and don’t forget to have fun along the way. Good Luck!
Sincerely,
Sakshi Patel
As this year ends, I look back and regret the way that I chose to prioritize. I realize that I could have put in more effort and reached higher goals with less stress along the way. So that you don’t also regret your school year, it is important to get organized in the beginning, like start using a planner to keep track of due dates. But, no one is the same, what works for someone else might not work for you. It is important to find or create a system most helpful to you. In my experience, there is three steps to ensure success in this program: don’t procrastinate, study, and ask questions.
Don’t procrastinate. It gets tiring of everyone always saying to not wait until the last minute, but you will find that the only thing procrastinating brings you is a stressful homework environment. I remember on many occasions being overwhelmed by the amount of work I had to complete in one night because I kept pushing off the assignments. This year I have noticed that many teachers assign big projects a long time before they are due, this may seem like it will give you a cushion but many students forget about the assignment or don’t get started early. You may wait and think that you’ll do an assignment whenever you have time, but most likely if you don’t have a specific time to work on it, you will wait and stress to get it done last minute.
It is important to study. Even if you have never had to study for a test before this, I recommend you start finding a way of studying that works best for you. Some people use flash cards or create their own study guides, even if you are confident on a topic or subject it doesn’t hurt to review before a test, you may find that there was something you were doing wrong or just not as confident as you thought. Your teachers don’t want you to fail, many post study guides before tests which are very helpful and I recommend using.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The fear of not wanting to sound stupid for not knowing something can cause people to decide to just remain confused, hoping that they will figure out their question themselves later. Although you may be able to figure it out, it is more likely to get a correct and helpful answer by asking the teacher. Not being able to understand something doesn’t make you any less smart than the people around you, and most likely, someone else had the same question as you. I have found it helpful to ask teachers to stay after school and help you to understand the concept you are struggling with. After I stayed after school one-on-one in a subject I was struggling with, I noticed improvements in my tests and assignments, even by a whole letter grade. You are not only much more likely to understand the topic better, but also it shows the teacher that you are willing to put in effort.
Jessica Perry
If you are someone who finds themselves entering sophomore year with IB Precalculus on your schedule do not stress about what the year brings. You will learn as you go and if you feel lost just know you are not alone, and certainly not the first to feel that way. There are many things I recommend knowing before you enter the class and to remember as you take the class, but here are just a few.
First, I would say be honest with your homework. Yes, the back of the book has all the answers to the homework questions, but it is not there to answer the question for you. The best way to learn is by practice and application. Use the book to check your answers and if your answer doesn’t match the book double check your work. The book sometimes is wrong, so have confidence in yourself. Another tip is to attempt at least a few practice problems in the test review folder. There are answers to the problems so you can see how to solve problems that will most likely be on the test. Also, I would recommend not using your late passes because they can be extra credit at the end of the quarter. The extra credit will be more beneficial to your grade than one homework assignment being late. Honesty in your assignments will be the best way to understand the chapter and be able to do well in the class.
Secondly, if you feel lost ask Ms. Frisbie for help. I tried my best to pay attention in class and review on my own, but at some point I could not teach myself. When I reached out and began tutoring once a week with Ms. Frisbie my test scores and overall understanding in the class dramatically increased. I went from receiving low C’s on my test to receiving high B’s and A’s. My decision to spend an hour of my time asking questions and receiving help had a significant impact on my grades. Another side note is to not wait to learn your trig values. Use the infinite trig quiz and study because receiving a 6/10 or worse will affect your grade, and honestly it is unnecessary. Receiving a 100 on a trig quiz will help your grade in the end because the quizzes accumulate. Do not be scared to ask questions in class even if you are uncomfortable. Everyone in the class is attempting to learn new information and at some point, in the year, they will get stuck on a problem that seems almost so simple. The most important thing is your education and success in the classroom, so put your learning first.
Lastly, when you feel stressed just keep working on your assignments. Pace yourself so you aren’t burnt out by the end of the 1st semester. You are on your own path that is very different from everyone else, so do not compare yourself to them. Perfection is unobtainable, so do not tear yourself down when it is not achieved. Find the small wins and celebrate them.
