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Personal Experience Essays

Personal experiences are the threads that weave the fabric of our lives. Writing a personal experience essay isn't just about storytelling; it's about finding meaning, connecting with others, and leaving your mark on the world. So, why should you write an essay about your personal experiences? Let's explore the importance together! 🌟

Personal Experience Essay Topics 📝

Selecting the right essay topic is key to crafting a compelling narrative. Here's how to pick one:

Personal Experience Argumentative Essay 🤨

Argumentative essays based on personal experiences require you to defend a viewpoint or argument. Here are ten intriguing topics:

• 1. Argue for or against the idea that personal experiences are the most influential factors shaping an individual's personality.
• 2. Defend your perspective on whether overcoming adversity through personal experiences builds stronger character.
• 3. Debate the impact of personal experiences on shaping one's political beliefs and values.
• 4. Argue for the significance of sharing personal experiences in order to promote empathy and understanding among diverse communities.
• 5. Defend the idea that personal experiences play a crucial role in career development and decision-making.
• 6. Debate the ethical implications of sharing deeply personal experiences in the era of social media and oversharing.
• 7. Argue for the therapeutic benefits of writing about and reflecting on personal experiences.
• 8. Defend your perspective on whether personal experiences should be a central part of school curricula.
• 9. Debate the influence of personal experiences on an individual's approach to health and wellness.
• 10. Argue for or against the notion that personal experiences can serve as catalysts for social change and activism.

Personal Experience Cause and Effect Essay 🤯

Cause and effect essays based on personal experiences explore the reasons behind events and their consequences. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Analyze the causes and effects of a life-changing personal experience on your academic or career choices.
• 2. Examine how personal experiences can lead to personal growth, increased self-awareness, and improved well-being.
• 3. Investigate the effects of travel experiences on personal perspectives and cultural understanding.
• 4. Analyze the causes and consequences of sharing personal experiences with others, including its impact on relationships.
• 5. Examine how personal experiences can influence one's hobbies, interests, and leisure activities.
• 6. Investigate the impact of a significant personal experience on your family dynamics and relationships.
• 7. Analyze the causes of personal transformation through exposure to diverse cultures and environments.
• 8. Examine how personal experiences can shape one's attitude toward risk-taking and adventure.
• 9. Investigate the effects of sharing personal experiences through writing, art, or storytelling on your personal well-being.
• 10. Analyze the causes and consequences of personal experiences that challenge societal norms and expectations.

Personal Experience Opinion Essay 😌

Opinion essays based on personal experiences allow you to express your subjective viewpoints. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Share your opinion on the importance of documenting personal experiences for future generations.
• 2. Discuss your perspective on whether personal experiences should be kept private or shared openly.
• 3. Express your thoughts on how personal experiences have shaped your sense of identity and self-worth.
• 4. Debate the significance of personal experiences in fostering empathy and compassion among individuals and communities.
• 5. Share your views on the role of personal experiences in building resilience and coping with life's challenges.
• 6. Discuss the impact of personal experiences on your approach to decision-making and problem-solving.
• 7. Express your opinion on the therapeutic benefits of writing or talking about personal experiences.
• 8. Debate the influence of personal experiences on your sense of purpose and life goals.
• 9. Share your perspective on how personal experiences can inspire creativity and artistic expression.
• 10. Discuss your favorite personal experience and the lessons or insights it has provided.

Personal Experience Informative Essay 🧐

Informative essays based on personal experiences aim to educate readers. Here are ten informative topics to explore:

• 1. Provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of a specific personal experience on your career choices and aspirations.
• 2. Explore the therapeutic benefits of journaling and writing about personal experiences for mental health and well-being.
• 3. Investigate the history and significance of storytelling as a means of preserving personal experiences and cultural heritage.
• 4. Analyze the connection between personal experiences and the development of emotional intelligence.
• 5. Examine the influence of personal experiences on decision-making processes and risk assessment.
• 6. Investigate the role of personal experiences in shaping cultural perceptions and worldviews.
• 7. Provide insights into the art of crafting compelling narratives based on personal experiences.
• 8. Analyze the impact of personal experiences on an individual's resilience and ability to adapt to change.
• 9. Examine how personal experiences can serve as valuable life lessons and sources of wisdom.
• 10. Investigate the therapeutic benefits of group discussions and support networks for individuals sharing similar personal experiences.

Personal Experience Essay Example 📄

Personal experience thesis statement examples 📜.

Here are five examples of strong thesis statements for your personal experience essay:

• 1. "Through the lens of personal experiences, we uncover the profound impact that seemingly ordinary moments can have on our lives, reshaping our perspectives and guiding our journeys."
• 2. "Personal experiences serve as powerful mirrors reflecting our growth, resilience, and capacity to navigate life's challenges, ultimately shaping the narratives of our existence."
• 3. "The sharing of personal experiences is an act of vulnerability and courage, fostering connections, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the human condition."
• 4. "Our personal experiences are the brushstrokes on the canvas of our identity, influencing our choices, values, and the stories we tell ourselves and others."
• 5. "In exploring personal experiences, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, unlocking the untold stories that shape our uniqueness and enrich our shared human tapestry."

Personal Experience Essay Introduction Examples 🚀

Here are three captivating introduction paragraphs to kickstart your essay:

• 1. "Amid the chaos of everyday life, our personal experiences are the constellations that guide us, the moments that define us. As we embark on this essay journey into the depths of our own stories, we unravel the threads of our existence, each tale a testament to the power of the personal."
• 2. "Picture a canvas where the brushstrokes are the chapters of your life—a canvas waiting for you to paint your experiences, thoughts, and emotions. The personal experience essay is your opportunity to create a masterpiece that reflects the colors of your journey."
• 3. "In a world of noise and distractions, our personal experiences are the melodies that resonate within us. As we venture into the heart of this essay, we uncover the symphony of our lives—a composition of highs, lows, and the beauty in between."

Personal Experience Conclusion Examples 🌟

Conclude your essay with impact using these examples:

• 1. "As we close the chapter on this exploration of personal experiences, we are reminded that our stories are the threads that connect us all. The journey continues, and each experience, no matter how small, contributes to the tapestry of our shared humanity."
• 2. "In the final brushstroke of our personal experience essay, we recognize that our stories are not finite; they are ever-evolving, ever-inspiring. The canvas of life awaits, ready for us to create new narratives and continue shaping our destinies."
• 3. "As the echoes of our personal experiences linger, we stand at the intersection of past, present, and future. The essay's conclusion is but a pause in the symphony of our lives, with countless more notes to be played and stories to be written."

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Writing About Personal Experiences

Table of contents, introduction, what does it mean to write about personal experiences, what does it involve to write about your personal experiences, structure of an essay about your personal experiences, the process of writing about personal experiences, 1. preparation:.

b. Selecting a Personal Experience:

2. Drafting:

c. Climax or Turning Point:

3. Revising, Editing, and Final Draft:

General tips for writing the perfect narrative of your personal experience, topics about personal experience narrative, sample personal experience narrative.

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10 Personal Statement Essay Examples That Worked

What’s covered:, what is a personal statement.

• Essay 1: Summer Program
• Essay 2: Being Bangladeshi-American
• Essay 3: Why Medicine
• Essay 4: Love of Writing
• Essay 5: Starting a Fire
• Essay 6: Dedicating a Track
• Essay 7: Body Image and Eating Disorders
• Essay 8: Becoming a Coach
• Essay 9: Eritrea
• Essay 10: Journaling
• Is Your Personal Statement Strong Enough?

