Skyline High School students feel the pressure of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, which demands rigorous coursework and intensity to perform at the highest level. Whether the pressure is from themselves or external factors is up for debate.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, more commonly known as the IB diploma program, is an international organization where students can take courses at a very high level of rigor. The IB Diploma Program equips students in all areas of study since there are requirements set for which classes are necessary to take.
When choosing to partake in the IB Diploma program at Skyline, the intensity and rigor demanded are not hidden. So, why do so many Skyline High School students choose this program?
“There are many reasons why students do IB diploma, and I do not think those reasons are always their personal choice,” said Paul Doran, an IB World Religions and History teacher at Skyline. “Family pressure has a lot to do with it.”
When students put themselves through extensive work for satisfaction other than their own, it exposes many problems.
“I think there is a lot of pressure in this community to define success based on like academic success or the college people attend.” states Doran.
Skyline, located in Sammamish, is home to many academically advanced individuals, so it is only natural for students to compare their success to the success of others.
Doran says, “External forces, parents, society, like the perception that has to get 1600 on your SATs a 4.0 a bazillion things, that is what I mean by perceived pressure.”
This notion of perceived pressure is seen in students planning to take the IB Diploma program in the upcoming years. For instance, Alina Kim is a sophomore who plans to participate in the program.
“I feel like I have to do it to get into a good college,” Alina states. “It’s not really something I thought about; it was just something I have to do.”
Many students feel the same way due to the competitive culture in Sammamish, and more specifically at Skyline. Audrey Cho, a current senior at Skyline, talks about her experience as a second-year IB diploma student.
“Generally, my experience has been positive somewhat. Obviously, there are a lot of pressures when it comes to the rigorous classwork and just the overall competitiveness of the program,” states Audrey. “But I would say in terms of college applications and general future work, it was worth it.”
Despite the negatives, the positives shine through when discussing the program’s effects. It fosters intellectuals who have a diverse range of knowledge.
However, the program’s competitiveness can also bring out comparisons and pressures unimaginable.
“I would also say that self-comparison is hard to avoid when you are in the IB diploma program,” States Audrey, “I would say I found myself a lot of the time asking if I measure up to what my peers are doing or am I really pushing myself to the highest level like these people are.”
Overall, the IB Diploma program proves itself to be successful; however, the perceived pressure and competitiveness of students at Skyline High School can be an issue while in the program.
