Creativity

As a senior, I participated as the Madrigal Student Choir leader. At the time, being a part of the Madrigals meant being part of the most exclusive choir in the school. Each member was specifically chosen by the choir teacher and had to audition for only a few available spots. As the student leader, it was my responsibility to warm-up the choir at the beginning of each class, as well as learn every part of every piece that we performed. The idea behind this was for me to be able to assist anyone who wasn't clear on how to correctly sing their part, and a few times, even though I sing soprano, I had to stand in as an alto or a tenor because someone was sick or unable to perform.

The idea of a choir is not to sound like fifteen or twenty different voices singing the same song, but to blend so that the sound seems like one clear, beautiful voice. To do that, you have to let go of your own agenda and any need to be the "best" or most talented singer; then the choir as a whole can produce the right sound. This was especially important for me as the student director, because I had to be willing to help anyone, or fit in anywhere I was needed. If I didn't do that, while I may have sounded great, another person or another section could have reacted and thrown off the sound of the whole piece. In a choir, it's all about how the group performs, and not the individual.

Action

I was in a unique position of being able to learn Tae Kwon Do from my grandfather starting at a young age. By the time I was in the IB program, I had received my first degree black belt and was helping other students learn the proper ways to execute basic techniques. This was very important in order to instill effective self-defense skills and personal safety skills. By blindly throwing a punch without understanding where you are aiming or what you are aiming with, the potential for injury is high, not to mention the risk that your technique will be ineffective.

One thing that always stayed with me during that time, was that a first degree black belt was only considered a "master of the basics." The average person thinks that once you have that black belt, you know everything, and there's nothing further to learn. That couldn't be further from the truth. There is always a new technique to be learned, and there is always some additional knowledge or insight that your instructor can provide that can help you improve your effectiveness. The minute you believe you've stopped learning or that you know it all is the minute you have the greatest potential for defeat.

Service

Volunteering at an adult day care center was very rewarding. The elderly are often forgotten or discounted, but in fact have a wealth of knowledge and love to share with those who are willing to spend time with them. I heard some incredible stories during my volunteer work, and I also had quite a bit of fun. I got to do crafts and lead songs and just be someone who cared.

When I started, one woman in particular only spoke Spanish and was often alone. The other volunteers really shied away from her both because of a language barrier, and also because this woman seemed ill-tempered. Having taken several years of Spanish in school, and knowing my Spanish IB exam was inevitable, I was determined to practice my Spanish with her.  

It was very hard at first; she was unresponsive, or she laughed when I said something wrong. But after I'd been there a few months, and she saw that I was determined, she often started to seek me out when I came to volunteer, and soon she was regularly participating in activities or engaging others in conversation. I would like to think I helped her while I was there. I can definitely say that my Spanish improved dramatically, and I did so well on my exam that I tested completely out of the foreign language requirement for my Bachelor's degree.   

Lessons for All

The IB program was an incredible experience and it taught me so much about confidence and finishing what you start. In addition to what I learned during my various experiences, the biggest thing I learned from the program overall was to keep going. Some of my classmates who started the program dropped out when the work got too hard or the amount of homework became too much. More than once I was tempted to do the same, especially as I adjusted to living with my grandparents and the loss of my mother, father, and brother, all within a short three-year window. However, the IB program kept me busy and grounded, and it became something that was so important for me to finish no matter what. I wanted that diploma, and I got it! Not only that, after I graduated with a 3.9 GPA, my IB exam scores qualified me to start George Mason University as a sophomore. I am so grateful for these experiences.   

Student interests and skills can be the basis for incredible learning experiences. In addition to the IB program, two other related programs also provide venues for developing critical thinking skills: the Cambridge International Examinations program and Advanced Placement . However, with or without a formal program, teachers who match student interests and strengths with challenging real-world experiences can both capitalize on student motivation and also provide an important bridge to further expand student interests and learning.

Julie Raeger, an undergraduate psychology major at the University of Maryland, is beginning an internship at CEI this fall. Her focus will be on heart centered learning.