IB Moving On

Thou reader,

It was something I'd do again.  I've been asked numerous times if I like IB.  "Like" is a bit of a strong word, but I think the best answer is that I would do it again.  As my senior year comes to a close, and I have to decide what the heck fire I am going to do next, I have found myself reminiscing quite a bit, so I am going to get a bit nostalgic in this post.

Before high school, I was more reserved and afraid to jump out of my comfort zone.  I was terrified of being judged, and I worried way too much of what people might think of me.  Freshman and sophomore year was kind of a transitional period for me, but junior year, when I reluctantly began my sleep-deprived journey as an IBer, was when I found my niche.  

My experience in IB has been very telling.  I have made friends with amazing people I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to get to know.  I also discovered who my true friends really are.  They are the people who continue to ask you to hang out even after you've turned them down countless times to do homework.  They are the people who are excited for your success and the ones who check up on you when you may or may not be having a nervous breakdown.  

It provided me with a lot of new experiences and tested my limits.  I do not think that I would have been inducted into Service Club had I not been in IB, and that was the greatest honor I have received.  Now, before any AP kids have a hissy fit and say that IB is not an extracurricular, I must make it clear that that is not my point.  IB surrounded me with people who are involved and actually enjoy being involved at Millbrook, and they encouraged me to do the same.  We slightly resemble a cult, but it's fine.  It's a small community of people who are willing to help one another and do not think that it's cool to not support your school.  I find that very admirable.

I now want to shift the focus from "It was" and "I was" to "I will" and "I am".  Because IB was such a demanding experience, I am a person who has the confidence to test my limits and have now set very high standards for myself.  I am now a person who can speak confidently in front of people and is not afraid to make a fool out of myself or speak my mind.  Maybe that just comes with growing up, but I think it is also a part of being in a program that provides new experiences.  Now, I do not agree with all things IB, but I do think that the overall experience has been beneficial.

I am a person who has realized that school is not the most important thing.  I will not let homework control my life, and I will watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and not feel guilty about it.  I do not think that it is okay to compromise friendships and personal well-being for an A.  I am a person who spends all Sunday watching football, no excuse, and that is never going to change.  I will always incorporate my passions into my life.

Now, as I begin to embark on the next stage of my life, I will do so with confidence, an open-mind, and, of course, a touch of style. I, like Tom Brady, look forward to defying odds. It was something I would do again.  I am glad that I am not one of those people who will look back on her high school experience with distaste.  I hope you all can say the same!

Peace n violence,

Kiley Burns, Future NFL Commissioner :)