Caitlin Pueschell
Dear Freshmen,
As I look back on freshman and sophomore year, there are many things I could say about the IB program. This program is challenging, time consuming, and a huge workload. But this program also has helped me make some of my best friends and create a community with the people who will be in my same boat for the next four years. So, some of the best advice I can give you is to find a group of friends who support you and make you happy. You might as well thug it out with other people instead of being all alone. Another piece of advice is to stay out of drama! Don’t waste your time worrying about what other people think of you. IB is a very close-knit community of people who can understand what each other is going through and we can help each other not go crazy.
Another important thing is to not procrastinate as much as possible. As I am writing this I have two tests to study for and a speech due at midnight. I’m learning the hard way that once you’ve fallen behind its very difficult to get on track again. Balancing your workload with your personal life and extracurriculars feels like the most challenging task of your life, but trust me you don’t want to be writing an essay at 2:00 in the morning. You also shouldn’t over work yourself. This is easier said than done, but its better for you to take a break and risk turning in an assignment late than to risk draining yourself out. Freshmen year is a great opportunity to get involved in a couple clubs or sports, just getting used to how the high school runs and not getting too burnt out.
Lastly, I think the key to surviving IB is to talk to your teachers and administrators. I know how annoying some can be, but there are many who really care about helping you and want to make IB the best environment for students to learn in. That being said, becoming friends with your teachers and not making them hate you is so helpful! When a teacher thinks you genuinely have a desire to learn and become a better student, I think they want to help you more because you’re not just looking for the good grade.
Most importantly, have as much fun as you can. IB seems like it should be the only thing happening in your life, but its not. Going to a random club meeting or joining a sport helps u make memories that you’ll never forget because you only live once. My motto is live más.
Sincerely,
Sofia Ramirez
Dear future Pre-Calc student,
First of all, you should give yourself a pat on the back. You are probably either a sophomore or a junior at this point, and you have successfully gotten through your first year of IB! From the perspective of a current sophomore the transition to freshman to sophomore year of IB will humble you. You will really see your biggest flaws and bad habits will stand-out when you go through this year. Whether you procrastinate, have bad time-management, or have a poor sleep schedule; it will affect you. Practicing things like making a to-do list, journaling, and other ways of breaking down your day to create a workable schedule will help you out so much. Self-reflection is another important skill that will help you excel through IB. This skill can help you figure out how to deal with such the hefty workload and can allow you to build your character as not only a student, but as the best version of yourself.
Humility is not such a negative thing. When you are in IB there are going to be lessons or even chapters that you don’t understand. There are going to be times when you don’t get the best score on a quiz or homework assignment since said lesson or chapter is hard for you to understand. Instead of cheating your way through just to see a good grade in the gradebook isn’t going to help you out in the long run. The sophomore teachers are such skilled and amazing teachers, and will help you; however, you must be the one to reach out for help. Asking questions during class or staying after class to get help understanding the information will help you. Though it might be slightly embarrassing at first to ask for a teacher to further explain a topic, it will help you be more confident knowing when to ask for help. In IB highly intelligent people surround you, and it is easy to put yourself down if some of your classmates can understand some topics faster than you or get higher scores on tests. It is important to not make your goals to try to reach where someone else is at, rather than setting goals to help yourself grow and improve.
Lastly, do not solely pick classes just to boost your G.P.A. If you continue to stay in IB your classes will eventually dwindle to IB and AP courses, neglecting electives. You are only in high school once and try to enjoy it as much as you can. It you are interested in taking electives like culinary, cabinet making, or other classes that are regular 4.0 classes you should just take them. Taking all AP electives is going to be extremely difficult to balance. It definitely is possible, but it you choose to take all AP classes make sure it is because you are interested in them. IB is so much more than an academic program. It will set you up for college and can really help you grow as a person. You are capable in completing IB!