Your personal statement is any essay that you must write for your main application, such as the Common App Essay , University of California Essays , or Coalition Application Essay . This type of essay focuses on your unique experiences, ideas, or beliefs that may not be discussed throughout the rest of your application. This essay should be an opportunity for the admissions officers to get to know you better and give them a glimpse into who you really are.

In this post, we will share 10 different personal statements that were all written by real students. We will also provide commentary on what each essay did well and where there is room for improvement, so you can make your personal statement as strong as possible!

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Personal Statement Examples

Essay example #1: exchange program.

The twisting roads, ornate mosaics, and fragrant scent of freshly ground spices had been so foreign at first. Now in my fifth week of the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco, I felt more comfortable in the city. With a bag full of pastries from the market, I navigated to a bus stop, paid the fare, and began the trip back to my host family’s house. It was hard to believe that only a few years earlier my mom was worried about letting me travel around my home city on my own, let alone a place that I had only lived in for a few weeks. While I had been on a journey towards self-sufficiency and independence for a few years now, it was Morocco that pushed me to become the confident, self-reflective person that I am today.

As a child, my parents pressured me to achieve perfect grades, master my swim strokes, and discover interesting hobbies like playing the oboe and learning to pick locks. I felt compelled to live my life according to their wishes. Of course, this pressure was not a wholly negative factor in my life –– you might even call it support. However, the constant presence of my parents’ hopes for me overcame my own sense of desire and led me to become quite dependent on them. I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school. Despite all these achievements, I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success. I had always been expected to succeed on the path they had defined. However, this path was interrupted seven years after my parents’ divorce when my dad moved across the country to Oregon.

I missed my dad’s close presence, but I loved my new sense of freedom. My parents’ separation allowed me the space to explore my own strengths and interests as each of them became individually busier. As early as middle school, I was riding the light rail train by myself, reading maps to get myself home, and applying to special academic programs without urging from my parents. Even as I took more initiatives on my own, my parents both continued to see me as somewhat immature. All of that changed three years ago, when I applied and was accepted to the SNYI-L summer exchange program in Morocco. I would be studying Arabic and learning my way around the city of Marrakesh. Although I think my parents were a little surprised when I told them my news, the addition of a fully-funded scholarship convinced them to let me go.

I lived with a host family in Marrakesh and learned that they, too, had high expectations for me. I didn’t know a word of Arabic, and although my host parents and one brother spoke good English, they knew I was there to learn. If I messed up, they patiently corrected me but refused to let me fall into the easy pattern of speaking English just as I did at home. Just as I had when I was younger, I felt pressured and stressed about meeting their expectations. However, one day, as I strolled through the bustling market square after successfully bargaining with one of the street vendors, I realized my mistake. My host family wasn’t being unfair by making me fumble through Arabic. I had applied for this trip, and I had committed to the intensive language study. My host family’s rules about speaking Arabic at home had not been to fulfill their expectations for me, but to help me fulfill my expectations for myself. Similarly, the pressure my parents had put on me as a child had come out of love and their hopes for me, not out of a desire to crush my individuality.

As my bus drove through the still-bustling market square and past the medieval Ben-Youssef madrasa, I realized that becoming independent was a process, not an event. I thought that my parents’ separation when I was ten had been the one experience that would transform me into a self-motivated and autonomous person. It did, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t still have room to grow. Now, although I am even more self-sufficient than I was three years ago, I try to approach every experience with the expectation that it will change me. It’s still difficult, but I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important.

What the Essay Did Well

This is a nice essay because it delves into particular character trait of the student and how it has been shaped and matured over time. Although it doesn’t focus the essay around a specific anecdote, the essay is still successful because it is centered around this student’s independence. This is a nice approach for a personal statement: highlight a particular trait of yours and explore how it has grown with you.

The ideas in this essay are universal to growing up—living up to parents’ expectations, yearning for freedom, and coming to terms with reality—but it feels unique to the student because of the inclusion of details specific to them. Including their oboe lessons, the experience of riding the light rail by themselves, and the negotiations with a street vendor helps show the reader what these common tropes of growing up looked like for them personally. 

Another strength of the essay is the level of self-reflection included throughout the piece. Since there is no central anecdote tying everything together, an essay about a character trait is only successful when you deeply reflect on how you felt, where you made mistakes, and how that trait impacts your life. The author includes reflection in sentences like “ I felt like I had no sense of self beyond my drive for success, ” and “ I understand that just because growth can be uncomfortable doesn’t mean it’s not important. ” These sentences help us see how the student was impacted and what their point of view is.

What Could Be Improved

The largest change this essay would benefit from is to show not tell. The platitude you have heard a million times no doubt, but for good reason. This essay heavily relies on telling the reader what occurred, making us less engaged as the entire reading experience feels more passive. If the student had shown us what happens though, it keeps the reader tied to the action and makes them feel like they are there with the student, making it much more enjoyable to read. 

For example, they tell us about the pressure to succeed their parents placed on them: “ I pushed myself to get straight A’s, complied with years of oboe lessons, and dutifully attended hours of swim practice after school.”  They could have shown us what that pressure looked like with a sentence like this: “ My stomach turned somersaults as my rattling knee thumped against the desk before every test, scared to get anything less than a 95. For five years the painful squawk of the oboe only reminded me of my parents’ claps and whistles at my concerts. I mastered the butterfly, backstroke, and freestyle, fighting against the anchor of their expectations threatening to pull me down.”

If the student had gone through their essay and applied this exercise of bringing more detail and colorful language to sentences that tell the reader what happened, the essay would be really great. 

Table of Contents

Essay Example #2: Being Bangladeshi-American

Life before was good: verdant forests, sumptuous curries, and a devoted family.

Then, my family abandoned our comfortable life in Bangladesh for a chance at the American dream in Los Angeles. Within our first year, my father was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He lost his battle three weeks before my sixth birthday. Facing a new country without the steady presence of my father, we were vulnerable — prisoners of hardship in the land of the free. We resettled in the Bronx, in my uncle’s renovated basement. It was meant to be our refuge, but I felt more displaced than ever. Gone were the high-rise condos of West L.A.; instead, government projects towered over the neighborhood. Pedestrians no longer smiled and greeted me; the atmosphere was hostile, even toxic. Schoolkids were quick to pick on those they saw as weak or foreign, hurling harsh words I’d never heard before.

Meanwhile, my family began integrating into the local Bangladeshi community. I struggled to understand those who shared my heritage. Bangladeshi mothers stayed home while fathers drove cabs and sold fruit by the roadside — painful societal positions. Riding on crosstown buses or walking home from school, I began to internalize these disparities. During my fleeting encounters with affluent Upper East Siders, I saw kids my age with nannies, parents who wore suits to work, and luxurious apartments with spectacular views. Most took cabs to their destinations: cabs that Bangladeshis drove. I watched the mundane moments of their lives with longing, aching to plant myself in their shoes. Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

As I grappled with my relationship with the Bangladeshi community, I turned my attention to helping my Bronx community by pursuing an internship with Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda. I handled desk work and took calls, spending the bulk of my time actively listening to the hardships constituents faced — everything from a veteran stripped of his benefits to a grandmother unable to support her bedridden grandchild.

