<p>My D has to sign up for next yrs HS classes this week, and her program has added the option of IB psychology (which for her would take the place of IB Music/Band). She is interested in neuroscience (but not med school) and is leaning toward choosing the psychology class (She actually really wants to).
My concerns are:
-She has been struggling with anxiety this year, and one of the things that anxiety does is make you worry that you are ‘going crazy’ in one way or another. I am concerned that being is a class where the focus is on what can and does go wrong in the mind, may not be the best idea for someone sensitive to these things.<br>
-It is a 2 yr class (as are most of the IB classes), so she either has to sign up for it now, for 2 years, or not take it at all in HS.
-Although she hasn’t really had a problem keeping up with work or getting good grades, the workload and stress over grades has been a major factor in her stress/anxiety, so substituting psych for band seems like it may add to that. However…band is 1/2 IB music and only 1/2 band…and she has gotten so she really doesn’t look forward to band class anymore, but is very interested in psychology.
-Her current band director is retiring this yr, so we don’t know what band would be like next yr, or if she will be able to participate in marching band/concert band without being in band class.
-She feels like part of the problem this year, with the stress and workload, has been a combination of lots of work (of course), certain instructors, and lack of interest in the courses she’s been required to take this year…so rarely is the homework/studying interesting to her (is was interesting last yr, and looks like it may be better again next yr).</p>
<p>So next yrs classes would be:
IB HL Eng Lit
IB HL Contemporary History
IB HL Biology
IB SL Spanish 4
IB SL Math (PreCalc)
IB SL Psychology OR IB SL Music/Band</p>
<p>Am I just overthinking this? Wonder where she gets the anxiety stuff! ;-)</p>
<p>At our high school the AP Psych class is their sluff class. It’s a nice off-set to a schedule like your D has above. Personally I would keep the band in that schedule. In our school kids can not be in marching band without being in “band class” which is concert band. The psych class our kids take doesn’t focus much around mental illnesses and more around how the brain works–thought processes, etc. The did a unit on addiction though.</p>
<p>I would let her take it. It may turn out to be less time-consuming than the music option.</p>
<p>Also, there are relatively few options within the IB program. This is one of the times when she gets to make a choice. I think she should have that choice.</p>
<p>Edited to add: After seeing SteveMA’s comment, I realized that I should point out that IB psychology does not provide good preparation for the AP Psychology test. The IB course covers fewer topics but in greater depth than the AP course does. So if she’s looking for as much college credit as possible, IB psychology may not be the ideal choice. But then, IB music isn’t, either.</p>
<p>I think as long as her graduation requirements are met, and she is on track, that taking a class in your interests is far preferable to one that is not.</p>
<p>Anxiety is a seperate issue. Has she tried working with a therapist to look at triggers & strategies?</p>
<p>Is she in a sport or does her high school have a PE requirement?
I ask because physical activity is a popular way to manage stress and help improve focus.</p>
<p>Intro psych is about theorists/theory, history, basic principles (like developing a hypothesis). It is not a class that typically focuses on disease. At most, she may have a chapter on abnormalities. If psychology is her area of interest, let her take the class.</p>
<p>And definitely send her to a therapist for the anxiety. Seconding the recommendation for regular exercise.</p>
<p>However, AP psychology is not generally considered to be that difficult a test (and the colleges that do give subject credit for it typically credit it against a semester-long course), so it may not be that hard for someone with IB psychology to self-study whatever gaps there may be for the AP test.</p>
<p>From what I’ve observed, it seems like quite a few kids begin to experience stress and anxiety in high school. I would recommend that you find her a therapist experienced in treating anxiety. No doubt, she will continue to be confronted with stressful situations in college so learning how to cope now will be to her advantage.</p>
<p>Shoboemom - is your daughter involved in any sports? I find this to be an excellent mind clearing activity When my DS is stressed out he exercises on an erg or goes for a run.</p>
<p>Also, SL classes are generally 1 year long, are you sure this one is 2?</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies! I am double checking on the 2 yr course issue. She sounds positive that it is though. The only ‘sport’ she is involved in is marching band. I am also checking into whether she would be able to participate in marching band if she is not in band class. Marching band is a double edged sword. It was great to be participating is something, and good exercise, but very much has it’s own stresses and is very time consuming.
I’d love to see her get into something active, but more relaxing than marching band!
We aren’t too concerned about testing for college credit. It would be nice, but not a deal breaker either way.
She is seeing a counselor and we are actively working on the anxiety issues as much as we can without creating more stress.</p>
<p>Tell you DD to go for a brisk walk/run when she is tense. 15 to 20 minutes is all it takes and she will feel much more relaxed Good wishes to you!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t “let” or “not let” her do this - it should be her decision. I would let her know this was her decision and ask her to go through the pros and cons of each choice. Write them down and have her think it through. Then let her make her own choice.</p>
<p>LOL Momtotwins, I was just thinking, after the last couple posts, that I probably should have phrased my question differently. More of encouraging or discouraging the decision.
Kelsmom, If she is determined to take the class, that’s what she will do. I won’t keep her from it. But she is trying to decide what the best decision is for her. She really has had a hard time this year with stress related issues, and sometimes, even if you want to do something, it may not be the best plan at the time. Just like younger kids who want to be in soccer and dance and karate, and… something has got to give. We are just trying to decide if it is a good idea. I very much want her to get to do what interests her.
Owlice, I hadn’t thought of that angle. Good point, and with their IB program, there aren’t many things she gets to control.</p>
<p>If she is not that interested in band anymore and very interested in psychology, she ought to take psychology. I understand that you’re afraid she will “self-diagnose,” but the opposite may also happen; the more she learns, the more reassured she may be. Psychology is the study of the human mind. Pathology/mental illness is only one part of the field, not the whole thing.</p>
<p>It depends on her reason for wanting to take the class. If she is doing so to up her profile for college, that’s not a good reason, especially given that she is already showing effects of overload. Not to mention that it is not anything with heavy impact on the process, or any whatsoever. If she simply prefers the idea of taking the course of band, then I see no reason why she should not. Maybe she is tired of band, maybe she is very interested in the course, who knows the reason. But let her know that this is not something she should be doing other than that she want to do so.</p>
<p>She decided to stick with band. It was totally her choice. Part of the decision was the thinking that once she drops band, that will likely be end of her music/arts involvement. There was no assurance that she would be able to continue with marching band or concert band if she was not in the band class, and once in college, there may or may not be those opportunities, and it would be more difficult to be involved in if she had not been participating in band for the last 2 yrs of HS.</p>
When my DS is stressed out he exercises on an erg or goes for a run.</p>