Grade 11 Challenges and new experiences:

• Maths
  • Study skills and positive self talk
• Online Learning
  • Study skills and time management
• Managing deadlines
  • Time Management and Study Skills
• Dealing with not getting accepted for chair role in my activity
  • Negative Self Talk

A challenge that I tackled successfully was improve my performance in maths, entering grade eleven I did not expect it to be a big issue however my overconfidence prevented me from realising the change in syllabus and my shortfalls. This also led me down a path of negative self talk, but I improved on my study skills to practice maths more regularly and effectively. Another aspect was to speaking about it with other people like my teachers and parents to understand what I could differently to tackle the situation.

Online learning was another challenge in grade eleven that i faced, the situation was out of my control since I didn’t have an option to choose whether or not I wanted online learning it was simply a result of the current global context. However, I think I could have been more positive about it as I was at the beginning, but overtime I saw my focus and interest drop in online learning which I feel would not have happened in normal times.

Some of the PSE sessions that relate most to my challenges are the study skills session as it has helped me deal with the increased workload and pressure of the IB diploma along with the session on self talk as it has helped me stay motivated through my journey.

Grade 12 Challenges and new experiences:

• University Admissions s
  • Writing essays for universities
  • Deciding and applying for universities where I want to go
• The IB Program
  • My stress to sustain my predicted grades and improving other subjects

A way to approach these challenges would be to put my best effort into it but also making sure that I don’t overburden myself with expectations and work. For the admissions process of course my UAC would be the best person to help me and I would use my teachers’ help with the IB in general.  Some strategies that are helpful from PSE would once again be self talk and study habits as they would make sure I am not overwhelmed in the first place with these challenges.

How I plan to make Grade 12 a success for me: 

One of the biggest things I would say is to ensure that despite all my challenges I get enough sleep throughout the year and don’t let work reduce my sleep time as I have in grade 11, since this would otherwise only get worse. Have an up-to-date to do list with all the important things I need to get done so that I know what deadlines I am working towards.