Academic April

There is no new monthly prompt this month. Instead, you can use April as a chance to make up monthly prompts that you haven’t done yet (excluding PIQs and College Bound Prompts). The amount of submissions is unlimited, as long as the prompts are not repeated. Please remember that points and all submissions will close Tuesday, April 11th.

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Memorable March

Academic:

Research has shown that our earliest memories may begin at ages 2-3. Recall some of your own memories. It may start from your childhood, through your adolescence, the people you become acquainted with in your life, how you overcome your adversities, and many more. Take a look around your surroundings, such as clothes, souvenirs, and photos in your gallery. What makes these memories so important? How do those memories shape your identity? In other words, how do memories affect your development from the past till now? In a minimum of one-page essay, research the roles of memory in our human body and state the effects of memories on you. 

 

Creative:

Imagine you had traveled through time and arrived at a most memorable moment. Is it a sweet, or bitter memory? Do you have regrets or something you wish you had done differently? Along with your imagination, demonstrate the setting of your memory in any form of three-dimensional work (ex: cardboard, clay, etc.) and write a description of the meaning behind it. 

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Artistic:

Art is a form of visual communication. Illustrations, photographs, sculptures, music, and much more forms of art “transmit” a voice in history. Those creations are passed down today, beneath the dirt, reverberated among bystreets, and hung in museums. Most of the time, they often carry a “memory” from the past, till now. Use a variety of colors to create a one-piece drawing that resembles your memory, bring it to life!

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College Bound:

As high school students, college is not so far from us. Consider your high school memories, and predict the possible memorable events you will experience in college. What might be the differences and similarities? Feel free to research what it is like being a college student. When listening to other people’s stories, does it change your expectations for college? Record your thoughts in a minimum of a one-page essay. Don’t forget to include what you wish your college life would be like!

 

 

February Flicks

Academic: 

Traced back to 6th century B.C., the history of theater was known to begin with the Ancient Greeks. Originating from their value of spoken word, theater was their main method of communication and storytelling. Consisting of three different types of drama, theater in Ancient Greece is the root of Western forms of entertainment. Research and elaborate on the different art forms that were introduced in Greek theatrical culture from 600 B.C. Since then, how have forms of entertainment evolved to what it is today? How do these relate to the forms of entertainment we have access to, in the present?

 

Creative: 

Research the common elements of a satyr play. How would you mimic this ancient form of storytelling with your own imagination? Create your own script highlighting the main aspects typically communicated through this type of drama, incorporating both tragedy and comedy. Involve any type of characters, ranging from half-human half-goat creatures, to a masked mystery. Make sure to involve the elements of a general plot (introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution).

 

Artistic: 

When it comes to the term “visual entertainment,” what are you most familiar with? Create a scene of what visual entertainment means to you. It can range from a television at home or a play in an auditorium. Provide an explanation of your illustration and explain any important aspects included. Enhance details and visuals by using colors and your creativity!

 

College Bound: 

Today, though high academic performance and standardized test scores play an instrumental role in getting accepted to prestigious colleges, the consideration of experience and extracurriculars aspect plays a significant part in the acceptance process. In our modern society, these institutions are seeking personable candidates with soft skills involving strong leadership capabilities, efficient time management skills, and much more. With this in mind, research the different opportunities students could take, benefitting both the appeal and effectiveness of their application, as well as themselves as an individual. In one page minimum, discuss both the importance of extracurriculars and list a few specific opportunities you could aim for at Rosemead High School and examples outside of campus.

 

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Jackpot January

 

Academic: Aside from hitting the jackpot through gambling, oftentimes there are not many shortcuts to wealth. By simply purchasing a lottery ticket or spending a couple of bucks betting on horse races, you can win thousands, if not millions. However, is spending any money to gamble even worth it if you don’t win? Why spend a single cent if you know the possibility of winning is slim to none? In a brief essay (minimum: 1 page), research why so many people are drawn to gambling even if they may never hit the jackpot.
 

Creative: Imagine a scenario in which you have hit the jackpot. Whether it be a lottery, slot machine, or other forms of gambling, how would you react? In a one-page essay, describe how you would feel about winning such a large sum of money and how you would spend your winnings.

 

Artistic: Think of a moment in time in which you participated in a gamble or bet. This can include betting with your friends over a basketball game, scratching off a lottery ticket, partaking in an ASES or afterschool lottery, etc.. Illustrate that moment and don’t forget to capture your reaction. Be sure to include color! 

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College Bound: College, in many ways, is similar to gambling. You may invest a lot of time and money, only to leave empty-handed. Many college graduates leave school with staggering debt that they are stuck with for years, which begs the question, “Is college worth it?”. Research and write about (minimum: 1 page) the costs and benefits of attending college. After having done so, does this change your opinion on attending college?