Sincerely,
Natalie Reyes
Dear incoming sophomores,
Welcome to your second year of high school! Now that my sophomore year is ending, I will use my experience to help you have the best year yet! At first, sophomore year for me was challenging. During the first weeks of my sophomore year, I was still in my summer/vacation mindset. This mindset made it hard to stay motivated. So, my first tip of advice is to start mentally preparing for the upcoming year. I recommend making goals for yourself in your upcoming classes. Undoubtedly, there will be times of stress, and you should learn how to manage it. But do not worry. You already made it through the first year alive. Now, you just need more guidance for the next year.
One thing most IB students struggle with is time managing your time and avoiding procrastination. One immensely helpful tool I recommend to you is, of course, a planner. Some people may not like planners but even if it is a “To-Do List” on your phone, it will help keep everything organized. Overall, using a planner will contribute to the prevention of procrastinating and missing grades. It is quite easy for assignments to pile up in your classes, some more than others. So, make sure you have a well-laid plan.
I will state some tips for the following classes: Spanish III, Chemistry, Anatomy, Pre-Calculus, AP World, AP Statistics, and English. If you are taking the Spanish route, you might have already heard that speaking points is now a requirement. Do not be intimidated by this. Just try your best and keep in mind that everyone will be making mistakes. Even if you say something incorrect you will still be given your points. For chemistry, you NEED to memorize your polyatomic because you will use them for the rest of the year, they will never go away. I also recommend writing down every little thing Ms. Loweke says because often those little things will help a lot on the test. For anatomy, the most effective tip I could give, if you choose this elective, is to make flashcards as your notes. All the tests are very straight forward and a heavily based on the PowerPoints Ms. Nichols presents. If you memorize the PowerPoints with the flashcards, then you are set up for success. My advice for pre-calculus is to watch videos or look at the lesson going to be taught before it is taught in class. This will help you get an idea of what is being taught, and you will not be lost. Also, take the GRQs. These will help your grade a lot! Make sure you use your notes first on homework assignments if you are confused and not outside resources. In AP World, I recommend watching the Heimler videos. These videos help get a deeper understanding of the unit. Another tip is to take the homework assignments seriously. These will help summarize the lesson being taught and help you remember the lesson. If you choose to take AP Statistics, I highly recommend watching the AP classroom videos. What I did the day before a new lesson was going to be taught, I would watch the AP classroom videos on that topic and I would take notes. This study method helped me have a deeper understanding of the lesson. English class is the class where a planner will be most useful in. Assignments quickly pile up in this class, so make sure you have a plan to do them. Other than that, just pay attention and ask lots of questions and you should be fine.
I hope you have an amazing sophomore year! Remember to ask a bunch of questions, the teachers are there for a reason. Don’t forget to watch videos prior to the lesson if you want a deeper understanding. Also be sure to still have fun, avoiding fun and relaxation will only lead to burn out causing poor performance. It is okay to take breaks, everyone needs to. Do not stress too much, you are going to do great!
BellaSofia Saires
Hi. During my time as a sophomore in IB, I realized that time management is essential to be able to get everything done correctly and within a reasonable amount of time. I recall many times where I am doing the homework for another class the period before or studying right before the test. I realized that this is not good to be able to do well on tests and get good grades. Studying for a test over a reasonable amount of time during the week is very beneficial in my opinion. Keeping track of assignments and when they are due is also very helpful. I don’t like to keep a planner on me, so I keep a reminder widget on my phone and write down whatever I must do, I have found this to be helpful because I see it whenever I am on my phone.
Another tip I would recommend is to start your mini-ee early and start writing as soon as possible. To me, it is better to write an essay over a multitude of days so I can vary my ideas. Submitting it early can also be helpful because you are able to get feedback asap, so you can edit whatever you need. Utilizing the amount of time given to you on lengthy assignments is key.
One more thing I recommend is to maintain a good social group of friends in your grade. A lot of the people you see now will be with you throughout the full 4 years of high school, so it’s good to become friends with these people. Also, it’s easy to get lost in the work and not hang out with friends as much. My advice is to take breaks and go out to have fun!
Kelly Tolson