I’d never exposed myself to stories like these, and now I was the first to hear them. As an intern, I could only assist in what felt like the small ways — pointing out local job offerings, printing information on free ESL classes, reaching out to non-profits. But to a community facing an onslaught of intense struggles, I realized that something as small as these actions could have vast impacts. Seeing the immediate consequences of my actions inspired me. Throughout that summer, I internalized my community’s daily challenges in a new light. I began to stop seeing the prevalent underemployment and cramped living quarters less as sources of shame. Instead, I saw them as realities that had to be acknowledged, but could ultimately be remedied. I also realized the benefits of the Bangladeshi culture I had been so ashamed of. My Bangla language skills were an asset to the office, and my understanding of Bangladeshi etiquette allowed for smooth communication between office staff and its constituents. As I helped my neighbors navigate city services, I saw my heritage with pride — a perspective I never expected to have.

I can now appreciate the value of my unique culture and background, and of living with less. This perspective offers room for progress, community integration, and a future worth fighting for. My time with Assemblyman Sepulveda’s office taught me that I can be a change agent in enabling this progression. Far from being ashamed of my community, I want to someday return to local politics in the Bronx to continue helping others access the American Dream. I hope to help my community appreciate the opportunity to make progress together. By embracing reality, I learned to live it. Along the way, I discovered one thing: life is good, but we can make it better.

This student’s passion for social justice and civic duty shines through in this essay because of how honest it is. Sharing their personal experience with immigrating, moving around, being an outsider, and finding a community allows us to see the hardships this student has faced and builds empathy towards their situation. However, what really makes it strong is that they go beyond describing the difficulties they faced and explain the mental impact it had on them as a child: Shame prickled down my spine. I distanced myself from my heritage, rejecting the traditional panjabis worn on Eid and refusing the torkari we ate for dinner every day. 

The rejection of their culture presented at the beginning of the essay creates a nice juxtaposition with the student’s view in the latter half of the essay and helps demonstrate how they have matured. They use their experience interning as a way to delve into a change in their thought process about their culture and show how their passion for social justice began. Using this experience as a mechanism to explore their thoughts and feelings is an excellent example of how items that are included elsewhere on your application should be incorporated into your essay.

This essay prioritizes emotions and personal views over specific anecdotes. Although there are details and certain moments incorporated throughout to emphasize the author’s points, the main focus remains on the student and how they grapple with their culture and identity.  

One area for improvement is the conclusion. Although the forward-looking approach is a nice way to end an essay focused on social justice, it would be nice to include more details and imagery in the conclusion. How does the student want to help their community? What government position do they see themselves holding one day? 

A more impactful ending might look like the student walking into their office at the New York City Housing Authority in 15 years and looking at the plans to build a new development in the Bronx just blocks away from where the grew up that would provide quality housing to people in their Bangladeshi community. They would smile while thinking about how far they have come from that young kid who used to be ashamed of their culture. 

Essay Example #3: Why Medicine

I took my first trip to China to visit my cousin Anna in July of 2014. Distance had kept us apart, but when we were together, we fell into all of our old inside jokes and caught up on each other’s lives. Her sparkling personality and optimistic attitude always brought a smile to my face. This time, however, my heart broke when I saw the effects of her brain cancer; she had suffered from a stroke that paralyzed her left side. She was still herself in many ways, but I could see that the damage to her brain made things difficult for her. I stayed by her every day, providing the support she needed, whether assisting her with eating and drinking, reading to her, or just watching “Friends.” During my flight back home, sorrow and helplessness overwhelmed me. Would I ever see Anna again? Could I have done more to make Anna comfortable? I wished I could stay in China longer to care for her. As I deplaned, I wondered if I could transform my grief to help other children and teenagers in the US who suffered as Anna did.

The day after I got home, as jet lag dragged me awake a few minutes after midnight, I remembered hearing about the Family Reach Foundation (FRF) and its work with children going through treatments at the local hospital and their families. I began volunteering in the FRF’s Children’s Activity Room, where I play with children battling cancer. Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up. When they take on the roles of firefighters or fairies, we all get caught up in the game; for that time, they forget the sanitized, stark, impersonal walls of the pediatric oncology ward. Building close relationships with them and seeing them giggle and laugh is so rewarding — I love watching them grow and get better throughout their course of treatment.

Hearing from the parents about their children’s condition and seeing the children recover inspired me to consider medical research. To get started, I enrolled in a summer collegelevel course in Abnormal Psychology. There I worked with Catelyn, a rising college senior, on a data analysis project regarding Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Together, we examined the neurological etiology of DID by studying four fMRI and PET cases. I fell in love with gathering data and analyzing the results and was amazed by our final product: several stunning brain images showcasing the areas of hyper and hypoactivity in brains affected by DID. Desire quickly followed my amazement — I want to continue this project and study more brains. Their complexity, delicacy, and importance to every aspect of life fascinate me. Successfully completing this research project gave me a sense of hope; I know I am capable of participating in a large scale research project and potentially making a difference in someone else’s life through my research.

Anna’s diagnosis inspired me to begin volunteering at FRF; from there, I discovered my desire to help people further by contributing to medical research. As my research interest blossomed, I realized that it’s no coincidence that I want to study brains—after all, Anna suffered from brain cancer. Reflecting on these experiences this past year and a half, I see that everything I’ve done is connected. Sadly, a few months after I returned from China, Anna passed away. I am still sad, but as I run a toy truck across the floor and watch one of the little patients’ eyes light up, I imagine that she would be proud of my commitment to pursue medicine and study the brain.

This essay has a very strong emotional core that tugs at the heart strings and makes the reader feel invested. Writing about sickness can be difficult and doesn’t always belong in a personal statement, but in this case it works well because the focus is on how this student cared for her cousin and dealt with the grief and emotions surrounding her condition. Writing about the compassion she showed and the doubts and concerns that filled her mind keeps the focus on the author and her personality. 

This continues when she again discusses the activities she did with the kids at FRF and the personal reflection this experience allowed her to have. For example, she writes: Volunteering has both made me appreciate my own health and also cherish the new relationships I build with the children and families. We play sports, make figures out of playdoh, and dress up.

Concluding the essay with the sad story of her cousin’s passing brings the essay full circle and returns to the emotional heart of the piece to once again build a connection with the reader. However, it finishes on a hopeful note and demonstrates how this student has been able to turn a tragic experience into a source of lifelong inspiration. 

One thing this essay should be cognizant of is that personal statements should not read as summaries of your extracurricular resume. Although this essay doesn’t fully fall into that trap, it does describe two key extracurriculars the student participated in. However, the inclusion of such a strong emotional core running throughout the essay helps keep the focus on the student and her thoughts and feelings during these activities.

To avoid making this mistake, make sure you have a common thread running through your essay and the extracurriculars provide support to the story you are trying to tell, rather than crafting a story around your activities. And, as this essay does, make sure there is lots of personal reflection and feelings weaved throughout to focus attention to you rather than your extracurriculars. 

Essay Example #4: Love of Writing

“I want to be a writer.” This had been my answer to every youthful discussion with the adults in my life about what I would do when I grew up. As early as elementary school, I remember reading my writing pieces aloud to an audience at “Author of the Month” ceremonies. Bearing this goal in mind, and hoping to gain some valuable experience, I signed up for a journalism class during my freshman year. Despite my love for writing, I initially found myself uninterested in the subject and I struggled to enjoy the class. When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines. Journalism required a laconic style and orderly structure, and I found my teacher’s assignments formulaic and dull. That class shook my confidence as a writer. I was uncertain if I should continue in it for the rest of my high school career.

