Meet LPS Focus Program Scholar: Tyler, International Baccalaureate (IB)

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are a customized high school experience rooted in connection and opportunities. 

LPS offers our scholars, like Lincoln High School senior Tyler, almost a dozen focus programs where they can choose their journeys. 

He wanted to customize his high school experience by seeking opportunities to strengthen his academic writing skills. A recent International Baccalaureate (IB) graduate convinced him to join the program as a great way to practice building that skill set. What started as a desire to improve his writing has led the scholar to consider other passions like studying math after high school through the IB program uniquely offered at Lincoln High. 

Read more about Tyler’s International Baccalaureate experience in this Q&A as he is one of our featured Focus Program Scholars. 

 

Name: Tyler 

Home High School: Lincoln High School

Grade: 12 

Focus Program: International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

 

Why did you choose the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program?

I chose the IB Program largely because I wanted to learn how to write academically, in any discipline like writing an essay about mathematics or psychology. Other than that, I was interested in the potential of earning an internationally recognized high school diploma and being better prepared for college-level coursework.

What do you like most about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program?

Most IB classes focus on teaching you certain skills that are related to professional work in that subject area, like how to determine the value of a historical document, or how to use certain types of proof in math. My favorite part of the program is when we are then given the ability to design our own projects using these skills to explore ideas beyond our coursework. For example, in my Physics class, I designed my own experiment and research paper about the loudness of different marimba bars.

What makes the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program different?

One of the staples of the IB program is the “To What Extent” question. What this means is that our teachers try to avoid grading us as if the world is one-sided and instead help us focus on building our own understandings and arguments that take into account the more complex nature of the world. I love how my IB teachers take any chance they can get to hop into “gray areas” where there is no universal answer.

How do you get to explore your passions or interests at the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program?  

Every IB student must complete small projects known as CAS projects (Creativity, Activity and Service) outside of school and their own design. This gives us a chance to explore the world outside of the classroom in a reflective way. Each IB student also works on writing the Extended Essay, a 4,000-word essay about a topic of their choice, guided by a teacher in that subject area. The Extended Essay is a central requirement of the IB program that allows each student to explore a personal interest with plenty of support from Lincoln High staff.

How has attending the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program empowered you as a student?

The International Baccalaureate program has taught me how to balance my school work, extracurriculars and personal life. It has taught me to recognize when I need help and to advocate for myself.

What are your relationships with other students and staff like within the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program?

I have found that there is a very unique culture within the IB program. Each IB grade is small (mine is around 45 students), so I get to spend a lot of time with many of the same people throughout my day. We have come up with a lot of fun extracurricular projects and inside jokes over the years. The IB teachers understand and help foster this fun, passionate community.

How has being a part of an LPS Focus Program added to your high school experience? 

Being a part of the IB program has let me customize my high school experience the way I wanted. I have spent my high school years working on thinking critically and writing clearly. This program has been a unique opportunity that I feel I have made the most of. 

How has the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program prepared you for the future?

In my opinion, the most valuable part of the IB program isn’t the information that you learn, but the skills that it teaches you. I have learned to manage my time with a myriad of assignments and commitments, take notes in ways that best help me learn, and communicate with my peers both verbally and in writing. I feel very prepared for college.

Why are focus programs like the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program important to high school students?

Focus programs give high school students the ability to customize their high school experience to suit them best. From what I can tell, each program has its own strengths and personality that can add a lot of value to a high schooler’s experience.

What is the greatest thing you’ve learned since attending the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program?

The IB program has helped me realize that I am passionate about learning new things. Older IB students have taught me that school is a lot more fun when you focus on enjoying what you are doing and taking care of yourself. It is that authenticity that I hope I can carry with me into my future.

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Lincoln High by visiting its website at https://home.lps.org/ib/.

Don’t forget also to explore LPS Focus Programs at home.lps.org/focus.

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