Why I Chose IB

As an incoming freshman, I chose to attend the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme at Lamar Academy for many different reasons.

Unquestionably, one of the reasons I chose to come to Lamar instead of my home school was because the IB diploma sounded very interesting to me; The IB program is very rigorous and I wanted to challenge myself. By challenging oneself, they will try their best to understand the course material and demonstrate their knowledge because they don’t want to give up or let themselves down— I believe it is the best way one can learn.

Secondly, the school environment was very appealing to me. The class sizes are very small, so the teachers are able to help everyone instead of disregarding some students. Also, every student here is really nice and hardworking. Overall, it’s a really good community to be a part of because everyone helps each other achieve their goals.

Additionally, there are also plenty of opportunities that come as a result of being in the IB program. There are many clubs to join at this school, that can directly benefit you, because you can discover new passions and/or your experience there can help you in the future, such as fostering skills you may need in your decided college major.

Also, colleges really like well-rounded individuals who excel in academics, sports, and extracurriculars. Being an IB student means that you have access to rigorous curriculum, but also opportunities to participate in other sports and clubs. Furthermore, All of the homework, projects, and presentations that students must complete can help prepare us for our future in college.

Plus, IB students gain much more knowledge that regular high school students, because they involve more critical thinking and real-world connections for every single class. Being an IB world school, Lamar Academy really focuses on the IB Learner Profile attributes: Caring, Principled, Risk-Taker, Balanced, Communicator, Knowledgeable, Inquirer, Open-Minded, Reflective, and Thinker. There are also twelve IB attitudes to consider: Appreciation, Enthusiasm, Cooperation, Creativity, Curiosity, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Independence, Integrity, Respect, and Tolerance. These Learner Profiles and Attitudes help us focus on advancing not only academically, but also personally and emotionally, which makes the IB Programme much different than any other curriculum.

While most of my peers were forced by their parents to come to this school, my mom and dad had no idea what IB was. Regardless, I still wanted to come here because I believe that it’s in my best benefit. I have a lot of growing to do as a student and as an individual, and I think one of the best places for me to do that is right here in Lamar Academy.