Despite my misgivings, I decided that I couldn’t make a final decision on whether to quit journalism until I had some experience working for a paper outside of the classroom. The following year, I applied to be a staff reporter on our school newspaper. I hoped this would help me become more self-driven and creative, rather than merely writing articles that my teacher assigned. To my surprise, my time on staff was worlds away from what I experienced in the journalism class. Although I was unaccustomed to working in a fast-paced environment and initially found it burdensome to research and complete high-quality stories in a relatively short amount of time, I also found it exciting. I enjoyed learning more about topics and events on campus that I did not know much about; some of my stories that I covered in my first semester concerned a chess tournament, a food drive, and a Spanish immersion party. I relished in the freedom I had to explore and learn, and to write more independently than I could in a classroom.

Although I enjoyed many aspects of working for the paper immediately, reporting also pushed me outside of my comfort zone. I am a shy person, and speaking with people I did not know intimidated me. During my first interview, I met with the basketball coach to prepare for a story about the team’s winning streak. As I approached his office, I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block, and I could hardly get out my opening questions. Fortunately, the coach was very kind and helped me through the conversation. Encouraged, I prepared for my next interview with more confidence. After a few weeks of practice, I even started to look forward to interviewing people on campus. That first journalism class may have bored me, but even if journalism in practice was challenging, it was anything but tedious.

Over the course of that year, I grew to love writing for our school newspaper. Reporting made me aware of my surroundings, and made me want to know more about current events on campus and in the town where I grew up. By interacting with people all over campus, I came to understand the breadth of individuals and communities that make up my high school. I felt far more connected to diverse parts of my school through my work as a journalist, and I realized that journalism gave me a window into seeing beyond my own experiences. The style of news writing may be different from what I used to think “writing” meant, but I learned that I can still derive exciting plots from events that may have gone unnoticed if not for my stories. I no longer struggle to approach others, and truly enjoy getting to know people and recognizing their accomplishments through my writing. Becoming a writer may be a difficult path, but it is as rewarding as I hoped when I was young.

This essay is clearly structured in a manner that makes it flow very nicely and contributes to its success. It starts with a quote to draw in the reader and show this student’s life-long passion for writing. Then it addresses the challenges of facing new, unfamiliar territory and how this student overcame it. Finally, it concludes by reflecting on this eye-opening experience and a nod to their younger self from the introduction. Having a well-thought out and sequential structure with clear transitions makes it extremely easy for the reader to follow along and take away the main idea.

Another positive aspect of the essay is the use of strong and expressive language. Sentences like “ When I thought of writing, I imagined lyrical prose, profound poetry, and thrilling plot lines ” stand out because of the intentional use of words like “lyrical”, “profound”, and “thrilling” to convey the student’s love of writing. The author also uses an active voice to capture the readers’ attention and keep us engaged. They rely on their language and diction to reveal details to the reader, for instance saying “ I felt everything from my toes to my tongue freeze into a solid block ” to describe feeling nervous.

This essay is already very strong, so there isn’t much that needs to be changed. One thing that could take the essay from great to outstanding would be to throw in more quotes, internal dialogue, and sensory descriptors.

It would be nice to see the nerves they felt interviewing the coach by including dialogue like “ Um…I want to interview you about…uh…”.  They could have shown their original distaste for journalism by narrating the thoughts running through their head. The fast-paced environment of their newspaper could have come to life with descriptions about the clacking of keyboards and the whirl of people running around laying out articles.

Essay Example #5: Starting a Fire

Was I no longer the beloved daughter of nature, whisperer of trees? Knee-high rubber boots, camouflage, bug spray—I wore the garb and perfume of a proud wild woman, yet there I was, hunched over the pathetic pile of stubborn sticks, utterly stumped, on the verge of tears. As a child, I had considered myself a kind of rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free. I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms. Yet here I was, ten years later, incapable of performing the most fundamental outdoor task: I could not, for the life of me, start a fire. 

Furiously I rubbed the twigs together—rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers. No smoke. The twigs were too young, too sticky-green; I tossed them away with a shower of curses, and began tearing through the underbrush in search of a more flammable collection. My efforts were fruitless. Livid, I bit a rejected twig, determined to prove that the forest had spurned me, offering only young, wet bones that would never burn. But the wood cracked like carrots between my teeth—old, brittle, and bitter. Roaring and nursing my aching palms, I retreated to the tent, where I sulked and awaited the jeers of my family. 

Rattling their empty worm cans and reeking of fat fish, my brother and cousins swaggered into the campsite. Immediately, they noticed the minor stick massacre by the fire pit and called to me, their deep voices already sharp with contempt. 

“Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” they taunted. “Having some trouble?” They prodded me with the ends of the chewed branches and, with a few effortless scrapes of wood on rock, sparked a red and roaring flame. My face burned long after I left the fire pit. The camp stank of salmon and shame. 

In the tent, I pondered my failure. Was I so dainty? Was I that incapable? I thought of my hands, how calloused and capable they had been, how tender and smooth they had become. It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive. And I’d gotten glasses, having grown horrifically nearsighted; long nights of dim lighting and thick books had done this. I couldn’t remember the last time I had lain down on a hill, barefaced, and seen the stars without having to squint. Crawling along the edge of the tent, a spider confirmed my transformation—he disgusted me, and I felt an overwhelming urge to squash him. 

Yet, I realized I hadn’t really changed—I had only shifted perspective. I still eagerly explored new worlds, but through poems and prose rather than pastures and puddles. I’d grown to prefer the boom of a bass over that of a bullfrog, learned to coax a different kind of fire from wood, having developed a burn for writing rhymes and scrawling hypotheses. 

That night, I stayed up late with my journal and wrote about the spider I had decided not to kill. I had tolerated him just barely, only shrieking when he jumped—it helped to watch him decorate the corners of the tent with his delicate webs, knowing that he couldn’t start fires, either. When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.

This student is an excellent writer, which allows a simple story to be outstandingly compelling. The author articulates her points beautifully and creatively through her immense use of details and figurative language. Lines like “a rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees,” and “rubbed and rubbed until shreds of skin flaked from my fingers,” create vivid images that draw the reader in. 

The flowery and descriptive prose also contributes to the nice juxtaposition between the old Clara and the new Clara. The latter half of the essay contrasts elements of nature with music and writing to demonstrate how natural these interests are for her now. This sentence perfectly encapsulates the contrast she is trying to build: “It had been years since I’d kneaded mud between my fingers; instead of scaling a white pine, I’d practiced scales on my piano, my hands softening into those of a musician—fleshy and sensitive.”

In addition to being well-written, this essay is thematically cohesive. It begins with the simple introduction “Fire!” and ends with the following image: “When the night grew cold and the embers died, my words still smoked—my hands burned from all that scrawling—and even when I fell asleep, the ideas kept sparking—I was on fire, always on fire.” This full-circle approach leaves readers satisfied and impressed.

There is very little this essay should change, however one thing to be cautious about is having an essay that is overly-descriptive. We know from the essay that this student likes to read and write, and depending on other elements of her application, it might make total sense to have such a flowery and ornate writing style. However, your personal statement needs to reflect your voice as well as your personality. If you would never use language like this in conversation or your writing, don’t put it in your personal statement. Make sure there is a balance between eloquence and your personal voice.

