Have you ever woken up in the morning and wondered how your life would have been without IB? Well, I do every single day of my life. I’m almost finished with my IB exams, and I can just say, “Hell yeah, I survived.” When the diploma started, I thought that IB would be fun (yep, I don’t know what I was thinking either) because of the possibility of choosing subjects of interest, and in a true way. Nevertheless, what isn’t talked about in the diploma is the psychological effect on students. 

 

As senior students, we wake up every day with the illusion of enjoying every minute of our last year. We drink something to keep us awake since maybe, the previous night, we were working on an Extended Essay for Angel. On the car or bus, we read ChatGPT summaries for one biology quiz and arrive to fill our brains with more information. Not to mention the Internal Assessment season, where I can assure you, I slept three hours each day of that month. Considering my personal and psychological impact of IB, I am bringing you some advice. Even if we wish, we can’t escape IB, and although it is cumbersome, we must accomplish it while we enjoy our last year of school. I expect you, dear reader, to take advantage of these tips to live the best as I did last year. 

 

• Stay hydrated while studying; this will keep you activated and healthy. 

• Give yourself a little award after you accomplish a task. It can be a little chocolate or watching your favorite movie. 

• Separate spaces. You must be able to separate familiar spaces from IB and friends.

• Organize your tasks and due dates so you can work less but efficiently and go out with your friends or do whatever you like.

• If you are enjoying yourself, do not think about a due assignment. Live in the present, and when you are finished, focus on the task. 

• Give yourself some time to work on yourself and feel bonita.

• Watch IB TikTok to mock your own experience. 

• Use your study method. Not always what works on others works on you (for a lot of things)

 

I hope you gather this advice and apply it because I did it, and although I survived everything, I lived to the fullest my last year. Things will always be complicated; life is like that. Nevertheless, no one but you can change that reality. It's up to you how you want to live your life. Take advantage of the opportunities life gives you and enjoy school because you will be like me in the blink of an eye, trying to gather all the beautiful memories I had in 13 years.