Guinea Pig Rules

In a family with multiple children a parent may make a rule for the first child only to find that the rule they made needs to be altered or changed as the younger children mature. Do you believe that a parent’s rules should remain the same for all his/her children or should rules change, depending upon the child? Support your position with reasoning or examples.

As parents make and enforce rules do you believe it is better to be the first child (or the guinea pig) in the family or the last? Why?

Bumper Stickers

People often utilize bumper stickers to express something about themselves, such as their personal view points, achievement s, or an affiliation with a specific organization. Of all the bumper stickers you have seen, which one or ones are your favorite? Why? Now, tell what bumper stickers you have or would have, if you could. Explain what this says about you. If you would never have a bumper sticker, explain what you believe not having a bumper sticker says about you.

Stay Calm

In the book The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, the reader learns of a galactic guidebook that includes the simple phrase “Don’t Panic” on its front cover. Though in the book this phrase is meant to be humorous, many of us would be wise to learn from it. This is because during times of emergency, many of us (who are not in the position to make life-or-death decisions everyday such as surgeons or marines) believe the option to panic is very sensible.

Think about a time when you, or someone you know, encountered what can be termed “an emergency”. What was going on? Was the event an actual emergency? What did the person do to solve the problem? Did they give way to panic or were they able to remain cool and collected during the traumatic event? Write about this event, including as much information as possible to enable the reader to answer all the above questions from your written response.

Bored to Death

Whether waiting in a doctor’s office or sitting around on a summer’s day without friends, most people experience boredom at some point in their life. What situations do you experience that usually make you bored? Describe the most boring situation you can remember in as much detail as possible. What made it so terrible for you?

The Problem with Success

Tommy Lasorda, a major league player and manager, once stated that, “About the only problem with success is that it does not teach you how to deal with failure.” Do you think this is true?

What other problems do you think success can create that failure (or slow progress) does not create? Explain your answer with specific examples or reasoning.

Unbelievable

Sometimes a story we hear from the news or from others around us is so improbable that we dismiss it as false, only to later learn that it was the truth. Tell about a time when you or someone you know told the truth about a situation but the person on the receiving end did not believe it because of how outrageous it may have been. Some examples of this could include learning about a major disaster for the first time or being late for a meeting because of some very strange circumstance.

Add as much detail about the circumstances of the communication, what the individual was trying to communicate and what the reaction of the person receiving the communication was. Additionally, include in your explanation the reason why you think the news that the receiving individual heard was so unbelievable to him.

Respect

The author Steve Hall once said, “The truest form of love is how you behave toward someone, not how you feel about them.” Do you believe that this quote is true? Can you show love towards a person who you do not personally like?

What does respect mean to you? In what ways do you fail to show respect towards others? What do you plan to do to correct these behaviors?

The Collection

For years people have enjoyed collecting things such as rocks, coins, stamps, stickers, and many other things. What kind of things have you seen people collect? Why do you think they collect things? Could a collection be used to help people remember past experiences? If you collect things, what do you collect?

A Healthy Tax

There are many professionals in America who have referred to overeating and gun violence as epidemics. Both are preventable and both can cause mortality. In order to alleviate the extent of the negative consequences these two problems cause some have proposed taxing them.

Would taxing sugary drinks help decrease obesity and would taxing bullets decrease the frequency of gun violence? State your opinion for each issue and support it with examples or reasoning. Additionally, suggest what we, as Americans, could do to combat obesity and gun violence.

A Peculiar Place

Even in a small town there are places that we pass often that we do not fully understand. This place could be a narrow alley, a strangely named small shop or a curious landmark. Think of a place that you pass often that you have questions about.

Now, describe the place you are thinking of with as much detail as possible and state all questions you have about the place, such as its origin, history, purpose. If you prefer to draw, you can draw what the place looks like, include a title for your place and label your picture with your questions.

Talent vs. Learning

Some people believe that people are born a specific way and cannot change, while others believe that people have the ability to change each day. In respect to achieving good grades and becoming successful in life – what do you feel is more important: your inborn innate talents or your ability to learn and change? Support your answer with reasoning or examples from life.

Moderation

The Greek Philosopher Aristotle believed that virtue (which he referred to as the golden mean) was found between two extremes – one of excess and the other of deficiency. Even though this principle is embedded in both our politics as well as in the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Little Bears”, moderation is seldom mentioned in public discourse. People often struggle with moderation in relation to things such as food, money, exercise, attitudes and political views.

 

Do you feel that you are someone who is generally more extreme or more moderate? Name three aspects of your life that you feel are safely “between two extremes”. Now, name three aspects of your life in which you exhibit extreme behavior. Compare your moderate behaviors and viewpoints with your extreme behaviors and viewpoints. Which group of viewpoints do you feel will benefit you the most over the course of your life? Why?

After the Fall

After losing a senate race, Abraham Lincoln said the following about his experience: “The path was worn and slippery. My foot slipped from under me, knocking the other out of the way, but I recovered and said to myself, ‘It’s a slip and not a fall.’”

Tell about a time when you, or someone you know, continued working towards a goal after experiencing failure. The situation can be of minor importance but should include as much detail as possible. Finally, tell what attributes you believe are necessary to overcoming failure