Essay Example #6: Dedicating a Track

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay effectively conveys this student’s compassion for others, initiative, and determination—all great qualities to exemplify in a personal statement!

Although they rely on telling us a lot of what happened up until the board meeting, the use of running a race (their passion) as a metaphor for public speaking provides a lot of insight into the fear that this student overcame to work towards something bigger than themself. Comparing a podium to the starting line, the audience to the track, and silence to the gunshot is a nice way of demonstrating this student’s passion for cross country running without making that the focus of the story.

The essay does a nice job of coming full circle at the end by explaining what the quote from the beginning meant to them after this experience. Without explicitly saying “ I now know that what Stark actually meant is…” they rely on the strength of their argument above to make it obvious to the reader what it means to get beat but not lose. 

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the intro, however, is how the essay tells us Stark’s impact rather than showing us: His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

The writer could’ve helped us feel a stronger emotional connection to Stark if they had included examples of Stark’s qualities, rather than explicitly stating them. For example, they could’ve written something like: Stark was the kind of person who would give you gas money if you told him your parents couldn’t afford to pick you up from practice. And he actually did that—several times. At track meets, alumni regularly would come talk to him and tell him how he’d changed their lives. Before Stark, I was ambivalent about running and was on the JV team, but his encouragement motivated me to run longer and harder and eventually make varsity. Because of him, I approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running.

Essay Example #7: Body Image and Eating Disorders

I press the “discover” button on my Instagram app, hoping to find enticing pictures to satisfy my boredom. Scrolling through, I see funny videos and mouth-watering pictures of food. However, one image stops me immediately. A fit teenage girl with a “perfect body” relaxes in a bikini on a beach. Beneath it, I see a slew of flattering comments. I shake with disapproval over the image’s unrealistic quality. However, part of me still wants to have a body like hers so that others will make similar comments to me.

I would like to resolve a silent issue that harms many teenagers and adults: negative self image and low self-esteem in a world where social media shapes how people view each other. When people see the façades others wear to create an “ideal” image, they can develop poor thought patterns rooted in negative self-talk. The constant comparisons to “perfect” others make people feel small. In this new digital age, it is hard to distinguish authentic from artificial representations.

When I was 11, I developed anorexia nervosa. Though I was already thin, I wanted to be skinny like the models that I saw on the magazine covers on the grocery store stands. Little did I know that those models probably also suffered from disorders, and that photoshop erased their flaws. I preferred being underweight to being healthy. No matter how little I ate or how thin I was, I always thought that I was too fat. I became obsessed with the number on the scale and would try to eat the least that I could without my parents urging me to take more. Fortunately, I stopped engaging in anorexic behaviors before middle school. However, my underlying mental habits did not change. The images that had provoked my disorder in the first place were still a constant presence in my life.

By age 15, I was in recovery from anorexia, but suffered from depression. While I used to only compare myself to models, the growth of social media meant I also compared myself to my friends and acquaintances. I felt left out when I saw my friends’ excitement about lake trips they had taken without me. As I scrolled past endless photos of my flawless, thin classmates with hundreds of likes and affirming comments, I felt my jealousy spiral. I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.” When that didn’t work, I started to feel too anxious to post anything at all.  

Body image insecurities and social media comparisons affect thousands of people – men, women, children, and adults – every day. I am lucky – after a few months of my destructive social media habits, I came across a video that pointed out the illusory nature of social media; many Instagram posts only show off good things while people hide their flaws. I began going to therapy, and recovered from my depression. To address the problem of self-image and social media, we can all focus on what matters on the inside and not what is on the surface. As an effort to become healthy internally, I started a club at my school to promote clean eating and radiating beauty from within. It has helped me grow in my confidence, and today I’m not afraid to show others my struggles by sharing my experience with eating disorders. Someday, I hope to make this club a national organization to help teenagers and adults across the country. I support the idea of body positivity and embracing difference, not “perfection.” After all, how can we be ourselves if we all look the same?

This essay covers the difficult topics of eating disorders and mental health. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

The short answer is that, yes, you can talk about mental health, but it can be risky. If you do go that route, it’s important to focus on what you learned from the experience.

The strength of this essay is the student’s vulnerability, in excerpts such as this: I wanted to be admired and loved by other people too. However, I felt that I could never be enough. I began to hate the way that I looked, and felt nothing in my life was good enough. I wanted to be called “perfect” and “body goals,” so I tried to only post at certain times of day to maximize my “likes.”

The student goes on to share how they recovered from their depression through an eye-opening video and therapy sessions, and they’re now helping others find their self-worth as well. It’s great that this essay looks towards the future and shares the writer’s goals of making their club a national organization; we can see their ambition and compassion.

The main weakness of this essay is that it doesn’t focus enough on their recovery process, which is arguably the most important part. They could’ve told us more about the video they watched or the process of starting their club and the interactions they’ve had with other members. Especially when sharing such a vulnerable topic, there should be vulnerability in the recovery process too. That way, the reader can fully appreciate all that this student has overcome.

Essay Example #8: Becoming a Coach

”Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one.

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we competed with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

This essay begins with an in-the-moment narrative that really illustrates the chaos of looking for a coach last-minute. We feel the writer’s emotions, particularly her dejectedness, at not being able to compete. Starting an essay in media res  is a great way to capture the attention of your readers and build anticipation for what comes next.

Through this essay, we can see how gutsy and determined the student is in deciding to become a coach themselves. She shows us these characteristics through their actions, rather than explicitly telling us: To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side.  Also, by discussing the opposition she faced and how it affected her, the student is open and vulnerable about the reality of the situation.

The essay comes full circle as the author recalls the frantic situations in seeking out a coach, but this is no longer a concern for them and their team. Overall, this essay is extremely effective in painting this student as mature, bold, and compassionate.

The biggest thing this essay needs to work on is showing not telling. Throughout the essay, the student tells us that she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence,” she “grew unsure of her own abilities,” and she “refused to give up”. What we really want to know is what this looks like.

Instead of saying she “emerged with new knowledge and confidence” she should have shared how she taught a new move to a fellow team-member without hesitation. Rather than telling us she “grew unsure of her own abilities” she should have shown what that looked like by including her internal dialogue and rhetorical questions that ran through her mind. She could have demonstrated what “refusing to give up” looks like by explaining how she kept learning coaching techniques on her own, turned to a mentor for advice, or devised a plan to win over the trust of parents. 

Essay Example #9: Eritrea

No one knows where Eritrea is.

On the first day of school, for the past nine years, I would pensively stand in front of a class, a teacher, a stranger  waiting for the inevitable question: Where are you from?

I smile politely, my dimples accentuating my ambiguous features. “Eritrea,” I answer promptly and proudly. But I  am always prepared. Before their expression can deepen into confusion, ready to ask “where is that,” I elaborate,  perhaps with a fleeting hint of exasperation, “East Africa, near Ethiopia.”

Sometimes, I single out the key-shaped hermit nation on a map, stunning teachers who have “never had a student  from there!” Grinning, I resist the urge to remark, “You didn’t even know it existed until two minutes ago!”

