Reflective Essays (Yearly)

Every year, students reflect on their academic and personal year in an essay with a specific prompt given to them by their English teacher. Below is a sample prompt for seniors. 

Sample Prompt:

12th Grade Portfolio Reflective Essay

Vision Statement:

Legacy Visual and Performing Arts High School is a student-centered creative learning community that engages students intellectually and artistically, instilling responsible citizenship and academic rigor for college and career preparedness.

Mission Statement:

Legacy Visual and Performing Arts High School recognizes each student’s individuality, creativity, and academic potential. VAPA values student voice in the development of exciting extracurricular programs and the establishment of a safe, inclusive school culture. To prepare our diverse student population for success in a changing world, VAPA High School stakeholders collaborate to foster a rigorous and creative learning community in which we focus on success in academics as well as instruction in the visual and performing arts.

This portfolio is in line with the mission statement and vision statement of our school.

• Paragraph 1: Introduction

  • Start with a relevant quotation as your hook. It may be about life, love, pain, growth, learning, change, etc. as long as you relate it to your life in the introduction. Warning: Internet quotation sites are notoriously incorrect. Verify your quotations.

  • Give an overview of your four years of high school both academically and personally. Mention your highlights and setbacks.

  • End your introduction with a thesis (an argument) that states who you are becoming.
    
    

• Paragraph 2: You as a scholar.

  • Which were the most challenging courses and why?

  • What did you discover were your strengths and weaknesses in high school?

  • What project/paper/assignment are you most proud of? Explain. Give details.

  • What project/paper/assignment was not as good as it could have been?  Why? What can you learn from it? Be specific.
    
    

• Paragraph 3: You as a person of character.

  • Look at the Schoolwide Learner Outcomes. Identify two that you mastered in high school; identify two of your areas of improvements. Give examples and anecdotes (stories) for each of them from your life over four years.
    
    

• Paragraph 4: VAPA Memories

  • What would you like to remember from VAPA as you mature?  Think personally, as a school, as a class, etc. Talk about sporting events, performances, class memories, fundraisers, community service, or any other memory that is worth recalling.

  • Why are those memories important ones?
    
    

• Paragraph 5: Thank Yous

  • Describe a coach, a teacher, a club advisor, an older mentor, an administrator, etc. who has been a positive influence on you or who has supported you and worked to help you in high school. Please reflect on that relationship and what you learned and appreciated. Think about those who gave you time (whether by giving you academic feedback, offering advice, or by providing a safe environment).
    
    

• Paragraph 6: Future Plans and Conclusion

  • What are your plans for next year?

  • What are your plans for your career?

  • Give advice to next year’s incoming freshmen. Be specific and helpful.

  • Give advice to yourself for next year.

  • Connect back to your opening quotation at the end.