High School: There’s More Than One Path

Growing up, I had quite a handful of goals. Whether it was finding a good career for myself or travelling the world, I was constantly daydreaming about the future. I have always believed that everyone has full control over how their lives turn out and that the possibilities are endless. This is why I always dared to dream big, even if the end goal was a bit more on the unrealistic side. When I was younger, my teachers always praised me for being the “smart kid,” someone who was well-behaved, punctual, disciplined, and hard-working. In eighth grade, I discovered an accelerated learning program called the Pre-International Baccalaureate Program (Pre-IB) through one of my teachers who recommended I give it a shot. So, I did. I wrote my application essay, got recommendation letters from past teachers, filled out all the forms, and then waited. When I got the acceptance letter, I was elated. Although this meant I would not be going to the same school as all my other friends from elementary school, I was still excited to begin this journey. 

After meeting my new classmates and getting to know more about the program in my freshman year, I realized something refreshing. There was more of an emphasis put on learning, than on scores or standardized tests. Surely not many jump with glee at the thought of sitting through hour long lessons and studying for tests that are longer and more difficult. But I thought there was more to that than just “memorizing concepts.”

It got me thinking about how more schools should cater their curriculum to students so that they are more engaged and interested. First, it’s probably a known fact that you can never make someone truly like something by forcing it upon them. This is especially true for learning, as it ends up feeling more like a chore than an important educational resource.

In fact, many people (myself included) end up forgetting what they learned after moving on from it or not touching on the subject during long breaks like the holidays/summer. Something I’ve noticed over time is that I still remember some of the projects I completed back in eighth grade on subjects that I was genuinely interested about. Just as you would remember a really good book or the plot of your favourite movie, you will also remember doing something that really resonated with you. This is why many people can recount a certain time in their past that allowed them to become the person they are today, such as the inspiration for their career choice or a trip that changed their outlook on life. 

I believe that high school is the time for students to learn what they are passionate about and discover their true potential. Many students I know in the twelfth grade still don’t know what they want to study in university because they never found any interests in high school. It felt more like a boring process that dragged on too long so they couldn’t wait for it to be over. Rather than having your generic classes like science and math with too much memorization and calculations, there should be more hands-on learning. Students should be given the opportunity to explore what interests them on a smaller scale so that they can feel excited about learning. 

These are some observations I made while attending an IB school, as two of their pillars are creativity and knowledge. Something that really stuck with me was their mission to focus more on the journey than the final product in order to promote life-long learning. When I transition from the Pre-IB program to the full IB program in the fall, I wish to see for myself the impact that a different style of education could have on my journey. If you’re going into high school or are reluctant about starting a new chapter of life, try something new. Push yourself to discover new things that allow you to pursue your passions. A program like IB is not for everyone but there are so many others that encourage people with different learning styles to get the resources they need to succeed. There are specialist high skills majors, dual credit programs, apprenticeships, and many more. Besides, it will greatly benefit whatever you choose to do after high school. If there’s anything I learned from my enrolment in the IB program, it’s that there are so many more paths than just the ones we’re used to. Now’s the time to choose yours.