North Atlanta’s International Baccalaureate program is steeped in pride and academic excellence. But the two-year program, full of rigorous coursework and countless internal and external assessments, has IB Seniors in a funk. At last, as holiday break approached, the IA rush began to die down–but it is far from over. Four months in, several IAs down, IB students were ready to get out of town.
Many began their senior year with their heads held high under the notion that their final year as a Warrior would be a breeze, but they were met with a rude awakening. Instead, day in and day out is spent at the desk typing away on one of their many IA documents. Pages are filled with in-depth analysis and examination, or more likely, word vomit in hopes of reaching the word count. “12 to 20 pages is insane,” said senior Keller Martin. “At a certain point, I’m basically writing gibberish.”
Anytime and anywhere you can find a Dub diligently doing their IA work. Senior Taylor Ryan’s grind never stops. “Makeup day? I’m working on my IA. Useless assignment? I’m working on my IA. Teacher talking? Again, working on my IA,” said senior Taylor Ryan. “Sleep? I’ve never heard of it.”
The time spent on the IB Literature Individual Oral and the TOK Extended Essay completed during junior year seems painless in comparison to the work of the first semester of senior year. Seniors are now facing Internal assessments for all core classes, not to mention a TOK essay, foreign language IO, and of course, the end-of-year IB exams. Many students are questioning the IB curriculum for placing such monotonous tasks within the same several months when the program itself is two years long. “We have a total of 18 months in the IB program,” said senior Millie Mcleod. “But they want us to do it all in four.”
Drafts have been submitted, and for now, IAs are out of sight, but not quite out of mind. Many ponder the impending return of their drafts and the extensive edits they may or may not have to make. Either way, while these past few months have put a strain on seniors, their deepest wishes are beginning to come true as they near the light at the end of the tunnel.
