6.01.2006

IB Culture

I've noticed something relatively amusing (to me) about IB-ites. We can thank the facebook and myspace for this diatribe :)

So anyone who has come in contact with the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB for short) will agree that it has changed their life. Whether you stayed that first year, got kicked out, or hung in for the long haul (whether or not you got the diploma is another issue), you were impacted. I credit IB for me enjoying my first couple of years of college. However, why am I seeing IB books as part of people’s favorite books? One repeat offender: 100 Years of Solitude. Now, I will say that I actually enjoyed this book (please don’t tell my teachers), and that I got some of the symbolism, but I’m sure I missed some of it. This places the book in the impact category, not the favorites. And yes, I realize that something deemed a “favorite” is totally subjective, but lets keep it real. You may have liked the book. But have you re-read it since the final and those damn papers?

My point exactly.

I want to re-read it, and maybe if/when I do, I’ll add it to the favorites list. In the meantime, I’ll allow the Harry Potters to reign supreme.

But it isn’t just that book. I’ve seen others that were required reading that over the course of years away from Suncoast have become these fabulous literary works deemed “favorites.” Yes, it makes us seem all heady and intellectual for having been exposed to them so long ago, and kinda getting it, but honestly people don’t even know what some of the books are.

I digress. Take home message: keep it real. People know were smart (or at least that we get relatively good grades and are able to maintain a smart-front). No need to pad our sections with excerpts from the IB reading list to further the point.

Honestly, who really read that stuff anyway :)

xoxox

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