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Disney December

Academic:

Walt Disney is the man behind all of our childhood stories and Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. However, everything he accomplished was not an easy feat. He faced rejection after rejection before his dreams were finally brought to life. Research Walt Disney’s life journey and the obstacles he had to face before accomplishing his goals. What do his stories and creations instill in people? Has it affected you in any way? 

 

Creative:

Most Disney stories follow the same theme and moral: work hard for what you want and eventually, you’ll obtain it. Even with different characters, storylines, and settings, this common theme may start to get boring. Write your own story following an unconventional yet equally important theme.  

 

Artistic:

Pick a Disney movie that you enjoy watching and create a collage of the different events that happen throughout the movie and important characters. Create either a digital collage or a physical one. Make sure to include all of the important events and to have color! 

 

College Bound:

There is no doubt that attending college is an investment. Many people who attend college leave with a hefty debt, sometimes even through community college. However, there are many ways where someone can lighten the financial burden, such as doing work-study, FAFSA, CADAA, CalGrant, and finding scholarships through scholarship search engines. Research more about the programs listed above, or any other ones that you find useful, and their impact on students’ financial well-being. Write out your findings in a one-page essay.

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Nourishing November

Academic:

The definition of the word “nourishment” is “the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition”. As you may already know, breakfast and proper nutrition are thought to be essential to the start of a day. It provides enough energy to commute to work and school and also helps you concentrate on your tasks throughout the day. Having a sufficient amount of sleep is also connected to nourishment. Keeping this in mind, research how eating nutritious and healthy foods for breakfast and sleeping for an adequate amount of time can affect the proficiency of one’s work. Then, compile your research in a brief, one-page essay. This can be from your own personal experiences.

 

Creative:

There are many different definitions and interpretations of the word “nourishment.” What first comes to mind when you think of nourishment? Using a timeline layout, write your daily routine and how you incorporate acts of nourishment in it. Next to each act, write how effective or helpful they are to yourself and the people around you. Below the timeline, elaborate on what nourishment means to you, and how important it is to your life in a paragraph.

 

Artistic:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people took to different forms of entertainment. Some took the time to pick up new hobbies while others focused more on loving and caring for themselves and their loved ones. Make a picture book illustrating at least 5 acts you do to nourish yourself and improve your physical, mental, and emotional health on separate pieces of paper. Then, explain how these acts are beneficial to you on each drawing.

 

College Bound:

Everyone knows how tough the selections are for college admissions. The acceptance rate of universities has lowered significantly due to the influx of college applicants. Thus, the competition has become even more fierce. Many high school students are doing their best in academics and taking many AP classes. However, the low acceptance rates have caused an even narrower selection, so students need to try their hardest to stand out from the many other applicants. This is why many students choose to engage in extracurriculars outside of their academics to prove that they can balance extracurriculars and studying and show the skills that they have obtained from partaking in these extracurriculars. A great example of an extracurricular you can take is summer or winter classes at a nearby city college to enhance your knowledge in your desired career path or to get rid of your general education requirements. In your opinion, is this extracurricular essential to make a good college application, and if so, are you taking summer school classes at a city college? If not, explain what else you can do to stand out from other students in the application process.

 

 

Orbital October

Academic: 

In 1955, two rival countries competed in the space race, forever expanding spaceflight capabilities. Numerous space-related studies emerging in light of astronomy and astronautics have been gaining popularity since the last decade. Famous theoretical physicists such as Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein have been known to have substantial contributions in astronomy and exploration. In particular, theories regarding the existence of black holes have been questioned upon. In a minimum one-page paper, research and describe formation, anatomy, and mechanics behind a space vacuum. Why is it important for scientists to study black holes? Are there any notable black holes that you find intriguing?

 

Creative: 

Many humans have speculated upon the idea of discovering alien life based on the alleged reports of “flying saucers”. In your youth, the depth of fantasy tales may have enticed you at one point, but there is no one-size-fit-all folklore. Using your imagination, draft an amusing fairytale about how an astronaut fell in love with an undetected alien princess on a satellite. Make sure to at least include some context, magical elements, a twist, and a resolution.

 

Artistic: 

WOOooSHh! As an alien knowing nothing about humans, your alien spacecraft just landed on an open terrain on Earth. Your crew unpacks for a day-long visit to observe and record the humans’ unique activities and behavior. Create a comic highlighting the interactions between any earth creatures and their environment. You could add visuals of tourist attractions, natural landscapes, or even a person’s backyard. Make sure to include a colorful scenery that contains brief captioning for each panel.

 

College Bound: 

Each year, colleges are constantly raising their standards and becoming particularly selective in their applicant pool. These institutions only have the capacity to welcome so many before the rest are rejected. For this reason, it’s recommended to apply accordingly to 2-3 of each of the safety, target, and reach colleges. With no less than a page, research the significance and meaning behind the above-mentioned categories. Do you think sticking to these sections are effective in applying to colleges? How could you use tools (e.g. media, web engines) to assist you navigate the right colleges?