As mentioned, my job as counselor is to get to know you in the best possible way to serve colleges the best possible recommendation letter that basically "sells" you and highlights your strengths. The more I know the better, and the Portfolio can only go so far. So, I'd like to make blogging a part of In-Depth Reading and continue with what Mr. Tweedie and I did last year. So, I will be transplanting all the blogs here, and reviewing them. You can do anything you want on your blog, and include any past assignments you are proud of (or even think might be usable as college essays). This also inlcudes podcasts, photography, Youtube work, or anything. Whether or not you decide to make this part of your college application is up to you, but I will definitely be reviewing them and using them over the next 9 months.
For your first assignment, I'd like you to write 30 Things About Me. I've done this with seniors for ages, but skipped it last year, and wish I hadn't. 30 sounds like a lot, but you will see why it has to be 30 once you start doing it. Some can be longer while others won't need to be. Try to spend a solid evening study period getting this done. And yes, this is graded! Due date? ASAP. I will be checking them during class, and alienating students who neglect this very important task.
Have fun. Include pictures, videos, songs, links - anything. Here's a link to a one from years ago, from a very memorable 16th waver, Peter Si, now finishing his NYUAD undergrad in NYC, doing some interesting stuff with bitcoin:
http://thepalpitation.blogspot.kr/2013/02/30-things-about-me.html
