Norman Rockwell’s High Dive is the perfect choice for a ‘back to school’ writing assignment. Writing prompts can be: what I did over the summer; when I did something I was afraid of; when I accepted a dare; when I did something because everyone else was doing it. The possibilities are endless. The boy’s expression as he looks down at the pool below him is the epitome of anxiety, fear, and the “what do I do now” question that students often find themselves in. Personally I can relate to trying the high dive at our town pool, Woodlawn, and turning to go back down the ladder only to have the life guard blow his whistle and point, telling me to jump. I still remember my legs shaking so much that I thought I would fall off the side. I closed my eyes, walked to the edge, and jumped – or fell – off and never did it again. Students will enjoy sharing stories, or find comfort in sharing their anxieties, knowing that they weren’t the only ones to feel that way. I find that writing prompts about what goes wrong tend to yield better results than what went right.
