Getting started with the DP- January 2023
I started the IBDP in September, and so far have really enjoyed the breadth of content that my subjects offer. One of the things I learnt early on in my first term was how important organisational skills and time management are. It’s the secret to juggling six subjects! In order to feel less overwhelmed by tasks, I like to create a weekly to-do list and monthly calendar on Google Docs (so it’s easily editable) and then fill in all the activities and deadlines I have for the upcoming week or month. By breaking down the term and taking things one month, one week, then one day at a time, I’m able to visually split up many tasks into bite size chunks and save time for longer tasks like essays.
Another thing I was reminded of during the first term was the importance of sleep. Transitioning into the new academic life and extracurricular activities of Sixth Form was exciting but meant that getting enough sleep was more important than ever to prevent feeling tired or burnt out. Personally, I have adopted a “No school work after 10pm” policy, which encourages me to use my time productively! I also aim to dedicate an evening at least once every two weeks to making sure my CAS and TOK journals are updated with reflections. This helps me stay on top of elements in the Core (TOK, the Extended Essay and CAS) that are an important part of the IB.
Finally, I think the key to success in the first term of the DP is recognising that it's about learning new content and figuring out how best to approach a question, whilst putting no pressure or expectations on test results. Being willing to give things a go even if you don’t think your answer is right, allows you to experiment with different techniques and see what works best. This change in mindset has been necessary in order to engage with all my subjects and has helped me develop a more open-minded perspective towards my studies. Next term, I’m looking forward to researching and writing my Extended Essay, as we have lots of freedom over the topic and research question.
Dakota Cockrell (LVI- Class of 2024)