Eritrea is to the East of Ethiopia, its arid coastline clutches the lucrative Red Sea. Battle scars litter the ancient  streets – the colonial Italian architecture lathered with bullet holes, the mosques mangled with mortar shells.  Originally part of the world’s first Christian kingdom, Eritrea passed through the hands of colonial Italy, Britain, and  Ethiopia for over a century, until a bloody thirty year war of Independence liberated us.

But these are facts that anyone can know with a quick Google search. These are facts that I have memorised and compounded, first from my Grandmother and now from pristine books  borrowed from the library.

No historical narrative, however, can adequately capture what Eritrea is.  No one knows the aroma of bushels of potatoes, tomatoes, and garlic – still covered in dirt – that leads you to the open-air market. No one knows the poignant scent of spices, arranged in orange piles reminiscent of compacted  dunes.  No one knows how to haggle stubborn herders for sheep and roosters for Christmas celebrations as deliberately as my mother. No one can replicate the perfect balance of spices in dorho and tsebhi as well as my grandmother,  her gnarly hands stirring the pot with ancient precision (chastising my clumsy knife work with the potatoes).  It’s impossible to learn when the injera is ready – the exact moment you have to lift the lid of the mogogo. Do it too  early (or too late) and the flatbread becomes mangled and gross. It is a sixth sense passed through matriarchal  lineages.

There are no sources that catalogue the scent of incense that wafts through the sunlit porch on St. Michael’s; no  films that can capture the luminescence of hundreds of flaming bonfires that fluoresce the sidewalks on Kudus  Yohannes, as excited children chant Ge’ez proverbs whose origin has been lost to time.  You cannot learn the familiarity of walking beneath the towering Gothic figure of the Enda Mariam Cathedral, the  crowds undulating to the ringing of the archaic bells.  I have memorized the sound of the rains hounding the metal roof during kiremti , the heat of the sun pounding  against the Toyota’s window as we sped down towards Ghinda , the opulent brilliance of the stars twinkling in a  sky untainted by light pollution, the scent of warm rolls of bani wafting through the streets at precisely 6 o’clock each day…

I fill my flimsy sketchbook with pictures from my memory. My hand remembers the shapes of the hibiscus drifting  in the wind, the outline of my grandmother (affectionately nicknamed a’abaye ) leaning over the garden, the bizarre architecture of the Fiat Tagliero .  I dice the vegetables with movements handed down from generations. My nose remembers the scent of frying garlic, the sourness of the warm tayta , the sharpness of the mit’mt’a …

This knowledge is intrinsic.  “I am Eritrean,” I repeat. “I am proud.”  Within me is an encyclopedia of history, culture, and idealism.

Eritrea is the coffee made from scratch, the spices drying in the sun, the priests and nuns. Eritrea is wise, filled with ambition, and unseen potential.  Eritrea isn’t a place, it’s an identity.

This is an exceptional essay that provides a window into this student’s culture that really makes their love for their country and heritage leap off the page. The sheer level of details and sensory descriptors this student is able to fit in this space makes the essay stand out. From the smells, to the traditions, sounds, and sights, the author encapsulates all the glory of Eritrea for the reader. 

The vivid images this student is able to create for the reader, whether it is having the tedious conversation with every teacher or cooking in their grandmother’s kitchen, transports us into the story and makes us feel like we are there in the moment with the student. This is a prime example of an essay that shows , not tells.

Besides the amazing imagery, the use of shorter paragraphs also contributes to how engaging this essay is. Employing this tactic helps break up the text to make it more readable and it isolates ideas so they stick out more than if they were enveloped in a large paragraph.

Overall, this is a really strong essay that brings to life this student’s heritage through its use of vivid imagery. This essay exemplifies what it means to show not tell in your writing, and it is a great example of how you can write an intimate personal statement without making yourself the primary focus of your essay. 

There is very little this essay should improve upon, but one thing the student might consider would be to inject more personal reflection into their response. Although we can clearly take away their deep love and passion for their homeland and culture, the essay would be a bit more personal if they included the emotions and feelings they associate with the various aspects of Eritrea. For example, the way their heart swells with pride when their grandmother praises their ability to cook a flatbread or the feeling of serenity when they hear the bells ring out from the cathedral. Including personal details as well as sensory ones would create a wonderful balance of imagery and reflection.

Essay Example #10: Journaling

Flipping past dozens of colorful entries in my journal, I arrive at the final blank sheet. I press my pen lightly to the page, barely scratching its surface to create a series of loops stringing together into sentences. Emotions spill out, and with their release, I feel lightness in my chest. The stream of thoughts slows as I reach the bottom of the page, and I gently close the cover of the worn book: another journal finished.

I add the journal to the stack of eleven books on my nightstand. Struck by the bittersweet sensation of closing a chapter of my life, I grab the notebook at the bottom of the pile to reminisce.

“I want to make a flying mushen to fly in space and your in it” – October 2008

Pulling back the cover of my first Tinkerbell-themed diary, the prompt “My Hopes and Dreams” captures my attention. Though “machine” is misspelled in my scribbled response, I see the beginnings of my past obsession with outer space. At the age of five, I tore through novels about the solar system, experimented with rockets built from plastic straws, and rented Space Shuttle films from Blockbuster to satisfy my curiosities. While I chased down answers to questions as limitless as the universe, I fell in love with learning. Eight journals later, the same relentless curiosity brought me to an airplane descending on San Francisco Bay.

“I wish I had infinite sunsets” – July 2019

I reach for the charcoal notepad near the top of the pile and open to the first page: my flight to the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes. While I was excited to explore bioengineering, anxiety twisted in my stomach as I imagined my destination, unsure of whether I could overcome my shyness and connect with others.

With each new conversation, the sweat on my palms became less noticeable, and I met students from 23 different countries. Many of the moments where I challenged myself socially revolved around the third story deck of the Jerry house. A strange medley of English, Arabic, and Mandarin filled the summer air as my friends and I gathered there every evening, and dialogues at sunset soon became moments of bliss. In our conversations about cultural differences, the possibility of an afterlife, and the plausibility of far-fetched conspiracy theories, I learned to voice my opinion. As I was introduced to different viewpoints, these moments challenged my understanding of the world around me. In my final entries from California, I find excitement to learn from others and increased confidence, a tool that would later allow me to impact my community.

“The beauty in a tower of cans” – June 2020

Returning my gaze to the stack of journals, I stretch to take the floral-patterned book sitting on top. I flip through, eventually finding the beginnings of the organization I created during the outbreak of COVID-19. Since then, Door-to-Door Deliveries has woven its way through my entries and into reality, allowing me to aid high-risk populations through free grocery delivery.

With the confidence I gained the summer before, I took action when seeing others in need rather than letting my shyness hold me back. I reached out to local churches and senior centers to spread word of our services and interacted with customers through our website and social media pages. To further expand our impact, we held two food drives, and I mustered the courage to ask for donations door-to-door. In a tower of canned donations, I saw the value of reaching out to help others and realized my own potential to impact the world around me.

I delicately close the journal in my hands, smiling softly as the memories reappear, one after another. Reaching under my bed, I pull out a fresh notebook and open to its first sheet. I lightly press my pen to the page, “And so begins the next chapter…”

The structuring of this essay makes it easy and enjoyable to read. The student effectively organizes their various life experiences around their tower of journals, which centers the reader and makes the different stories easy to follow. Additionally, the student engages quotes from their journals—and unique formatting of the quotes—to signal that they are moving in time and show us which memory we should follow them to.

