Adela Belin

Do you sometimes wonder where all those famous personalities got their motivation from? For instance, would physics be what it is if Albert Einstein was not motivated by his curiosity to determine the defining laws of modern physics? Would Michael Jordan be one of the best basketball players of all time if he was not motivated enough to succeed and get past his failures? Would the United States be united if Abraham Lincoln was not motivated and determined to preserve the Union, come what may?

Many of us can agree that History makes for an extremely interesting subject. It takes you into the past and lets you learn about key events and people who were instrumental in shaping our present. However, what happens when you are asked to single-handedly perform a “historical investigation” on a topic of your choice? Getting jittery? Don’t worry - we got you covered. IB’s History Internal Assessment (IA) is a critical and compulsory assignment that requires SL and HL students to choose a historical topic and conduct a thorough critical analysis on it. The purpose of this assessment is to encourage students to explore a novel historical topic and put their skills and knowledge into practical use.

Growing up, you were always intrigued to learn more about the history and origin of different religions, how the concept of God varies and the likes, which is why you took up Religion and Theology in college, with great earnestness. Yes, it is an interesting subject and you were thoroughly enjoying everything the course had to offer until one fine day, when you were asked to write a Theology and Religion essay. Now, you’re just staring at a blank computer screen, wondering where and how to begin! Does that ring a bell?

It’s a long journey from deciding to do a Master’s till actually getting admission in a university of your choice. Once you have narrowed down on the program and shortlisted the list of colleges you want to apply to, starts the herculean task of collating all the supporting documents. From filling the application forms and writing personal statements to gathering transcripts and references – applying to a Master’s program is serious, serious work.

One of the most challenging subjects in IB is Chemistry, without a doubt. Unless you are a genius in that subject, you are bound to be met with hurdles along the way. If giving a Chemistry exam wasn’t enough, there is the Internal Assessment (IA) to worry about. Expected to be 6 to 12 pages long, your Chemistry IA is as good as your own little experiment or research project which accounts for 20% of your final grade. In order to secure high scores, your write-up needs to be meticulously planned, well-researched and articulately presented.

You made it! Finally, the day has arrived when you are making the transition from high school to college. You are now a college freshman and your excitement has no bounds. After all, college is a whole new world and marks the first step to adulthood. Living alone, stepping out of your comfort zone, meeting new people and discovering new passions – all of it sounds brilliant but in all this excitement, let’s not forget the main reason why you are here – academics. Did you know that 30% of college freshmen dropout after their first year of college? Yes, the first year is a critical one because you are mostly trying to adjust to the new atmosphere. On one hand, there is hope and enthusiasm and on the other, there is stress and anxiety – college opens you up to a myriad of emotions.