Maria Savova, The Claremont Colleges Terese Heidenwolf , Lafayette College Kevin Butterfield, University of Richmond

1. Senior Class Senior Wills

2. Learning Target I will DESIGN and WRITE my senior will.

3. Senior Will – Reminders • We will go to the computer lab later to make a “publishable” version of your will. • It CAN NOT be any longer than one side of a printed page. • Every senior is REQUIRED to have one. • It is also several grades in this class (for your effort and participation in class, for your notes, rough draft and final draft)

4. Directions for your Senior Will Step 1 – Write your name and graduation year at the top of your paper. ~ This should be a piece of paper torn out of your notebook or lose leaf paper.

5. Senior Will Step 2 – Getting some notes and thoughts down first will help you organize your will. Answer the following questions. You DO NOT need to write in complete sentences. A list or bullet is perfect.

6. Senior Will Notes - Song • Select a song • It should hold GREAT meaning for you and your philosophy on life • Or one that captures a favorite memory. • Write the title of the song, the name of the person or group that sung/sing it and a line or two from this song that sticks out to you • This will help classmates remember both you and recall the music you enjoyed.

7. Senior Will notes - Likes • Include a detail or two about some specific things you enjoy. • You could, for example, highlight your love of cats, hockey, or horror films. • Name some close friends and favorite hangouts. • Mention hobbies like drawing and painting, or a favorite genre of music. • Feature some of the places you have visited during vacations or those you wish to visit some day.

8. Senior Will notes - Dislikes • Give your classmates a sense of the things you dislike. • You could, for example, Indicate your disdain for romance films or Top 40 pop music. • Express your dislike for those who hurt animals or wear fur. • Maintain a respectful tone to avoid alienating classmates whose opinions may differ from yours.

9. Senior Will notes – Talents • Help classmates remember that you played baseball, tennis, or were a member of the swimming team. • List the teams you were a member of and include the years you participated. • Add details about leadership roles, such as being named captain. • This information that will interest and amuse your teammates when they come across your will.

10. Senior Will notes – Clubs and Achievements • List the clubs you belonged to, as well as any positions you held and the year of your service. • Outline your achievements. • This can include being elected to student council or the homecoming court; or earning a medal at an All City Championship Track Meet.

11. Senior Will notes - Aspirations • Describe what you hope to achieve in the future. • Specify your career ambitions, or the college you plan to attend and the area of study you will be pursuing. • Indicate whether you plan to travel the world with your band or have been accepted to a minor league ball team. • Include any details that convey your goals.

12. Senior Will notes - Legacy • What are you leaving behind? • This can be a physical object (for example: your locker, a picture, your sports locker, a notebook, phone, desk, etc.) • It can also be abstract (for example: your creativity, your skills in a certain area, your sarcasm, your memories or even a specific memory, your desire for learning, etc.)

13. Senior Will notes - Legacy • Who will you miss? • Make a list of specific names. • This should include underclassmen, teachers, coaches, etc. that will remain here when you graduate and move on to the next chapter of your life.

14. Senior Will – Putting it all together • Look back through your notes. • Decide who you would like to “leave” or “give” (in a hypothetical way) what to. • Make yourself some notes. • REMEMBER that this will be no longer than a page in total length.

15. Senior Will – Outline Copy down the following outline to use as your guide: • Identify yourself • Song • Likes • Dislikes • Talents • Clubs & Achievements • Aspirations • Legacy • Overall

16. Senior Will – Outline • Identify myself • This will be stating your full name • You will also include a phrase describing yourself • For example: • Jennifer Marie Biddle • Creative writer, lover of new knowledge

17. Senior Will – Outline II. Song • You will “recall” the lyrics you wrote down about a song that means something to you. • For Example: • I am frequently reminded of the line from Rascal Flatts song My Wish: “And if you're faced with the choice; And you have to choose; I hope you choose the one; That means the most to you”

18. Senior Will – Outline III. Likes • You will write a sentence about the likes you listed earlier. • For Example: • I enjoy playing Words with Friends, reading a great book, singing out loud in the car for all to hear and big warm hugs from my closest friends.

19. Senior Will – Outline IV. Dislikes • Using your notes from earlier write a sentence about your current dislikes. • For Example: • I can NOT stand when people chew with their mouths open or talk while chewing food, when people drive slow in the fast lane and when someone says “I can’t”.

20. Senior Will – Outline V. Talents • Write one sentence about your talents. • For Example: • I have a talent for playing alto saxophone, writing descriptive prose and making my friends smile with my goofiness.

21. Senior Will – Outline VI. Clubs and Achievements • Write a sentence about the clubs you are involved in and any achievements you have had. • For Example: • I am in the president of Pep Club, the secretary in the Spanish Club and treasurer in the National Honor Society. I was also recognized as student of the month for character.

22. Senior Will – Outline VII. Aspirations • Write one sentence about your goals for the future. • For Example: I plan to attend Morehead State University in the fall. I will be studying to be an accountant one day and I hope to work in Chicago after graduation.

23. Senior Will – Outline VIII. Legacy • Write one sentence for each “item” you are leaving behind. You can have more than one. • Use the following equation for each one: I, (insert your name here) leave/will __________ to ________ After this explain why you are leaving it to this person or what you hope they get from it. - For example: I, Jennifer M. Biddle, will my passion for teaching to Lauren Riehl. I hope she uses it to be as successful at teaching as I have been.

24. Senior Will – Outline IX. Overall • Write a sentence about how you hope to be remembered or what you hope to have left behind at Bellevue. • For example: I hope that when my fellow classmates look back at high school they remember me as someone who always had hope for the future.

25. Senior Will – Rough Draft Now let’s put it all together. • Your opening line should go like this: I, (insert your full name here), am member of the class of 2012 graduating class at Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Kentucky. - After this follow the outline to put your rough draft together.

26. Senior Will – Reminders • We will go to the computer lab later to make a “publishable” version of your will. • It CAN NOT be any longer than one side of a printed page. • Every senior is REQUIRED to have one. • It is also several grades in this class (for your effort and participation in class, for your notes, rough draft and final draft)

27. Senior Will – Reminders • Questions?