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In my IB HL Biology class,
we recently began an extremely interesting section on Neurobiology and
Behavior. This Option (an additional lesson elected by the teacher as part of
the IB course) forces us to question whyand how we learn. Between class
discussions on the ethics of Skinner's pigeon experiments and the biological
genius that is the withdrawal reflex, we were asked to define "learning".
According to the IBO, learned behavior is characterized by experience. This clicked. The way we truly learn is
not by meaningless rote memorization. Rather, we learn by immersing ourselves
completely in what we do and by making an experience out of it.
In my earlier blog post ("IB, Honors, or AP – Oh My!"), I briefly
mentioned the importance of selecting classes that you are interested in.
Although this may seem obvious, I think it is a fact that some people overlook.
Rather than enroll in a class they are passionate about, too many students opt
for the more challenging (and less interesting) class because they feel the
need to prove themselves. By doing so, students forget the true purpose of
school: to grow toward your future with purpose. Although you may not know what
purpose that is, taking classes that do not resonate well with what you enjoy
will only serve to alienate you further from your future.
When I study I enjoy making an experience out of what I am learning.
Sometimes that means I get to spend time on YouTube researching the material or
watching videos from other IB or AP teachers. I highly recommend watching Crash
Course videos for your Science and History classes. Other times I prepare a
bowl of grapes for my study session! When I reach a certain page number or
outline a certain amount I will eat a grape as a sort of healthy reward. My
Neurobiology and Behavior class would classify this under positive
reinforcement. I feel good and I am incentivized to keep working. Studying in a
different location, reciting what you know to a family member, or even making a
catchy jingle to relate to a lesson are all different ways to make an
experience out of your studying.
The hardest part of studying or doing schoolwork is getting started.
However, I have found that once I start my work it is a lot easier for me to
just finish it. An analogy I use is "A Valentina in study mode, stays in study
mode until she is stopped by an object of equal or greater force". Minimize the
equal or greater forces that can snap you out of "the zone". Turn off/turn down
your phone and place it in the opposite corner of your room. Do not have too
many webpages open on your laptop. At the same time, remember to take breaks.
Do not force yourself to study one subject for an hour straight; you won't
remember what you learned. Take a break every 15 minutes by walking around,
talking to your family, or grabbing a healthy snack. I have also found that
taking a nap after a good study session will help retain the information
better.
Imbue yourself with the knowledge your teachers provide in class.
Embrace the experience of learning, but at the same time go out and live real experiences. You will become a truly
rich Laker, human being, and global citizen.
Deciding which classes or program to take is certainly a big
decision to make when students move from middle school to high school and from
underclassmen to upperclassmen. As a senior, I have seen it all: IB, Honors,
Standard, AP. Although the information is definitely available for everyone to
research, I have found that after sitting for 4+ years as a New Student
Ambassador that sometimes the best way to explain the options is to hear about
them from someone with personal experience. So, without further ado, here are some tips and points to
note for each option.
Standard:
The majority of electives at Windermere Prep are classified as
Standard classes, however some Core classes are also Standard. They are
weighted on a 4.0 scale. One of my favorite classes that I have ever taken at
WPS was Creative Writing my freshman year. PE is also Standard. Use Standard
classes to explore topics that you would not normally expect yourself to study
in high school. Sports Medicine, Yearbook, Life Management Skills, Class Piano…
the list goes on and on. These classes are extremely enriching and the more you
can take, the more you will get out of your high school experience. Test your
limits and step outside of your comfort zone. You never know if the Standard
class you take during your freshman or sophomore year will turn into a passion
of yours later on.
Honors:
There is a wide array of Honors classes in the high school (most of
which are concentrated for 9th and 10th graders as part
of the normal course load). These
classes are a little more challenging than your Standard options and encompass
many Core class options as well. Your freshman and sophomore year nearly ever
class has the option of being Standard. It should be noted that Theory of
Knowledge (TOK) is weighted as a Standard class even though it is a requirement
for the IB Diploma. This will be discussed below.
AP:
Although Windermere Prep is known for offering IB classes, its AP
program is extremely strong as well. AP classes are on a 5.0 scale. You can
sign up for these classes are early as your freshman year, but do not overload
yourself with challenging classes as you transition from middle school to high
school. I took these classes sophomore year on. From what I recall, we offer AP
European History, AP Human Geography, and AP Environmental Science. However,
students can take additional AP classes on Florida Virtual School. If you are
interested in pursuing additional AP classes, speak to your guidance counselor
and see if this is possible. The AP program is definitely a time commitment.
There is a good amount of work associated with these classes. This applies to
all course options, but make sure you take classes you really love and are
interested in. Explore your horizons but make sure that you are doing something
you are interested in. This will make your work more enriching and easier to
tackle.
