T: T-25! The countdown. Make a list, or write a paragraph describing, what things you want to do before you graduate. Spend every weekend with your best friend before you move to different states for college? Ask out that person you’ve been thinking about for 2 years? Apologize to a friend for hurting their feelings? Make a 100 on a test? Time is short!
S: Sorry. We’ve all said it: ”I’m sorry; please forgive me.” But we all have at least one thing we SHOULD have apologized for, but haven’t. Write an apology that you know you need to make before you leave the halls of CHS. You can use the person’s name, or change it. When you finish, consider what the next step might be. Do you need to make a copy of your apology and send it?Make a phone call? Set up a meeting and apologize in person? What difference will the apology make in your life or the life of another person?
R: Ruby slippers. Yes, like Dorothy’s in The Wizard of Oz. And you probably remember her famous words–”There’s no place like home.” Home. If you could make your home anywhere, where would it be? Describe the place and explain why you would choose that place.
Q: Quiz! List every class you have taken in high school and the teacher who led it. Then try to list at least one student who was in the class with you. How’s your memory? :)
P: Party! If you could have a graduation party, and invite anyone you wanted–past, present, or future–who would you invite? If you decide to invite some not-so-obvious guests, explain why they would be welcome at your graduation party.
NO: In a few weeks, you’ll have NO more high school! Write about one thing you’ll be happy to have NO more of. Then write about something that you might miss–something that NO more of will make you a bit sad.
M: Miles. How many miles would you have to travel to reach your “dream destination”? Describe it and tell why it is ideal.
L: Lemons. We’ve all heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Think about a time you took a bad situation (a lemon!) and made the best of it. What caused the problem? How did you handle it? What was the “sweet” outcome?
K: Kindergarten. So long ago. But you probably remember more about it than you realize! Read an excerpt from Robert Fulgham’s “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” Then discuss what you learned in kindergarten that has helped you the most in life so far.
J: Juggling! You may be one of the talented few who can actually “juggle.” You know–keeping three or more balls, apples, bowling pins, etc. in the air at the same time.For the rest of us, though, our juggling is more symbolic. And we all do juggling of some sort. Today, write about the things you have to juggle each day. In other words, what are the things you deal with every day? What roles or jobs or tasks do you have to arrange in any given week? This discussion may be about “things,” but it may also be about people, ideas, or obstacles you face. Just make it an accurate picture of the things you have to “deal with.” This exercise might just make you proud of the fact you’ve made it this far. It may also make you more aware of the things you need to think about as you approach each day!
