Sirisha Billa- 12th grade
Q: What interested you to come to this school?
A: I wanted an environment where I'd meet other people like me, who worked hard, who did - to some extent - focus on studying, and I wanted a safe environment.
Q: Did you make the right choice to choose this high school?
A: Absolutely I made the right choice. The motivated, KIND individuals I've met here are people I never would've met anywhere else and they are definitely the reason I stayed. I love my school for the people in it. The ideas that are spread, the type of thoughts that are spread, our geeky humor, all of that. From the staff to the students, I love it all. The IB program has a premise that is good, but if it wasn't for the specific teachers I got to learn it from, we'd get nowhere. The IB program is MADE by the teachers and I was lucky enough to have the best at the IA.
Q: What benefits did you gain?
A: The best friends I've ever made, the best teachers -- God, they're so amazing, I can't describe to you how wonderful the IAE teachers are. They work harder and put more of themselves into their teaching than anyone I've ever seen. I love them to pieces. I also got the benefit of being put into high-pressure situations often enough that it's become common for me now and when I encounter a high-pressure high-stakes situation NOW, I'm like "Psh, whatever, been there, done that. Remember the last time? Yeah, if I can get through that, I can get through anything." I got the mindset that the rigor of the IB program fosters -- whatever comes your way, you deal with it. It's the mindset of all the people at the school. Maybe at other schools, teachers don't care and the mindset is more lax, less meaningful, but at IA it is different. I guess then, you could call it the IAE mindset. Whatever the IB throws at us, we're all in this together.
Q: What are some downs to the school?
A: The school building isn't all that nice, but if I really had to fix something, I'd have to pick a bone with society in general because we've developed a sort of modus operandi about our leadership. In the initial stages, ex. student council, representation is a big deal. But in the event slightly larger stages, leaders don't know the people they're leading and they don't understand what their people are going through. We've kind of accepted it, which is a problem to fix.
Q: How will this experience help you later on?
A: When the going gets tough, the IAE kid'll stay calm. At least, I'll stay calm. I've learned how to breathe in those high-pressure, high-stake situations I was telling you about earlier. Took me four years but I finally got there. I don't freak out anymore. Don't sweat the small stuff because really, most stuff IS pretty small. Gets blown out of proportions. Going through the IAE experience has helped me prioritize, helped me figure out what's important. Helped me grow. A lot of it has to do with the inspirational people - adults and classmates alike - that I'm surrounded by. They make you want to work hard/harder. You see the teachers doing their best and you feel you owe it to them, at least, also to give it your all. And eventually, you come to believe that you owe it TO YOURSELF. And that's when you know you've truly grown.
Q: What is the truth about the workload and difficulty?
A: You get out what you put in. It's doable, I did it. There're certain ways to do things right and if you can find 'em -- if you can find the way YOU LEARN BEST and the way you THINK and if you can use that knowledge, you can make life a lot easier for yourself. After four years of struggle, I've come up with a spot-on way to learn - a mix of memorization, motivation, and practice. I've learned about the way I learn best and now, I don't hesitate anymore when I hit a roadblock because I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT (since I know MYSELF.) Sometimes, I feel like people are so influenced by others on a regular basis that they don't realize that it's holding them back. I found that out when I did my history internal assessment and needed another way to organize my information. My heart was telling me one thing and my brain told me something that my teacher had suggested. I hesitated a lot before going with my gut through, I'm a gutsy kinda girl when it comes to anything else. My heart was right. My point is this -- it's not impossible for the people who give it their all. Self-motivation, reflection, and unprompted, continuous improvement. That's what it's all about. You think I'm preaching but it's not. All of this, it has to be YOU. It has to come from YOU.
Q: Would you recommend students to come here?
A: Like I said before, the IA has to come from you. The decision MUST be yours -- if not immediately after joining, eventually, it has to become your choice or you won't be motivated enough to succeed. I'd recommend this school for anyone who wants it. I'd recommend this school for anyone who'd like to be surrounded by great people. You'll feel it, if it's right. I did. There's no one person that this place would be a good fit for but generally speaking, stubbornly mean people usually drop out. Be nice. Or beCOME nice. Your choice. Be kind and positive and stay or be a mean stick in the mud and leave. In the end, it's not the school that runs you out, but your own feelings.
