What draws the line between balance and overwork? How do high pressure environments change student priorities?  

Part of Interlake High School’s uniqueness comes from being 1 of 24 schools in Washington state to offer International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma coursework. Because of Interlake’s Advanced Learning program, many students take IB in their sophomore and junior years instead of the traditional junior/ senior. Because of its rigor and global competitiveness the IB diploma can be an intense journey. What are the effects of this rigorous coursework and how do students’ primary concerns change because of it? 

In schools across the United States, attendance is viewed as a vital measure of a student learning and success, but at Interlake, students run into a dilemma—whether to place more importance on avoiding bad grades or absences. IB diploma candidates have a required six “groups” or classes that must be fulfilled and tested to reach completion. However, navigating the staggering amount of work and responsibilities that are placed upon these high achieving students is sometimes too high of a burden to carry. Second year diploma student Shruthika recollects how she has “missed morning classes if there’s a big test later in the day.” She explains that it’s not because she wants to “miss content and goof off” but rather to perform the best she can on important exams. The correlation between attendance and success suddenly becomes hazy for IB students. Instead of attendance, the priority shifts to obtaining the highest grade possible in all classes.  

Another problem that arises with Interlake’s competitive environment stems from students using extracurricular activities to “boost” their resume. These include school clubs, extra classes, tutoring, part-time jobs, sports, and more. A normal evening after school to do homework turns into a late-night race against the sunrise to make sure the student has completed all the necessary tasks. This means that IB students are often deprived of needed sleep and relaxation. Even without supplementary pursuits, IB students always have their plates full, leading many to become overwhelmed and left with worsening mental health. All of this creates a plight where getting marked “here” is less of a priority. 

Furthermore, to supplement end of year exams, students are required to write multiple Internal Assessments (IA), often one for each class. These account for 15 to 25 percent of the IB score for that course and are required for obtaining the desired grade. As the deadlines rapidly approach for the IAs, priorities shift for many IB students. The due date marks a final submission that could be the determining factor after two years of work. Student Mercy attests that she skipped school to “school to finish my EE (Extended Essay)”, an important IB essay that requires nearly twenty pages of content. For these students, absences aren’t about lazing around but creating time to produce the best work they can.   

Although some students use school hours to catch up on work, others follow strict rules—instilled by parents or cultural values—and seek the best attendance to maintain their relationships with teachers and make the most of their education. While not all students who miss school see immediate impacts on their learning, missing vital classes can require extra at-home review and communication with teachers. These expectations and drawbacks cause some students to subject themselves to sleepless nights and an unhealthy caffeine intake rather than miss classes.  

There are some discrepancies between students in the IB diploma program and those who are not. Although Interlake is a competitive high school for all students, the contrast in rigor between IB and non-IB students is difficult to ignore. Senior Giselle, who is not a diploma candidate, recounts how throughout her high school experience, “as long as [she] attended [her] classes, [she] was pretty much set.” Beyond the paramount struggles of math, she notes how she just “doesn’t really have that much homework.” This difference allows her to prioritize both attending classes and enjoying extracurricular activities.  

The variety of circumstances at Interlake make universal attendance regulations difficult to enforce. In the struggle to maintain work-life balance, some students find themselves having to get creative to buy extra time, and class attendance is sometimes the casualty.