Thematically, the student uses the idea of shyness to connect the different memories they draw out of their journals. As the student describes their experiences overcoming shyness at the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes and Door-to-Door Deliveries, this essay can be read as an Overcoming Obstacles essay.

At the end of this essay, readers are fully convinced that this student is dedicated (they have committed to journaling every day), thoughtful (journaling is a thoughtful process and, in the essay, the student reflects thoughtfully on the past), and motivated (they flew across the country for a summer program and started a business). These are definitely qualities admissions officers are looking for in applicants!

Although this essay is already exceptionally strong as it’s written, the first journal entry feels out of place compared to the other two entries that discuss the author’s shyness and determination. It works well for the essay to have an entry from when the student was younger to add some humor (with misspelled words) and nostalgia, but if the student had either connected the quote they chose to the idea of overcoming a fear present in the other two anecdotes or if they had picked a different quote all together related to their shyness, it would have made the entire essay feel more cohesive.

Where to Get Your Personal Statement Edited

Do you want feedback on your personal statement? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Next Step: Supplemental Essays

Essay Guides for Each School

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4 Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay

How to Write the “Why This College” Essay

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7. Post Graduation Experience Essay

Size: 41 KB

8. Previous Research Experience Essay

Size: 28 KB

9. Sample Experience Essay

Size: 44 KB

10. Coaching Experience Essay

Size: 19 KB

11. College Experience Essay

Size: 31 KB

What Is an Experience Essay?

An experience essay is a composition that requires you to narrate an event that you have personally experienced. It is a type of academic essay that most high school, colleges, and post-graduation studies assign their students to write to improve their writing. Most scholarship applications also require you to write this essay. In addition, some people devise this as a part of their resume when applying for work. 

How to Compose a Riveting Experience Essay

Composing various literature essays will also require you to apply different skills. In that sense, this piece of writing will test your storytelling skills. How do you effectively narrate a story on a paper? You can discover that as you go through the process of learning how to devise this document.

1. Choose an Unforgettable Memory

In selecting an experience to tell, you should choose those experiences that considerably impacted your personal life. It can be either be a positive or a negative experience. For example, you can write about your best day or the worst experience you had. Most people would opt for unique topics, but that is not a requirement. The important thing is how to make your unforgettable experience memorable for your readers. 

2. Arrange the Sequence of Events  

Sometimes when people share something, they often tell another story in between and then go back to their original topic. That’s a no-no in writing your experience essay. It needs to be carefully structured. That said, you need to arrange it by properly sequencing the events. There are available blank outline templates online to help you with this task.

3. Devise an Engrossing Introductory Paragraph

An impressive introduction should contain a compelling hook and a powerful thesis statement . The first paragraph of your essay can be a make or break factor for your entire writing. People often start judging the quality of your composition after reading your introductory paragraph. It sets the vibe and gives them the first impression. It is essential to pay a lot of attention to this segment.

4. Craft a Rousing Statement for Your Conclusion

Your conclusion paragraph should provide the gist and the purpose of your experience essay. In this last part, you should restate your thesis statement and summarize the underlying message of your writing. It should include a personal reflection regarding what that particular event made you learn about yourself. A conclusion for an essay should be powerful enough to rouse the emotions of your readers.

How should you describe an experience in your essay?

Writing a personal experience essay does not only require you to provide the order of events that happened in your experience. Instead, you should include describing what you are thinking and feeling at that moment. In addition, you should also mention the activities that are also happening during your experiences. Don’t forget to include the reactions of the people involved in your story.

What are good topics for an experience essay?

One of the most important factors to consider in choosing your topic is the thematic statement it presents. Do you want to write about love, friendship, or family? You can also choose to compose about the defining moments of your life. Such as the time you faced your greatest fears or the day you met your best friend.

What makes an experience essay different from a narrative essay?

An experience essay and a narrative essay are mostly similar. Both of these writings focus on narrating an experience of the writer. Despite that, there is something that sets them apart from each other. An experience essay focuses more on an individual’s discovery about oneself. On the other hand, the latter aims to inform the readers of how the experience made the writer realize things. Particularly the lessons regarding another person or an issue.

The act of composing this type of essay is a formative experience. In the process of writing it, you can learn lessons about yourself as well as on writing essays. Your life experiences are full of lessons. Ensure to capture the message and convey it to your readers. Secure that employment or that award certificate by crafting your experience essay thoroughly.

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How to Write About Yourself in a College Essay | Examples

Published on September 21, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

An insightful college admissions essay requires deep self-reflection, authenticity, and a balance between confidence and vulnerability. Your essay shouldn’t just be a resume of your experiences; colleges are looking for a story that demonstrates your most important values and qualities.

To write about your achievements and qualities without sounding arrogant, use specific stories to illustrate them. You can also write about challenges you’ve faced or mistakes you’ve made to show vulnerability and personal growth.

Table of contents

Start with self-reflection, how to write about challenges and mistakes, how to write about your achievements and qualities, how to write about a cliché experience, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Before you start writing, spend some time reflecting to identify your values and qualities. You should do a comprehensive brainstorming session, but here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are three words your friends or family would use to describe you, and why would they choose them?
• Whom do you admire most and why?
• What are the top five things you are thankful for?
• What has inspired your hobbies or future goals?
• What are you most proud of? Ashamed of?

As you self-reflect, consider how your values and goals reflect your prospective university’s program and culture, and brainstorm stories that demonstrate the fit between the two.

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Writing about difficult experiences can be an effective way to show authenticity and create an emotional connection to the reader, but choose carefully which details to share, and aim to demonstrate how the experience helped you learn and grow.

Be vulnerable

It’s not necessary to have a tragic story or a huge confession. But you should openly share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences to evoke an emotional response from the reader. Even a cliché or mundane topic can be made interesting with honest reflection. This honesty is a preface to self-reflection and insight in the essay’s conclusion.

Don’t overshare

With difficult topics, you shouldn’t focus too much on negative aspects. Instead, use your challenging circumstances as a brief introduction to how you responded positively.

Share what you have learned

It’s okay to include your failure or mistakes in your essay if you include a lesson learned. After telling a descriptive, honest story, you should explain what you learned and how you applied it to your life.

While it’s good to sell your strengths, you also don’t want to come across as arrogant. Instead of just stating your extracurricular activities, achievements, or personal qualities, aim to discreetly incorporate them into your story.

Brag indirectly

Mention your extracurricular activities or awards in passing, not outright, to avoid sounding like you’re bragging from a resume.

Use stories to prove your qualities

Even if you don’t have any impressive academic achievements or extracurriculars, you can still demonstrate your academic or personal character. But you should use personal examples to provide proof. In other words, show evidence of your character instead of just telling.

Many high school students write about common topics such as sports, volunteer work, or their family. Your essay topic doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but do try to include unexpected personal details and your authentic voice to make your essay stand out .

To find an original angle, try these techniques:

• Focus on a specific moment, and describe the scene using your five senses.
• Mention objects that have special significance to you.
• Instead of following a common story arc, include a surprising twist or insight.

Your unique voice can shed new perspective on a common human experience while also revealing your personality. When read out loud, the essay should sound like you are talking.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

• Writing process
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• Passive voice
• Paraphrasing

 Communication

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• Ms, mrs, miss
• How to start an email
• I hope this email finds you well
• Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

• Personal pronouns
• Conjunctions

First, spend time reflecting on your core values and character . You can start with these questions:

However, you should do a comprehensive brainstorming session to fully understand your values. Also consider how your values and goals match your prospective university’s program and culture. Then, brainstorm stories that illustrate the fit between the two.

