My name is Jemima Mylvaganam. I graduated from the International Baccalaureate class of 2020 at Bjørnholt Videregående Skole.  

The experiences I had with the IB program helped and strengthened a variety of my abilities. My capability in speaking English increased a lot over the course of my two years there. Being surrounded by a social environment in which both students and teachers spoke the language pushed me to become even better in my English communicating skills. In addition, most of the students in the IB program had a different cultural background and so naturally spoke English with the others. I was also exposed to different cultures and languages because of the international environment and that I appreciate.  

 There were many aspects of IB that have better prepared me for future academic endeavors. Writing both my Extended Essay and my essay in Theory of Knowledge taught me to become comfortable in tackling longer assignments and approaching knowledge with a critical mindset. The Extended Essay and what it entails reflects the kinds of assignments usually written in universities. Starting that writing process in high school eased the stress I faced in my future studies. It is one of the reasons why I chose to take part in the IB program, so that I would not feel so overwhelmed or unprepared.  

Theory of Knowledge requires us to have a critical approach to the information we absorb. Like the Extended Essay, this subject directly prepared me for university studies where I had an obligatory philosophy subject in which the things I learned in TOK have been brought up in each lecture.  

CAS was also a great experience, and having the opportunity to go to Berlin is a memory I forever will cherish. Although it was school project related, I feel that the history I got to learn about and the places I got to visit with my classmates made the overall trip quite pleasant and very memorable.