3rd Quarter has arrived at Lexington High School and is quickly nearing its end. In English 1, our students must overcome the greatest hurdle of their freshman year: essay writing.

It starts with the Kearney Bound Scholarship Essay. This essay is meant to give students pause, time to contemplate their future. It also serves as a great introductory 5-Paragraph essay and helps them practice writing for future scholarship opportunities. Students must explain why they value their education; they must also share their personal background and future goals.

For a select few students, this essay also comes with a real, tangible reward. Students who would be first-generation college undergraduates are encouraged to apply for the Kearney Bound Scholarship. This UNK Scholarship is an incredible opportunity to help keep students on pace academically throughout high school and assist them financially if they attend UNK. The possibility of getting a scholarship as a freshman motivates them to try their best on this paper.

3rd Quarter also requires a second writing project: the Informative Research Essay. For this essay, students must choose a technology that has an impact on our world. They have the opportunity to research this technology and gather sources to assist them. The goal is to write in a way that provides comprehensive information for any curious reader.

We’re still writing this second essay, but the finish line is in sight! Once students complete this task, they will have overcome their biggest challenge in English 1. The skills they develop through writing these essays will serve them well throughout high school and even into college.

And hopefully, with the right amount of dedication and hard work, they’ll reflect more on what it
means to share their unique voice, story, and ideas with the world through writing.

Mr. Bailey
2nd Year English I Teacher