IB BOOT CAMP

I still remember the first question asked by Dr. Ho at the very beginning of the bootcamp. It was so sudden, so vague and random, that the classroom fell completely silent. 

What does that even mean? The sound came from my heart and came out of my mouth. It turned out that the confusion was the point. The question was designed to force us to pause, challenge our assumptions, and think beyond the setting. I realized “critical thinking” isn’t just an IB slogan, it’s a mindset: noticing the frame of the question, thinking out of the scope we’re given, and asking better questions before we rush to answers. 

We practice critical thinking in every aspect of our life but seldom do we notice it, nor do we intentionally use it to reach deeper thinking.

The bootcamp has taught me many precious skills, and enriched my summer with friendship. But most importantly, I have learned how to think critically, preparing me to face challenges from the journey I am on, and those ahead.

IB Bootcamp was my first real experience with the international education system, and it opened my eyes to a bigger world. What is most crucial for me is that It wasn’t just about ‘what to learn’, but ‘how to think’. I started to understand critical thinking, to question what I’d always thought was “normal,” and that mindset has helped me so much in my studies now. 

It also gave me a strong academic foundation, things like how to research, work in teams, and present ideas with confidence. On top of that, I picked up soft skills like communication and leadership that I still use every day. 

More than anything, it pushed me to grow as a person. I became more confident, open-minded, and independent, and I even realised that learning can be fun. Looking back, I see the IB Bootcamp as a huge steppingstone that shaped both my academic path and who I am today.

With its emphasis on critical thinking, writing and conducting research from idea to presentation, it is fair to say that the IB bootcamp fundamentally changed how I learn and think. I never imagined how it would relate to my life and studies in the years that followed. Many of the activities required teamwork and communication skills, which prepared me for collaborating with others. Before I realized it, I was already equipped with a set of skills that are particularly important in high school and college. The skills gained in those 12 days have assisted me for a lifetime.

The IB Boot Camp was actually the first time I ever designed and conducted an interview. Our team met a café owner who had been working on Recycling Schemes for Coffee Cups, that experience really opened my eyes. It gave me the chance to practice real-world communication and research skills, and I realized how meaningful it is to connect classroom learning with social impact, this significantly influenced my future life. Those skills—interviewing, collaboration, and critical thinking—are still helping me now at university. It helped me build confidence and gain practical experiences that truly prepared me for future success.