International Relations, a semester class taught by Kira Hoilman, offers its students new perspectives about the world around them.

    There are a myriad of elective classes that students can take in the Social Sciences department, and even more in the school itself. One of the most unique and applicable, though, is International Relations. 

    Taught by Kira Hoilman, International Relations is a semester class. “[It’s] a class that helps students understand what’s going on in other countries around the world,” Hoilman said. “Politically, economically, socially and culturally, and even environmentally. We talk about issues that are important to all different people.”

    It’s a common misconception that the class is just about politics. Some concepts they’ve learned about recently, according to senior Sophie Detorie, are water scarcity and fast fashion. 

    Detorie took International Relations during her first semester of senior year. As the semester came to a close, she asked if she could be the TA (teacher’s assistant) for IR’s second semester. “I loved it so much, and I thought being the TA would be a really good option, to stay in the same environment and learn even more,” said Detorie.

    While Detorie helps Hoilman by getting supplies from elsewhere in the school, making copies, and setting up the classroom for activities, Hoilman instructs the class in lessons and activities. There are a variety of projects, discussions, and simulations she leads. 

    But what is a simulation? It’s like “a mock UN conference,” according to Hoilman. Students take on all different kinds of roles, such as groups, countries, or leaders, and try to solve different issues in the world.

    “The whole class has to work through a problem,” Detorie said. “It’s really fun.”

    Another activity the International Relations class does regularly are the Articles of the Fortnight. The topic will be familiar to those in Hoilman’s AP Government class, or Jessica Ewald’s sociology class. 

    “Students collect a current event and then we begin each class when the article is due with an activity I call “What in the world is happening in…?” Then we talk about all of the things we learn, show videos, and share those topics,” said Hoilman.

    Before International Relations was offered in Potomac Falls, it was a course at other schools in the county. Hoilman, once she became comfortable with the AP Comparative Government content, wanted to challenge herself by taking on the course. “I wanted to reach other students who [weren’t taking] the AP curriculum and still help them become smart Americans about the world,” she said. 

    Hoilman’s favorite thing about the class is that “Every day, you get so much smarter about what’s going on in the world. You get to think outside of your normal perspective about current issues and events that influence all of us, every day.”