Plus a few handy tips from the professionals: they’ve gone through the IB too!
Just before Christmas, at that time when more and more lessons consist of watching films, and the holidays seem just within reach, I heard from my friends that we would have to attend a talk about study skills. Great, I thought, thats just what I need, someone to preach about “studying smarter” and making “more effective use of time”, when the only thing on my mind right now is going home for the holidays and waking up past midday. Reluctantly I trudged into the classroom preparing to roll my eyes at motivational quotes and clichéd advice.
But instead what I got was a surprisingly relatable speaker who knew all about why and how we procrastinate (hi youtube). With the aid of a meme-filled presentation, Rachel gave us concrete advice on how to resist the overpowering pull of Instragram or Facebook, make the most of “dead time”, organise our week so that we can include study and Netflix (it can be done!) and much more.
I got in touch with Rachel to ask her a few questions about the company she works for and how she managed the IB:
Rosa: How and why did you get involved with Lanterna?
Rachel: I got involved with Lanterna when I heard they were looking for a recent IB graduate to deliver motivational presentations in schools. Having been through university since doing the IB I felt like I had a good view of the challenges and rewards of the diploma, and really liked the idea of meeting current IB students and helping them find their way through the course. My thinking was that even if I hadn't gained wisdom since doing the IB, I definitely had gained an outside perspective; something which is very tricky to have when you are in the thick of the work! I also loved the prospect of travelling to schools all over Europe. Lanterna has taken me to places that I never would have seen otherwise, and it's been so interesting to see different parts of the world, to witness how different schools are run, and meet students from all over the world.
Rosa: What did you find hardest about the IB? Was there a point where you felt like giving up, and how did you get through it?
Rachel: The thing that I found hardest about the IB was probably managing the balance between the six subjects. I’d studied more subjects than that for my GCSE’s in the UK, but the difference with the IB is the depth and breadth of each subject. Even the standard level subjects have to be learned to a high standard to get the top marks, and you can't breeze through any subject without committing to it. This is the thing that I think a lot of students struggle with; I had originally assumed that I would need to do less work for standard level maths and chemistry, for example, but found out that I actually had to work harder for those than for some of my higher level subjects which I was stronger at. It really is a course that requires you to put as much effort as you can into all subject areas.
There was never a point when I felt like giving up, but the final month or so before exams was definitely the toughest time. It was hard because it was really just up to me to organise and structure my revision. I couldn't rely on my school planning out my time for me. I also had to come to terms with all of the areas and topics that I still struggled with. The way I got through it, and the only way I think any student can get through it, was pure commitment to revision. I accepted that there were things I didn't understand, and then worked to make sure that I improved in those specific areas. Remembering that it would be over soon was also a massive help. The exams and revision for them are actually over relatively quickly, and what you gain out of the full two years is definitely worth the effort that goes into them.
Rosa: And finally, what is the best study tip/anti-procrastination technique that you know of?
Rachel: I could talk about using timetables, timers, or apps that block your most lethal distracting websites. All of those things are incredibly useful. But personally I think that nothing has more power than a deadline. If you can find a way to create one for yourself that feels as real as the external one but will make you finish your work before that real one hits, I believe this is the most effective way of beating procrastination. Sometimes just writing down the personal deadline on a piece of paper and sticking it on your wall is enough. Sometimes it takes a bit more effort. Agreeing to send a parent, a friend, or even a teacher, the work by a particular time can create motivation to follow through. Alternatively you can make plans for the day or evening of the actual deadline so that it is impossible to leave the work until the last minute. Anything that creates urgency is a good thing!
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Another thing that caught my attention during the presentation was the fact that Lanterna, the company Rachel works for, started out as an IB CAS project! Nicholas, co founder of Lanterna, explained to me how the idea was born and why it worked:
“The CAS project was initially peer-to-peer teaching, i.e. DP2 helping DP1/Pre-IB. What we realised was the enormous benefit that a current/past student provides to younger students. There were so many ways that someone who has done the IB could help younger peers. Going through the same experience, relating and sharing tips and tricks was something that was very important for our success.”
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