Nervous nelly

Dear Nancy,

I am REALLY nervous about going full IB next school year!!! What should I do?
-​Concerned Student

Dear Concerned Student,

At the end of  your sophomore year here at Reagan, there is a very important decisions that you will need to make: “Should I go full IB, IBCP (formerly called the IBCC), or get the standard high school diploma in my junior and senior year?”

The Full IB program entails three HL (high level) courses, and three SL (standard level) courses. Students must select a class from each of the following subject areas: language arts, world language, history, science, math, art, and, of course, the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. There are multiple options for each of those, so you have some leeway as to what the specific course is, excluding TOK. If you would like anymore information in regards to the Full IB program, or diploma, you can talk to Ms. Carpenter, or Ms. Westrich.

The IBCP diploma includes taking at least two IB exams for two different (SL or HL) classes from any of the six subject areas, taking a world language, a unique IBCCP course (health-related career or computer programming), for your desired career path.  If you would like more information, you can talk to Ms. Sato, and she would be more than willing to help you!

In IBCP, you do not take TOK. This is a course where the full diploma students learn about different types of knowledge, learn about the world around them, and what we claim to know. In the course, you will be asked to write a 1,600 word essay and give an oral presentation. NO WORRIES, THOUGH! Throughout the TOK course, you will learn more about it, and when that is done. It is required to be taken the entire junior year, and the first half of your senior year. Another thing to keep in the back of your mind, is the extended essay. It is an essay that has to be 4,000 words on a topic that you enjoy, and that can be related back to a school subject.

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finding yourself

Dear Nancy,

“I'm trying to figure out who I am but I can't decide if I want to be one person or the other. How do I figure out what I like and what my personality is like while stopping comparing myself to others?

-Lost & Confused

Dear Lost & Confused,

Some think that they need to follow or be defined by others. Comparing yourself to others will lead to you being like them and criticizing yourself against their appearance. You don't need to be defined by others; you just need to be yourself. Everyone is unique and special in their own way. Not everyone knows how to do this, so I have a few tips.

1. Take up a new hobby
   
   

Not everyone has the same interests or exact same personalities. You have to find something that you enjoy and find out more about it. Take more interest in this and make it a hobby if possible. Taking up a new hobby will help you better find yourself. It sometimes depends on the things you like that can help better define you, but this is not always true.

    2.   Think more positively


We all know that when we look at others, we secretly are comparing ourselves to look better and more like them because we think that it's cool or that were not good enough. We think negatively and want to change ourselves. The thing is, they shouldn't. You shouldn't compare yourself to others because you're not them, and you should be you. Be yourself and think positively. And when you see someone walking past, don't instantly compare yourself to them. Just be yourself and love yourself. For this piece I picked a quote that was said by Walt Whitman. I says,“Keep your face always towards the light - and shadows will fall behind you. I chose this quote because it inspires my to think more positively and that things can always get better if you believe and will it.

    3. Don't change yourself

You are you. You're not someone else or meant to be someone else. Don't try to change yourself  because you think that it's what someone else would want. When you change yourself, or something about yourself, do it because it's what  you want to do and what you think is right. Doing something to make you happy is good but if it doesn't make you happy then it's not worth it. Make yourself happy and be comfortable in your own skin.

Self Expression by Valerie Mecha

Modified by Jackie Jones

balancing life

Dear Nancy,

The new year has started and at the beginning I was doing well until we got homework and projects. I’ve been struggling with keeping friends; I can’t hang out with them as much because of the clubs I’m in and the homework I have to finish. I get homework every night, but I always procrastinate. I say that I’m going to do it the next day, but then the next day comes and I have the homework from yesterday and that day. It makes me stressed and then I feel like I’m staying up every night trying to get my homework done for the next day. Can you help?
​
​From,
Anonymous

Dear Anonymous

Managing stress is also another factor of balancing one's life. One way to maintain stress free is to get a goodnight’s rest. Without a goodnight's rest, you may end up feeling overwhelmed and discombobulated. Another way to stay free of stress is to do some breathing exercises, such as yoga. It helps you become calm and focused which leads you to thinking positively about what you have to do. Lastly, a common way to remain stress free is to just take a break every now and then and do something  fun and relaxing such as watch TV for a little bit (just make sure that you still have time to do your assignments).Dear Anonymous,

It’s normal for a person to have a busy schedule and not know where to start. Everyone has these troubles throughout their high school years, especially when you’re just starting as a freshman. With you just getting familiar with a brand new school, new class schedule, and new types of assignments, I know of some useful and successful techniques that would help out a lot. The three main problems people have trouble managing school work, stress, and even clubs.

When it comes to school, whether it is elementary, middle, high school, or even college, people all over have trouble managing their time to do their work. One way to help stay on track is to write what you have to do in a planner or agenda. You could then go back and see what you need to bring home and do for homework. Just make sure you write it in the right day and week so you don’t end up getting mixed up. This is one strategy that helps you stay organized. Another way to manage your time when doing school assignments is to take a rest between or after each assignment so you can clear your thoughts and move on to your next topic. My advice is to try and follow these helpful tips; school is no joking matter!

Clubs are a big part of what make students involved. Being part of a club can be very beneficial. They look good on applications, help you with your social skills, and open you up to what the world is really like. That being said, being part of a club can be very stressful and sometimes may interfere with school priorities. However, don't worry, there are ways one can be part of a club and still have good grades. The most important thing is getting your work done, so if you have to miss a meeting let the administrator of the club know and explain your reasoning for not attending the next meeting. They will most surely understand and let you miss one meeting. If you aren't passing a class,you may have to drop out of a club. Make sure you put that into consideration the next time you have a assignment and wait til the last minute to do it because you had a club meeting. Make sure you still prioritize your assignments. Because we are in high school, we have been given more responsibility than we have ever had and this  is a big deal. Make decisions that can transform your life instead of tear it down.


In conclusion, life can be stressful. It can have its ups and downs. The key to balancing it though is to just know how to focus on what is important and you will be successful.