What to do after finishing IB? (5 ways to spend your post-IB time meaningfully)

It’s funny, isn’t it? For the past 2-3 months, all that you were thinking of was about completing the IB and all the fun you would experience after that. But now that it’s over, all you feel is a sense of empty.

I remember that feeling. It’s a mix of both relief and boredom. It’s quite anticlimactic – you think that the end of IB is going to be a big party but it’s actually just days of wondering around and finding things to do. (Well, unless you’re one of those students who have a whole line up of internships lined up).

Before you start lamenting your well-deserve break, here are some things you can do while you wait for the next stage in life to happen.

1.Reflecting

The IBDP was a long and arduous process. For many of you, it was and should have been the most stressful period of your lives. While most students get through it, it’s good to sit down and think about how this happened.

 Take some time to think about the good and bad – what went well? Did you start studying early and thus avoided burnout? Or maybe, what went wrong? Did you face the inevitable panic nearing the exam, and why?

 Reflecting will not help you go back in time, but it will help you to prepare for the future hurdles in life.

2.Internships

Internships are a good way to have a more in depth understanding of any job that you want to take up.

 However, it is also important to go for an internship with realistic expectations. Most internships are meant for undergraduates or graduates. In fact, it is hard even as an undergraduate in Years 1 and 2 to secure an internship. Having only the IB Diploma, it will be even harder.

 Unless your parents have any kind friends who would take you as an intern or your school has amazing connections, it will be tough to find one, especially one that is paid.

A good strategy that will increase your chances of such internships is to apply humbly, especially if you find it hard to add value to the company. Your objective at this point should be to gain exposure, learn and maybe add some lines to your resume. This will help you secure future internships.

3.Work

Finding a part time/full time job should be easier than securing an internship. There are many job portals that you can apply and being over 18, more doors will be open.

However, most of these jobs may be manual ones. Most jobs that we see students getting in to after completing the IB revolve around the Food and Beverage industries or in the retail services. More common jobs could include the following: Waiter, cashier, retail assistant, packer, promoter, etc.

 While in these jobs, try to seek learning opportunities to build up your character. Focus on the soft skills like learning to have more patience, teamwork, or empathy. These will certainly make your journey much more rewarding.

4.Tutoring

Tutoring is a great way to ensure that you can retain what you have learnt during the course of the past 2 years. This is especially important if you want to ensure that you don’t have to relearn everything during university.

It is also a good way to earn some pocket money before university starts and have a potentially good source of income during university. Apart from that, you get to go through the fulfilling journey of helping students and seeing their growth through the 2 years.

Tuition services like iblounge.org recruit university undergraduates to teach IBDP students so feel free to reach out to us at contact@iblounge.org

5.Hobbies and activities

Why isn’t this on the top of the list? It should be! The period after IB is probably the best and most free time of your life. Yes, of your life. Most of you literally have nothing to do while waiting for university to start.

 So instead of spending it watching Netflix or lying on your bed the whole day, go do something that gets you excited! (Disclaimer: If Netflix or lying on your bed is your thing, do that too because you can’t do that often during university).

Try out a kickboxing class, immerse yourself in photography, read books or go learn a new skill like sewing. During this time, you have the opportunity to do all that is non-academic before returning back to the grind during university.

So, take a much-deserved break, chill out and find something that you are excited to do!

Well, that’s all the suggestions that we have but if you have anymore, leave them in the comments section below!