A: I wanted an environment where I'd meet other people like me, who worked hard, who did - to some extent - focus on studying, and I wanted a safe environment.
Q: Did you make the right choice to choose this high school?
A: Absolutely I made the right choice. The motivated, KIND individuals I've met here are people I never would've met anywhere else and they are definitely the reason I stayed. I love my school for the people in it. The ideas that are spread, the type of thoughts that are spread, our geeky humor, all of that. From the staff to the students, I love it all. The IB program has a premise that is good, but if it wasn't for the specific teachers I got to learn it from, we'd get nowhere. The IB program is MADE by the teachers and I was lucky enough to have the best at the IA.
Q: What benefits did you gain?
A: The best friends I've ever made, the best teachers -- God, they're so amazing, I can't describe to you how wonderful the IAE teachers are. They work harder and put more of themselves into their teaching than anyone I've ever seen. I love them to pieces. I also got the benefit of being put into high-pressure situations often enough that it's become common for me now and when I encounter a high-pressure high-stakes situation NOW, I'm like "Psh, whatever, been there, done that. Remember the last time? Yeah, if I can get through that, I can get through anything." I got the mindset that the rigor of the IB program fosters -- whatever comes your way, you deal with it. It's the mindset of all the people at the school. Maybe at other schools, teachers don't care and the mindset is more lax, less meaningful, but at IA it is different. I guess then, you could call it the IAE mindset. Whatever the IB throws at us, we're all in this together.
Q: What are some downs to the school?
A: The school building isn't all that nice, but if I really had to fix something, I'd have to pick a bone with society in general because we've developed a sort of modus operandi about our leadership. In the initial stages, ex. student council, representation is a big deal. But in the event slightly larger stages, leaders don't know the people they're leading and they don't understand what their people are going through. We've kind of accepted it, which is a problem to fix.
Q: How will this experience help you later on?
A: When the going gets tough, the IAE kid'll stay calm. At least, I'll stay calm. I've learned how to breathe in those high-pressure, high-stake situations I was telling you about earlier. Took me four years but I finally got there. I don't freak out anymore. Don't sweat the small stuff because really, most stuff IS pretty small. Gets blown out of proportions. Going through the IAE experience has helped me prioritize, helped me figure out what's important. Helped me grow. A lot of it has to do with the inspirational people - adults and classmates alike - that I'm surrounded by. They make you want to work hard/harder. You see the teachers doing their best and you feel you owe it to them, at least, also to give it your all. And eventually, you come to believe that you owe it TO YOURSELF. And that's when you know you've truly grown.
Q: What is the truth about the workload and difficulty?
A: You get out what you put in. It's doable, I did it. There're certain ways to do things right and if you can find 'em -- if you can find the way YOU LEARN BEST and the way you THINK and if you can use that knowledge, you can make life a lot easier for yourself. After four years of struggle, I've come up with a spot-on way to learn - a mix of memorization, motivation, and practice. I've learned about the way I learn best and now, I don't hesitate anymore when I hit a roadblock because I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT (since I know MYSELF.) Sometimes, I feel like people are so influenced by others on a regular basis that they don't realize that it's holding them back. I found that out when I did my history internal assessment and needed another way to organize my information. My heart was telling me one thing and my brain told me something that my teacher had suggested. I hesitated a lot before going with my gut through, I'm a gutsy kinda girl when it comes to anything else. My heart was right. My point is this -- it's not impossible for the people who give it their all. Self-motivation, reflection, and unprompted, continuous improvement. That's what it's all about. You think I'm preaching but it's not. All of this, it has to be YOU. It has to come from YOU.
Q: Would you recommend students to come here?
A: Like I said before, the IA has to come from you. The decision MUST be yours -- if not immediately after joining, eventually, it has to become your choice or you won't be motivated enough to succeed. I'd recommend this school for anyone who wants it. I'd recommend this school for anyone who'd like to be surrounded by great people. You'll feel it, if it's right. I did. There's no one person that this place would be a good fit for but generally speaking, stubbornly mean people usually drop out. Be nice. Or beCOME nice. Your choice. Be kind and positive and stay or be a mean stick in the mud and leave. In the end, it's not the school that runs you out, but your own feelings.