This post, despite the title, wishes to iterate that there is no such archetypal IB student: no typical characteristic, no essential criteria and no baseline requirement for entry and, furthermore, that there shouldn’t be. The range of backgrounds, languages spoken, aspirations and talents of this blog team, alone, is representative of the universal, inclusive and facilitating nature of the IB. For me, the IB isn’t so much about who you are at the start of the process, as being able, open and willing to develop an IB mind-set
Frequent Assumptions (in my experience):
IB students are international citizens, have lived in more than one country and are fluent in more than one language
IB students have multicultural backgrounds and dual heritage
IB students are humanity-loving, science-hating creatures
IB students are work-obsessed and lack a social life; they do not participate in extra-curricular activities by choice
We challenge these perceptions on a number of fronts:
I, for example, rather boringly, am English, speak only English and have only ever lived in England; my favourite subject is English Literature, which I want to study at university, in England, and almost my entire family is of English heritage. With ginger hair, green eyes and pale skin, I’m about as British-looking as they come. However, I am infinitely interested in journalism, experiencing and living amongst other cultures and travelling the world; a common side-effect of taking the IB.
Maria, on the other hand, is Brazilian, speaks Portuguese and English, has lived in Canada, Brazil and England and lists her favourite subjects as Politics, French, English and History and her possible future career as diplomat or lawyer.
Fran speaks German and English and is perhaps more science-oriented than the rest of us (*gasp* - an IB exception?), listing her favourite subjects as Biology, Chemistry, Maths and French and her possible future career as - I quote - ‘Medicine?, Science?, Research?’.
Malu is Brazilian and English, speaks Portuguese, Spanish and English, has lived in Brazil and England and lists her favourite subjects as Philosophy, History, French and English and her possible future career as photographer on David Attenborough programmes, Prime Minister or extreme sports person (although we’re not sure which one yet?)
Cynthia is Dominican, speaks Spanish, Portuguese and English, lists her favourite subject as Psychology, has lived in Peru, Brazil, the U.K. and the Dominican Republic (Wow) and wants to be a child psychologist or lawyer in the future.
Anisha’s mum is English, her dad is part-Spanish, part-equatorial Guinean and her replies to the rest of my questions were too rude/self-depreciating to post here.
Anjali is Indian, speaks Gujarati and English, lists her favourite subjects as English Literature and has ‘no idea what [she] wants to be’.
Between us we play the guitar, ukele, violin and cornet, go to the gym, are interested in art, cooking, dancing, football, running, yoga and netball, volunteer at care homes, write blog posts, participate in setting up school newspapers, model UN days, teach languages in primary schools, participate in exchanges and work experience abroad, mentor, visit universities and attend lectures, participate in the World Challenge programme, watch films, procrastinate, eat out, meet up and have brunch.
Common features:
We are, admittedly, more Humanities orientated - but that’s not to say this excludes scientific-minded people from taking the IB, just that they tend to choose more specific routes, have more direct career paths and have a perhaps greater awareness of the requirements of their future career
We have little idea of our next steps and like to keep our options open
We are open-minded, value other cultures and, generally, want to visit other countries
We have learnt (ish) to find a work-life balance that works for each of us, just as with any other qualification
Apparently, ½ of us speak Portuguese (This is where drawing assumptions leads to false conclusions)
To find out more about us, visit our URL and check out the Get to Know us page… and if you’re interested in anything we do, are, or want to be, feel free to ask (or give us some career advice, who knows? We could probably do with your advice too)
