4/22/16

It was what I am

I believe that there is a lot of merit in looking back.  Looking back at what you've done and looking back at what your dreams have become.  Too often we continue on changing without ever considering what we use to be; we pride ourselves on progress but rarely reflect on how much that progress is. In my opinion, moving forward without noticing how far you've gone is like running a race without ever looking up to see if you've crossed the finish line. People say that you think about the beginning when you've come to the end and I believe that to be true so as my time in IB comes to an end I'm finding myself thinking about the beginning.

On the first day of my first IB class I remember not knowing anything about what was to come.  I mean in theory I knew what IB was supposed to be like but for all I knew the informational meetings and classroom observations could have all been an elaborate scheme to get kids to sign up.  Thankfully I survived my first day and many more days to come and I now have a better grasp of what the IB is.  I'm not going to describe the IB program because we all have a pretty thorough understanding of what the IB is and some of us have a few choice words to describe it too.  Instead, I want to talk about how I've grown as a person during my last two years at Millbrook.

I know that a lot of teenagers say they haven't learned anything from school but they're wrong.  Even if you have never paid attention to a single word a teacher has said you've still learned something, in that case how to make it look like you're paying attention.  I've learned the importance of finding a passion and cherishing what you love.  Having something that you love and enjoy spending your time doing makes life that much more interesting and gives balance to the work you deal with everyday.  For me, this passion is golf and traveling.  There is nothing on this entire planet that makes me happier than seeing a new place and interacting with new types of people.  There is also nothing better than breaking a personal record on the golf course or hitting the perfect shot.  These moments have become like flashbulb moments in my memory where simply thinking about them makes me smile.  I've learned that having something that will always make you happy is comforting when  you need it and exciting when you do it.

I've also learned the importance of investing in others and what they love.  People generally want to help one another and struggling alone is a lot worse than if someone were to help.  Showing someone that you care about their happiness is the most beneficial thing you can do for them and will pay off in the long run.  People are always more inclined to help someone who encouraged them in the past and I think that the relationships where people help one another are the ones that last.  For me, supporting someone takes effort because of the time that it takes but is well worth showing that I care about them.

The things that I've learned in IB haven't been all facts and statistics but things that will help me in the future.  The experiences that I'm taking away from High School will stay with me for a long time and have become a part of who I am.  The things that I have learned are what define me and impact the actions that I take.  In conclusion, it was what I am.  What my experience in IB has taught me defines me and what makes me who I am.