Complaints about the IB and school.
DefeatedMy two best subjects, blow.
I've spent twelve years at school now, and the need to lift a finger to achieve 100% grades never came about. Everything has been purely effortless. Until now.
I guess I should have been expecting such a thing, and I have to say I sort of was. I just thought I'd take it better than I have been. Apparently I'm not as comfortable with criticism on my work as I thought I would be.
The memory-oriented subjects, the topics I have been somewhat lackluster in throughout my entire life, are actually proving to be the easiest and most productive. So, Biology, SL Math, Business and Management, hell, even Indonesian language, which I'm not particularly fond of.
History and English (which I have never received a grade below 100% in. Dead serious.)... Are my two worst at the moment.
And considering my running record of high grades, including being the highest-scoring person in History/Humanities last year, they all expect godly work from me. I'm shit scared that I'll let them down, especially since they're expecting so much from me and I'm not sure if I can work to that standard, especially given my inherent laziness. To make matters worse, my History teacher is forever dulling my spirits by bringing up how 1337 his class last year was.
I was not present for it, but apparently today he showed the work of last year's students to our class. So, get this. They were at the same stage as us. About seven weeks into the year. They did a presentation on an aspect of WWI. We were given the same task, at the same time. Their standard of work was LEAGUES ahead of ours in the same amount of time. I heard that the presentations of last year's History students were so good my classmates almost cried. And even then, history teacher says that it ONLY warrants for a 5-6 mark out of a possible 7. If that's true, what I've done so far can only amount to, I don't know, maybe a 2.
English is highly intimidating. It's giving me the most work, and frankly, as much as I enjoy Shakespeare, Macbeth isn't in my interests. I was looking forward to studying Hamlet, but noooo, it had to be Macbeth. Ehhhhh.
I'm not quitting the IB, but I'm seriously considering changing subjects around, especially quitting History. Maybe it is weak of me, but I cannot produce work of that standard in a thousand years. And to bust your butt off on something that close to perfection, but they STILL hesitate to give you full grades? Come on. Bullcrap. It's not worth it.
Devious Comments
You ARE leagues ahead intellectually than a lot of people.
I know that this probably won't mean a whole lot, but comparing yourself to other people's standards and whatnot... it's not worth it. Just makes you feel awful inside. For this whole History thing, we seriously only saw one presentation from a student last year. It was fairly good, but I swear you can do better. This chick got a 5 or 6 for it and it wasn’t mind-bogglingly brilliant, so seriously, stop doubting yourself. I remember your digital poetry and whoa it just blew my mind away. If you produce something even half the standard of that you’ll most definitely achieve something in the higher band for a mark.
I seriously can't let you drop History. I mean, seriously (: You're sure as hell not worthless at any of these subjects. And with History and English... ehh, it's all a learning process. Stupid IB and how it's trying to uniform us to its curriculum. I reckon that English may calm down with its workload. You can cope, ‘cause you’re just super awesome like that. Don’t let other people knock you down or anything. Ehh…. Believe in yourself or insert some other appropriate cliché. I don’t want to watch you crumble <3
I agree on a lot of points. I was not there for that presentation, but I have heard nothing but praise. The computer was acting up today for mine (VERY strange problem, the computer doesn't seem to enjoy sound files), but I'll just do it Tuesday along with Todd and the others.
I guess with History I just have to pull together a bit. I'm not yet sure what OD expects of us, and the same goes for my English. I do hope you're right about the theory on the English workload. I hope it does calm down just a touch next term, that would be a good breather.
And yeah, I have an inherent tendency to compare my stuff to other people's. Which I know is awful on so many levels, especially the fact that if I see something I feel I can't compete with, I shy away and lose inspiration. Hence the me doubting myself. But its not unwarranted. In the IB you're strongly marked against the people around you and other Dip candidates around the world, so it pays to worry a bit (but not to the extent that you become unmotivated).
A learning process... I'll remember that. I guess we all have a little bit more adjusting to do. I'm simply remaining positive that I'll get into the full swing of it by next term.
All the best. :]
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You're just jealous cos I'm a genuine freak, and you have to wear a mask!
Yeah, I adore creative writing. But English in IB (I don't know if this applies to SACE as well) is 95% essays, commentaries and reviews on literature. There is ONLY ONE creative writing piece in the entire of the program, and it's the hardest marked assignment in the entire IB. Basically, you pick one of the texts you studied and you write a story (like a fanfiction) on it, like with the characters from the book and stuff. The catch is, the story (like a short chapter) has to fit into the book somewhere, all the characters must be in character, and you have to try to write it in the authors style. And they mark it very harshly.
But I would really like to have a go at that, that's something I reckon I'd be good at.
Anyway, thanks for commenting, I GUESS.
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You're just jealous cos I'm a genuine freak, and you have to wear a mask!
you're very brave *____*
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...in my pants
You're brave too! X.X
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