It was the IB Programme

It was all-nighters doing homework. It was IAs after IAs after IAs. It was waking up at 6 a.m. on the weekend to do community service. It was the IB Programme.

As I approach the last month of my high school career, I can’t help but look back at what was. Freshman and sophomore year…I think we can all agree to forget. But near the end of sophomore year, I was faced with the pivotal choice of joining the IB Programme vs. taking the typical Advanced Placement courses. As it’s all said and done, I think I can easily say that I made the right choice.

“But Chris, the way you described it all year, it sounded like IB was a living nightmare!?” 

Hey now AP student, I wouldn’t go to an extent to explicitly say that, though IB was a lot of work.  There were lots of long nights doing homework, internal/external assessments and studying for tests, but there were also numerous positive moments. Through IB, I was able to meet new people who I had never even seen before. People who have similar interests as myself and the dedication that would not be seen in any honors course. Through IB, I was able to participate in unique presentations such as Canterbury Tales stories, re-enactments of prominent historical events, and of course, the presentation of our long-awaited Extended Essay. Through IB, I established an understanding of how to manage time accordingly and develop a productive work ethic that will allow me to succeed in both college and beyond.

The IB Programme definitely lived up to its reputation of being a challenging, rigorous programme, but I think with that came the promising success it guaranteed. Without the IB Programme, I’m honestly not sure if I would have gotten into the college that I’m going to next fall (go Heels!). In addition, if I had just taken a bunch of AP courses, I’m not sure I would have developed unique skills that will help me in the future. Some of these skills include public speaking, essay writing (I’m essentially a pro now), and most of all, an understanding of the diverse cultures that surround our communities. College is a place of numerous people from all over the world, and I think the IB Programme furthered my understanding of how differently things can be perceived, and how these perceptions influence the ideas of differing individuals.

It was meeting similar, dedicated friends that will last beyond high school. It was getting out of my comfort zone and exploring new things. But most of all, it was an experience of a lifetime; one that I know will further my perseverance, work ethic, and ultimate success in life. It was the IB Programme.

Witty Whitman

During the time of late 1860-1861, Walt Whitman kept a journal that consisted of everything and anything that came to his mind at any given time. The journal is very disorganized and includes both legible phrases as well as scribbled out ideas. Just from the first few pages, I got the idea that Whitman joted down anything that came to his mind that he found as a profound realization. It seems as though Whitman was philosophical and liked to question and arguably reason about ideas/issues prevalent to his society. In fact, Whitman seemed to be ahead of the typical 1860s mindset, as he introduced his concern for what the future holds for both the United States and humanity as a whole.

For the most part, the original writing is quite difficult to translate; however, I was able to decode some of his non-scribbled notes. Some actually legible accounts I observed were the statements, “Come now we will see what stuff you are made of”, “welcome this menace”, “ship of hope, ship of promise.” As Whitman imaginably speaks of this to Lincoln, I believe he is speaking of overcoming difficulties. This, in turn, makes us stronger and gives us hope for the future. Now, it seems as though Whitman could only be speaking of the subject of war politics; yet, I think there is a deeper meaning behind what he states (because of his philosophical nature). This part of the conversation – or maybe even the entire conversation – could be a catalyst for more complex ideas that are pertinent to humanity.

Now, when going back and looking at the analysis and translation of the journal, I saw that I was on the right path. By saying these things, Whitman was alluding to the idea of “weathering the storm”. This means that we all experience difficult circumstances, but we survive and get through them to become even stronger. This could mean that Whitman personally came across many trials in his own life, as he got through them and realized the values behind the experiences. When he used the word “ship”, it is noted that Whitman was referring to the Ship of State – captained by Mr. Lincoln. It’s later said that Lincoln will face challenges far more harrowing than previous presidents, such as the Civil War. Latter, Whitman’s diary seems to emphasize his high concern for the political future of the nation, while also exemplifying his expertise in poetic literature/literary devices.