WORDS TO THE WISE: Sage Advice from the Class of 2020 to a New Generation of IB Language and Literature Scholars

Well, it is hard to believe, but we have closed yet another year at Odyssey.  It was certainly not the kind of goodbye we had hoped for --not by a long shot--but it was the one we were given, and the CLASS OF 2020 rose high and well above the challenge.  As we gear up for a summer assessment for year 2 OR our very first year of DP Language and Literature, they will be looking forward to the next phase of their exciting life journey: college, career, military service...wherever their dreams take them.  Their grit, their determination, and their upbeat attitudes will continue to inspire us all for years and generations to come.  They have made their mark on my heart!

This is a tough goodbye for me.  Mostly because it wasn't really the full and complete goodbye we

wanted and they deserved.  They have, no doubt, learned a great deal over these past four-plus years; not just academically, mind you, but also in the realms of life skills, cultivating and nurturing relationships, through both their trials and tribulations.

It is for this reason that great reflection is in order; reflection that can help our next generation of upperclassmen--juniors and seniors--as they navigate through unfamiliar and uncertain waters and build upon their knowledge as IB scholars.  Please know I will ALWAYS and FOREVER be in your corner, cheering you on, through all of life's challenges and celebrations!  LOTS of love, gratitude, prayer and pride to YOU from me!

 So, IB Language and Literature Students of now and tomorrow, here it is, advice from your seniors to you:  those who have successfully reached the summit of IB Language and Literature in the DP program will give you pieces of the map and a compass to guide YOU on your journey.  They have officially and successfully finished both years of study against unprecedented challenges and odds, so really take their words to heart!  And to you seniors who are quoted here, please know that I have learned just as much, if not more, from working with you as you did in this classroom, and I will miss your beautiful smiles and your sense of humor through it all.  This advice is quite meaningful in light of the experience, and so....

Buckle up, here we go!

Please do not procrastinate. Mrs. Caraway is willing to work with you in the case of unforeseen circumstances, but procrastinating on an assignment you knew was due and had the capability to complete is lazy and just generally a bad habit to get into!-Lauren Hess

Take good notes when Mrs. Caraway introduces a new unit or a new novel. They will help you with ideas and concepts to use for your essays or finals for the units. - Cayman Webber

Remember to write down quotes as you are READING the novel. Don't wait until afterwards! It will be nearly impossible to find them again.

Use critical friends, they honestly see the flaws you can’t.

Ask for help when you need it! Don’t be embarrassed, your teachers are literally there to help you with whatever you may need, even if it seems stupid!

Keep your notebooks from both years. YOU WILL NEED THEM! and....Oh my God, do the

blog! Set a reminder for blogs, they really impact your grade and you will forget.

Find out about your assessment at the beginning of the unit so you can prepare for it as you go!

Read your books!! I know that some literary works and texts are more interesting than others, but if you don't read them, you will miss something. Language has many layers and meanings. If you skip over it or look at it at face value, you won't understand it.- Janay Moloney

Stay open-minded and excited! I know that school and assignments can get tedious, but do everything you can to make the most of of your learning experience and invest in yourself. YOU HAVE NO IDEA how precious these moments are!!-Lauren Hess

Don’t be afraid to voice your idea

Enjoy the moment. There's definitely going to be times when you are stressed and want to give up, but you're going to come out of this class with SO many

memories and new skills that I wish I would have enjoyed more at the time. PLEASE enjoy the rest of your high school experience. Work hard and HAVE FUN!

Keep up with the reading assignments. It will help you with your assessments and your DP exam. However, if you have trouble reading quickly, find an audiobook and listen along as you annotate the novel.

The DP Lang/Lit program is super amazing and you all have such a super awesome and knowledgeable teacher. The content we learn is super interesting and applicable to what we do every day so enjoy it! - Delaney

Jennings

Do NOT procrastinate on your essays!! It makes class less fun!

Mrs. Caraway appreciates it when you type up your papers in Times New Roman, pt. 12 font.

Stay attentive. The most regretful thing you could do is not to pay attention in class. Year 2 is incredibly fun and interesting. The topics that we talk about are things you bring home and talk about with anyone that just so happens to be next to you. So, do take my advice and pay attention.

Don’t be afraid to say what you want to say....and don't overthink things TOO much.

Always show up!!!!!

I know you want to just be done with everything but BELIEVE ME, it all flies by so much faster than you think. ENJOY IT. Don't slack. Make it count! Create memories in and out of class!

I HIGHLY recommend actually buying the physical books, versus online! It’s so much easier to follow along, and remember valuable quotes if you have the book in your hand.

ANNOTATE YOUR BOOK.

Do your share on group projects or you’ll be hated by groupmates forever. Just put in some

effort.

This course has taught me how to look at the plots and characters included in these pieces of literature in many different ways, and has taught me the importance of stepping outside of myself to analyze a situation.

I have found a love for tearing apart texts and trying to understand what the author is telling me, the reader, through going through the list of important stylistic elements. Because of this, I am now able to understand the importance of identifying the author’s intentions, but also how these intentions affect the reader and his or her interpretation of the text. 

Don’t panic about the IO, it’s not as bad as you think!

Try to keep your notebook organized, you will get a lot of excerpts and papers you could use for the test or other things in class.

If you plan to go on a field trip, or miss class for ANY reason, talk to her first!!!

Be nice to each other and maintain a positive environment!!! Mean people make high school sad :(

HAVE A FANTASTIC YEAR!! You will LOVE this class...I guarantee, it will be a favorite. Mrs. Caraway is passionate about the literature and the language. You will get so much out of it if you put in the time and energy, I promise. :)

Okay, now it's time to reflect and respond!

Future Year 2 scholars: What piece of advice above really resonates with you? What advice or words of reflection would you like to add?

Year 1 Scholars: Welcome! What words of advice do you find most helpful or interesting? What do you see as your greatest source of anxiety and/or excitement? Why are you here, and what are you hoping to accomplish this year?