The IB Advantage: How Lincoln High senior Khalidah crafted her future

February 17, 2026

Lincoln High senior Khalidah has gathered all the elements she will need to succeed in life through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program.
 
Khalidah is moving academic, social and community molecules with her confidence-boosting work at IB. She strengthened her knowledge in subjects ranging from science to social studies, formed lifelong friendships with her classmates and built a resume that will let her flourish in the future.
 
Khalidah said she and other IB students have benefited from the focus program’s broad scope of higher-level classes. She has earned a Nebraska Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, identified concentrations of acidic particles in chemistry experiments and explained complex ideas through her intelligent essays.
 
“We’ve all been able to get stronger at every single aspect of learning, whether it’s psychology or mathematics or the science classes like physics and chemistry and biology,” Khalidah said. “We even have language classes where we can get a Seal of Biliteracy. All of these are things I never thought I’d be able to achieve, but IB let me be so well-rounded that I know when I go to college, I’ll be on the same level as everyone else. I know I’ll be as prepared as they are, if not more so.”

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah smiles in front of a large poster of the periodic table of elements. The poster is taped to the wall of a chemistry classroom.

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah holds a glass container filled with a liquid in her chemistry classroom. She completed a science experiment to create the liquid. She is using her right hand to hold the container near her eyes, and she is staring at it while wearing safety goggles.
 
IB instructor Michaela Wubbels said she has been impressed with Khalidah’s academic and personal growth at school. Wubbels, who teaches chemistry and physical science, earned an IB diploma while attending Lincoln Public Schools. She now helps the next generation of IB students become leaders in their chosen fields of study.
 
“Over the past two years that I’ve had her, Khalidah has gotten so much more confident in her ability to apply the knowledge she has,” Wubbels said. “She is able to think more independently and has gotten a lot stronger in her ability to communicate her thinking. She pushes herself a lot to be the best learner she can be!”
 
Lincoln High students in the IB program take pre-diploma courses for two years before entering the official IB Diploma Programme as juniors. They complete rigorous social studies, experimental science, mathematics, creative arts and world language classes that prepare them for higher education. They also deepen their community roots with Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) projects, reflect on their work in a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) class and have chances to earn college credit through IB exams.

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah smiles in front of a multi-colored mural in a Lincoln High hallway. The mural features stars and swirls in various colors.

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah is standing next to a long, narrow cylinder that is placed on a science table. She is using her right hand to pour a small container into the long cylinder. She is wearing safety goggles and a long-sleeved shirt.
 
Khalidah first learned about IB after listening to a presentation from Niki Barnes, who is the IB school counselor. Barnes was thrilled when Khalidah chose to enroll in pre-diploma courses after graduating from Goodrich Middle School. She said Khalidah’s ability to form meaningful connections with others has made her a role model in IB circles.
 
“Khalidah recognizes that her success is tied to her environment, frequently highlighting the impact of her passionate teachers and the collaborative spirit of her classmates,” Barnes said. “Her perspective perfectly illustrates how the IB program fosters not just individual achievement, but a vibrant, invested community of learners.”
 
Khalidah said those friendships have enriched her IB experience. Many students share class schedules for three or four years at Lincoln High, which helps them form tight bonds with each other. IB teachers, like Wubbels, also become invested in their students' success. They often guide students over multiple semesters, allowing everyone to cover more material in a comfortable setting.

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah holds a long, narrow cylinder into a bracing instrument in her chemistry classroom. She is wearing safety goggles and is looking left to right at the cylinder.

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah holds a triangle-shaped container of liquid in her chemistry classroom. There are five shelves full of laboratory equipment in the background.
 
“It’s really nice to be able to have those personal connections to the things you’re learning, and it makes you feel like you have more of a home here,” Khalidah said. “That’s what I feel is so great about having the IB program at Lincoln High. It feels like a community inside a community.”
 
Barnes said Khalidah’s maturity is one of her top traits. Her current goal is to attend law school after finishing college, but she wants to give herself as many future options as possible.
 
Just like an athlete becomes more flexible by working on multiple muscles in a weight room, Khalidah chose to become more academically powerful by taking different types of IB courses. She has finished both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) classes, passed an IB exam in psychology and polished her credentials for possible study-abroad opportunities in college.
 
“Khalidah truly embodies the IB Learner Profile by being a reflective and communicative thinker who doesn’t just participate in her education, but advocates for its value,” Barnes said. “Her focus on becoming a well-rounded student rather than just chasing a grade makes her a perfect representative for Lincoln Public Schools. She clearly understands that the true value of her time at Lincoln High is found in the person she is becoming: someone who is disciplined, curious and eager to connect with the world around her.”
 
“You kind of find out who you really are in the IB program, not only because you have great peers and teachers, but also because you have so many chances to know what you’re passionate about,” Khalidah said. “You get to know what’s going on in the world and what’s going on in your community, and that helps you know the value you want to add into the world.”

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah pours a quart-sized container of liquid into a small beaker during a science experiment in her chemistry classroom. She is holding the container with her right hand and the small beaker with her left hand. Khalidah is wearing safety goggles and is facing left to right in the photo.

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah inserts drops of liquid into the top of a beaker during a chemistry experiment. She is wearing safety goggles and is holding a thin tube of liquid with her right hand. She is holding the very top of the beaker with her left hand.
 
Barnes said Khalidah’s work ethic and wisdom will help her thrive in her upcoming pursuits.
 
“I feel Khalidah will be very successful in her future plans,” Wubbels said. “She holds herself to high expectations and sets impressive goals for herself. I know that she will push herself to do her absolute best!”
 
Ready to customize your high school experience with the International Baccalaureate program? Learn more about IB. 
 
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Published: February 17, 2026, Updated: February 27, 2026

International

International Baccalaureate Focus Program senior Khalidah inserts drops of liquid into the top of a beaker during a chemistry experiment. Khalidah is benefiting from the broad scope of high-level IB courses she has taken at Lincoln High.