Class of 2022 IB Spotlight
Photo by Alia Noll
Fullerton’s International Baccalaureate diploma candidates pose with IB coordinator Mark Henderson. Eleven seniors participated in the full IB diploma program this year.
This year, eleven seniors pushed themselves in the International Baccalaureate program, taking the most rigorous course load–Max Brickey, Dalia Eldjoundi, Garrett Fan, Kylee Gong, Kennedy Hetts, Sandy Kang, Abby Lynch, Eliza Lynch, Jonathan Morales, Jazmin Munoz, and Angel Wang. These students had to write a 4,000 word essay and take an after-school Theory of Knowledge class. Because IB focuses on creating well-rounded learners, the IB diploma isn’t just about academics: students must complete community service and take an art class.
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Dalia Eldjoundi
Dalia took Theory of Knowledge and History of the Americas with history teacher and IB coordinator Mark Henderson. He recalls her participation in discussions during his TOK class after school. “She's a huge critical thinker and she was willing to take risks,” Henderson said. “A lot of students are not willing to risk an answer or question for fear of what their peers might think, Dalia just risks it.”
Garrett Fan
Senior Garrett Fan will major in business economics at the University of California, Los Angeles. “I think the culture towards academics is completely different at Fullerton [than at Troy]. One thing I noticed for sure is that here, teachers are more focused on making sure you actually learned the material,” Fan said.
Kylee Gong
Kylee served as executive officer in Fullerton’s JROTC program. “One of my most memorable moments at FUHS have been on Friday night football games, getting ready in the JROTC room with my friends,” Gong said. “We’d all get pizza and the girls would blast Lizzo in the corner of the room while doing each other's hair and putting on our makeup, sharing the single mirror in the corner.”
Eliza Lynch
Eliza Lynch learned about the importance of having supportive relationships through her involvement in the tennis program and International Baccalaureate diploma. “The IB experience definitely taught me about time management. But more importantly, besides just the workload, I think I really learned about the importance of having a support system,” Eliza said. “Doing the rigorous full IB route, it was so important to have a group of friends who were going through that same thing I was, to collaborate with and just cheer each other on.”
Angel Wang
Angel credits the IB program at Fullerton for teaching her how to appreciate her surroundings and understand the experience of trying something new out of your comfort zone. “Being in the IB program has definitely taught me that there is a lot to be gained from knowing and learning about yourself and taking advantage of the opportunities high school gives you,” Wang said. “If I didn't do the IB diploma, I would not be nearly as grateful for my education as I am now, or would I not know myself as well and respect my own mind and health as I do now.”
Reporters Kyra Budeshtsky, Madison Dominguez, Ami Ishikawa, Alyson Jeong, Sofia Matin, and Elany Zavala contributed to this story.
