International Baccalaureate (IB) is an international curriculum also provided in St. Mary’s from 11th to 12th grade. This 2-year program is highly rigorous, including 6 subject, 3 of which are high-level(HL), with theory of knowledge class, internal assessments, final exams, extended essay, CAS… the list of responsibility goes on. Becoming a junior is a sudden shift from fun high school life to fun, but extremely busy life, constantly being chased by deadlines.
It is very easy to be overwhelmed with many assignments with hard deadlines, and it is not uncommon to see people being sleep deprived studying for tests, working on essays, or completing their internal assessment. How is it that students are able to deal with this much workload and anxiety while participating in sports, fine arts and other personal interests?
A current IB student and a junior, has mentioned the importance of time management in IB, stating that “the most important thing is not to procrastinate”. He mentioned using applications such as to-do lists to keep track of multiple responsibilities. He also described the importance of utilizing time at school, saying that “you should not have any incomplete school work that turned into a homework”. He finds time to participate in activities such as varsity choir, musical, and even becoming a candidate for stuco treasurer campaign. He says that “doing activities like this is a good way to be motivated” for responsibilities in IB.
Ultimately, navigating the intensity of the IB DP requires a shift from passive learning to active time management. By prioritizing deadlines and maximizing productivity during school hours, students can maintain the balance between academics and their personal passions.
