Jared Lang
IB family is small but tight knit
Jared Lang | Highlands Today
Published: August 29, 2012
They say the average size of a family in the United States is about 2.5 people per household. My International Baccalaureate family, however, totals a smug 13.Published: August 29, 2012
When I was faced with the decision of whether to join the IB Programme in 2010, my head was flooded with pros and cons, mostly relating to my chances for success and the opportunities that would follow. One of the biggest reasons I didn't want to join this rigorous program however, was that in IB I would be with the same classmates all day — for four years.
Thoughts of cabin fever clouded my mind as I weighed the options. Now I'm in the second week of my junior year and I believe that the bonds formed between all the members of my IB family not only create a better learning environment in the classroom but also create valuable friendships.
On the first day of school freshman year, more than 20 of us began our journey in the IB Programme. Since that fateful morning, I could write a novel on my escapades with my IB comrades.
Day after day, we woke up eager to learn and later went to bed with aching brains. During freshman year we lost members for various reasons, and with each deduction in size we became closer to one another. Hardened by the demands of the program, as well as the friendly competition, we watched ourselves grow and helped each other do the same.
Sophomore year brought new classes, teachers and even a few new classmates. These young bucks were quickly accepted into our circle and within a few short weeks we began to forget that we ever parted for summer. Somewhere between learning the periodic table and the laws of economics, we began to resemble the tight-knit family that we are today.
We learned each other's strengths and weaknesses and used this insight efficiently.
During a particularly stressing week at the end of sophomore year, we had an American government test on the same day as a Spanish test.
One of my friends and IB classmates, Nisha Patel, had been having trouble in American government. I had been having problems with past-tense conjugations in Spanish. We were the answers to each other's prayers, and after studying together we each passed our test without a problem. Interactions like this are commonplace.
There are myriad ways that we help each other, whether it's reminding everyone of assignments via Facebook, providing inspiration for creative projects or even supporting one another in extracurricular activities.
Within my IB family, there are a couple classmates who I've become especially close to over the past two years; namely Sarahbeth Rogers and Scout Royce. Sarahbeth is a radically hard worker, yet finds the time to foster meaningful relationships with everyone she meets. I often regret walking between classes with her because every other person she sees stops to ask her about her weekend. Scout is the single most brilliant person I have ever met and helps push me when I lack motivation. Our affiliation has transformed from a heated rivalry into a valuable friendship and she is even my date to homecoming this year.
Looking back, I'm so glad that my fear of spending every day with the same kids didn't deter me from joining the IB program, because now that I have my IB family, I fear going to class with anyone else.