I was introduced to International Baccalaureate, also known as I.B., when I was in middle school. The class of 2016 was one of the first classes to go through the whole process of International Baccalaureate- what with the two-year standard level and high-level classes and the 1-7 grading scale. There is a distinctive rigor to International Baccalaureate, one that offers it's students the potential of great success; both academically and personally. International Baccalaureate focuses on making its students risk taking inquirers, open minded investigators, and knowledgeable communicators with the ultimate goal of instilling valuable principles in its students.

My sophomore year in high school was the year that I decided that I did not want to take the full I.B. Diploma program. The full program required one to take an eighth class during the seven period school day (Theory of Knowledge), to take a certain number of high-level International Baccalaureate classes, to complete a CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) etc. Instead, I chose to take a mix of high-level classes and AP classes. This doesn't mean however, that I wasn't immersed in the I.B. culture all the same. I chose to take some intense high-level classes, ones that really taught me to be responsible for my education and my success in the courses. These classes were two-year courses so I received an all-encompassing education about Literature, Spanish, and Psychology. I am now more culturally aware, more equipped for success in the college courses I am taking now, more independent when it comes to forming my own opinions, and more respectful of the world around me. When it comes to my schoolwork, I find that I am a more patient and efficient student; success never is achieved immediately and requires hard work and dedication. I've learned that if I want something, I must be persistent and relentless. In a world run by technology, people have gotten used to receiving answers, information, and knowledge immediately. True knowledge requires reading the book instead of Googling the answer, talking face to face with your professor instead of emailing them, and internalizing and summarizing information instead of copy and pasting it.

International Baccalaureate taught me not only the book smarts, but also the life smarts; awareness, respect, and to never lose sight of what you want. For all those trying to decide whether or not they want to take International Baccalaureate, I strongly recommend it.