Worrying over grades

So I messed up my first semester of high school. My current GPA is a 2.6 on 4.0 scale which I know is awful. Next year I will be transferring to a school with IB and pre IB classes. I realized my mistakes and am actually trying this semester and will continue to try. My district puts pre ap and ap classes worth the same point and dual credit below pre ap and IB worth more than AP on a 5 scale. I have really good extracurriculars though but people in IB will be able to have a possible 6.0 GPA and I won’t be allowed in those IB classes. I plan on taking AP and pre ap classes for the rest of high school. So am I screwed or will my hard work pay off?

Just keep trying!! I’m currently a junior in IB, and it’s not easy. IB is a lot more than just GPA though. There’s a lot of extra work and requirements that go into it, but if you believe you can handle it, by all means, do. The Middle Years Program (Pre-IB) does a pretty good job at preparing you for IB, but you have to develop good study habits in order to succeed.
Don’t discourage yourself by looking at numbers. You’re much more than that. You might be at a bit of a disadvantage, but that just means you’ll have to work harder. Just stay focused and motivated!
Good luck!!