IB Certificate:
The IB Certificate is an option for juniors and seniors in high
school. You can either take IB Standard Level (SL) or IB Higher Level (HL)
classes. Some IB classes that are offered are Mathematics, English, Spanish,
Latin, French, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Film, Art, Music, History,
Psychology, and Economics. For foreign languages (Spanish, French, Latin),
there is the option to take Ab Initio (from the beginning) courses. This means
that during your junior year you can begin to learn a foreign language from the
very beginning and complete this class your senior year. IB Certificate
students do not have to take all IB classes, but can take Honors, Non-Honors,
or AP classes in addition to the Certificates they wish to pursue. This track
is still challenging. Many athletes or people who are extremely busy outside of
school opt to take Certificate classes.
IB Diploma:
I am an IB Diploma candidate. The IB Diploma has a series of
requirements that are more comprehensive and immersive than the Certificate.
Students must take 3 SL classes and 3 HL classes within the IB, take Theory of
Knowledge, write and Extended Essay (EE), and complete 150 Community, Action,
Service (CAS) hours. Make sure to sign up for IB Diploma classes you are
thoroughly interested in and would likely enjoy pursuing in college. This
program, along with Certificate classes, is two years long and the classes you
choose junior year have to be completed in your senior year.
Although
3 SL and 3 HL classes are offered, I take 2 SL and 4 HL classes. This is very
challenging, and I suggest you speak with a guidance counselor before pursuing
this option. I am enrolled in IB SL Economics, SLMathematics, HL Chemistry, HL Biology, HL English, and HL Spanish. In the
future I hope to attend Medical School with a focus on global health and humanitarian
initiatives in developing countries. For this reason, I took two HL science
classes, Economics (the Developmental portion of the syllabus is fascinating),
Spanish (both for cultural enrichment and because I love Spanish literature),
and English. Normally students take one social science, science, math, English,
and foreign language with the IB Diploma, and they have the option to take an
Art class or double up in one of the pre-requisite disciplines.
The Theory of Knowledge class is an extremely enriching facet of the
Diploma. This class asks students to question what they learn and become more
engaged in their academic and personal pursuits. I firmly believe that this
class was the tipping point for me to truly be able to call myself a scholar. If
you take the Diploma, this class will change your life. It also comes with the
requirement to write a TOK essay and give a presentation. Organization and
open-mindedness is key.
The Extended Essay is essentially a Senior Thesis for IB Diploma
students. You can write an EE in any of your IB classes and it is due right
after your first semester of senior year. It is a capstone for the IB and truly
the time to explore research and immerse yourself in one of your favorite
classes. I'll quickly add on here that CAS hours are basically community
service hours with the added component that you have to create a project that
includes Community, Action, and Service components.
Please feel free to email/message/comment/stop me in the hallway if
you have any questions about the information above. Speak to your guidance
counselor and teachers to decide which route is best for you. Do what you love
and you will completely fall in love with what you do.
Too often, as students
fall back into the swing of a new semester, a certain degree of monotony begins
to seep each week. We are familiar with our own patterns: wake up, put on a
permutation of our school uniform, drive to school, class-to-class lessons with
quick hallway chats in between, after school activities, homework, sleep. Rinse
and repeat. However school does not have to be a re-run of Saved by The Bell (or for our younger readers, Ned's Declassified). I am writing about two true and tested ways to
help you embrace the now and love
every day (even Mondays).
1) Be a human being, not a human doing.
We
have all had rough days. Those days when you get home and when your parents ask
how your day went you flippantly respond, "it was ok". Perhaps you were
preoccupied with friend problems, a test that didn't go very well, and/or
copious amounts of homework. We may not realize it, but it shows. Last year I
was having one of those days, my feet dragged a little more than usual between
my classes and I wasn't smiling and greeting everyone that walked by as normal.
One of my best friends, Manny, lightly grabbed my arm and what he said
completely turned around my day (and has still clearly stuck with me now). "Valentina,
why are you sad? Look around you: life is so beautiful!"From then on I have made a conscious effort to realize just how
much I have, how blessed I am, and how beautiful life is. Things that seem life
shattering in middle school and high school are so trivial in the long run. We
should all look around us and realize this.
2) Live with your eyes open.
Cross-country
promised not to be an easy sport, but that was why I joined it. Dr. Williams
coached our team and each practice was an extremeworkout. I remember one particular practice in which consisted of a 2-mile
ladder following an intense warm-up. After the first mile, I will admit, I
wanted to give up. I paced around the track with my hands on my hips and looked
up, rather than solely in. My teammates were all surely thinking the same
thing: their eyes were glazed over with a mixture of tears and sweat. But when
Dr. Williams blew her whistle for us to get back on the starting line, we all
did without hesitation. Sometimes when school and personal activities seem
overwhelming we shut out those around us. We do not take the time to notice
that others are struggling too. Furthermore we do not look up to see our own
personal Dr. Williams, standing with a whistle and tacit support for us to keep
moving forward. Keep your eyes open and realize you aren't the only person
standing at the starting line of your second mile.
As
always talk to your family, friends, and teachers when life feels overwhelming
or repetitive. Fill each day with what you love. Embrace the now and I wish you
all the best of luck for this last semester!
