Checking In and Checking Out with 11th Graders

By Jake Yen ('26)

As we inch ever closer to the end of the school year, it’s time to check in with everyone’s favorite grade: Grade 11!

This diligent group of hard working, amazing students have just had a stressful month. From 11th grade week, to wrapping up their Extended Essays, to doing end-of-year exams, our juniors finally breath a sigh of relief. What a month!

With one year left of the Diploma Programme, much hair lost, and much tears shed, it’s time to have a chat with the juniors. How do they feel so far? Career aspirations? How is life? Any words of wisdom?

Yvonne Yang says “UHHHH, it’s just tiring…but you’ll feel proud. DON’T PROCRASTINATE!”

Rae Chia says that “the key to success is to stop and drop procrastination.”

As a student who has often turned in assignments in the last minute, or sometimes beyond the due date *coughs, I feel inclined to agree with their advice.

Steve Shang, another 11th grader, says “If I was a chef cooking in the IB mock exams, I burnt the kitchen.”

I share your sentiment, Steve.

Ruby Chen and Dennan Wang expressed excitement over their summer plans: “We’re going to grind video games!”

As I talked to more 11th graders, I felt a glimmer of hope overtaking the burnt out tone in their voices. Summer was approaching fast, and I could see plane rides and beaches in their eyes. These juniors have just had a first year of the IBDP, and it seems they have aged tenfold since September of last year.