1. WOW 1-1
READ: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
THINK: The moment that stranger sees you, his or her brain makes a thousand computations: Are you someone to approach or to avoid? Are you friend or foe? Do you have status and authority? Are you trustworthy, competent, likeable, confident? And these computations are made at lightning speed. Researchers from NYU found that we make eleven major decisions about one another in just the first seven seconds of meeting.
WRITE: Write about a time when you made a decision about someone after meeting him/her for the first time. Were you correct in your judgment?
- Write at least 26 lines with at least 8 words per line
- Indent paragraphs
- Include a lesson learned at the end

2. WOW 1-2
Look at the picture below.
THINK: What does the quote, “A friend is like a rainbow. They brighten your life when you’ve been through a storm” mean to you? Has there been a time when you needed a friend during a tough time? OR were you a good friend during a “stormy” time?
WRITE: Friends are there for you during both the good and bad times. Write about a time when you really needed a friend OR when your good friend really needed you. What did you learn from the experience?

3. WOW 1-3
READ: “May the lives remembered, the deeds recognized, and the spirit reawakened be eternal beacons, which reaffirm respect for life, strengthen our resolve to preserve freedom, and inspire an end to hatred, ignorance and intolerance.” National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center in New York City.
THINK: When tragedy strikes, people are often unsure about how to restore hope. Many people find that creating a memorial to remember and reflect on a loss proves great comfort.
WRITE: Explain why it is important to remember significant events and the people associated with them? Why do we need memorials?

4. WOW 1-4
READ: Dale Carnegie stated, “Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it…that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.” Similarly, Les Brown suggests, “When you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all. We all need some form of deeply rooted, powerful motivation—it empowers us to overcome obstacles so we can live our dreams.”
THINK: Which quote relates to a personal experience with fear? What happened?
WRITE: Write about a time that you had to deal with one of your fears. What did you learn about your fear?

5. WOW 1-5
READ: “Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You'll find what you need to furnish it - memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey.” Tad Williams
THINK: The experiences you have had with your family, your friends, at your school, participating in your sports/hobbies, etc… make you who you are today. You have formed memories of these people and activities. Which memories stand out to you? Which memories are part of your “home inside your own head”?
WRITE: Write about a memory that you never want to forget. What makes it so special?

6. WOW 1-6
READ: Frederick Keonig states, “We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
THINK: What does Keonig’s statement mean to you? Do you agree with him or not? How does this quote relate to giving to others and being charitable?
WRITE: Write about a time when you have given something to someone less fortunate. How does it make you feel to do so? How do you think the recipient feels in that situation?

7. WOW 1-7
READ: Hernan Cortes wrote “I and my companions suffer from a disease of the heart which can be cured only with gold.”
THINK: What does Cortes’s statement mean to you? Do you agree with him or not? How does this relate to the conquistador’s lifestyle?
WRITE: Write about a time when you have been obsessed about obtaining something. How did it feel to finally achieve it? Were you satisfied with it or did you crave more?

8. WOW 1-8
READ: Cesar Chavez once said, “Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for the timid or weak. Nonviolence is hard work. It is the willingness to sacrifice. It is the patience to win.”
THINK: What does this quote mean? Do you agree with it or not? How does this quote apply to life today? How is it relevant to you or your life? How can this quote be applied in school dealing with bullying behavior?
WRITE: Write about a time when you handled a situation in a non-violent way. What happened? How did others react to your behavior? What lesson was learned through your actions?