When writing about yourself , including difficult experiences or failures can be a great way to show vulnerability and authenticity, but be careful not to overshare, and focus on showing how you matured from the experience.

Through specific stories, you can weave your achievements and qualities into your essay so that it doesn’t seem like you’re bragging from a resume.

Include specific, personal details and use your authentic voice to shed a new perspective on a common human experience.

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How to Write a Personal Essay: 6 Tips for Writing Personal Essays

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 9, 2021 • 3 min read

People write personal essays for a number of reasons. High school students write them for college admissions and writers use them to share personal stories with others. A personal narrative essay can enlighten and inspire an audience with information gained from real life experiences.

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Check Out Our Personal Experience Essays Examples

A hard lesson learned, a memorable event, a time to reflect, achieving my goal in purdue university, an extra curricular activity, arguing a position, at the meeting, authors at disneyland, autographic narrative, bulosan's words, business and society reflection journal, changing location, childhood memories, childhood today and back then, college experience, crime scene photography, critical incident paper, daily life and roles in the decade house, do not judge a book by its cover, dreams and aspirations, drinking alcohol, drug abuse and addiction, erikson's theory, fordham school of professional studies, figure of malcolm x, going global, health and social care, "i just wanna be average", islamic brotherhood, language discrimination, miscommunication, my childhood, my dreams and aspirations, my first story to memorize, my internship semester, my life in port-au-prince, my personal ethics, my personal relationship to reading, my perspective, my thoughts on wounded knee, nissan skyline gt-r, osama's accomplice, own impression of los angeles, parent-child relationship, personal experiences in live music performances, personal reflection, personal statement of discovery channel, free examples of persuasive letters, pigeons at daybreak, plot of "america is in the heart", preferences, "public grooming" and "pet peeves", quiting alcoholism, reflective communication, remembering, residency personal statement, respected listeners, scholarship, schooled at work, self - presentation, significant rite of passage in the life, simple death rituals, special circumstances, strengths and weaknesses, symbol of islam, teenage boys and girls, test results-infj, thank you letter, the discrimination, the evaluation of the website, the influence of napoleon on my life, the juvenile delinquency, the leadership experience, the miami project to cure paralysis, the story of mexican americans in la, the treasure in the trash, was your first semester of college well spent, personal narrative writing about wedding day, what i learnt through playing sports, why i failed physics class, why i want to become a teacher.

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How to Write a Personal Essay for Your College Application

What does it take to land in the “accept” (instead of “reject”) pile?

How can you write an essay that helps advance you in the eyes of the admissions officers and makes a real impression? Here are some tips to get you started.

• Start early.  Do not leave it until the last minute. Give yourself time when you don’t have other homework or extracurriculars hanging over your head to work on the essay.
• Keep the focus narrow.  Your essay does not have to cover a massive, earth-shattering event. Some people in their teens haven’t experienced a major life event. Some people have. Either way, it’s okay.
• Be yourself.  Whether writing about a painful experience or a more simple experience, use the narrative to be vulnerable and honest about who you are. Use words you would normally use. Trust your voice and the fact that your story is interesting enough in that no one else has lived it.
• Be creative.  “Show, don’t tell,” and that applies here — to an extent. The best essays typically do both. You can help your reader see and feel what you are describing by using some figurative language throughout your piece.
• Make a point. As you finish your final body paragraphs ask yourself “So what?” This will help you hone in on how to end your essay in a way that elevates it into a story about an insight or discovery you made about yourself, rather than just being about an experience you had.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

We’ve all heard about the dreaded “college essay,” the bane of every high school senior’s existence. This daunting element of the college application is something that can create angst for even the most accomplished students.

• AA Amy Allen is a writer, educator, and lifelong learner. Her freelance writing business,  All of the Write Words , focuses on providing high school students with one-on-one feedback to guide them through the college application process and with crafting a thoughtful personal essay. A dedicated poet, Amy’s work has also been published in several journals including  Pine Row Press ,  Months to Years,  and  Atlanta Review .

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Personal Experiences Essay Examples and Topics

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Most Influential People – My Uncle Jack

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• Words: 1851

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Individual leadership philosophy, a workview and lifeview reflection, dream job in business and retirement scenario.

• Words: 1656

Personal Experience With Persuasive Writing

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Personal and Professional Development Plan

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This I Believe: Happiness Is a Choice

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The Role of Play in My Life Experience

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Comparing Personal Values With Core Values

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Belongings and Relationship With Past Experiences

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Social Work Among the Aged

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The Impact of Life Experiences on Development

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Social Work Values Development During Internship

Project management course: goals and ambitions, decision-making and problem-solving in the police, personal development in james mcbride’s “the color of water”.

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The Character Who Influenced Me: Abraham Lincoln

Culture, identity, diversity in the sikh tradition.

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Essay Samples on Personal Experience

The canvas of self: a kaleidoscope of experiences.

The journey of self-discovery is an intricate dance that weaves together the threads of experiences, passions, and aspirations. As I stand at the threshold of introspection, I am reminded of a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly...

• About Myself
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The Scariest Moment of My Life: A Brush with Fear

Life is filled with moments that define us, but there are some that etch themselves into our memories with indelible fear. Among the myriad experiences I've encountered, there's one that stands out as the scariest moment of my life. This essay delves into that heart-pounding...

Reflecting on an Experience that Shaped My Character

An experience that shaped my character stands as a pivotal moment that forever altered the trajectory of my life. This essay delves into a profound encounter that taught me resilience, compassion, and the power of empathy. The experience not only transformed my perspective but also...

An Unforgettable Day: A Chapter Etched in the Tapestry of My Life

Life is composed of a tapestry of moments, each weaving a unique story that contributes to the fabric of our existence. Among these moments, there are days that stand out as unforgettable, leaving an indelible mark on our hearts and memories. This essay chronicles one...

• Life Changing Experience

A Visit to the Grocery Store: My Recent Experience

Visiting the grocery store is a routine activity for most people, but it's also an opportunity to experience the variety and abundance of products available to us. In this essay, I will share my recent experience of a visit to the grocery store, highlighting the...

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A Turning Point: An Event That Changed My Life Forever

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My Memorable Experience and How It Has Shaped My Perspective

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A Night in a Haunted House: An Eerie Experience

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Narrative About Death of Family Member's Passing

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My Near Death Experience at the Beach: A Life-Altering Encounter

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Reflections on the Death of a Loved One

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Why I Choose Biotechnology: A Personal and Professional Journey

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My Adoption Story: What's Life Like as an Adopted Child

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My Best Vacation: a Memorable Experience That I Won't Forget

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A Life-Changing Experience About Respect and Being Respectful

In this short essay about respect I will share my life-changing experience that shown me the importance of respect between people. It was during the ceremony which I had at the school. As I hurried across the quad from my dorm room, the excitement of...

My Unforgettable Vacation: a Personal Journey Etched in Time

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Memory Reconstruction and False Memories: Exploring the Fragility of Recollections

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Accounting Education: Reflection on Personal Internship Experience

Nowadays Accounting has become a degree and diploma level education. There are various global institutions which gives a nutritional education on Accounting and offer students degrees and other types of qualifications. This has been commercialized in the modern world. As I have attended the course...

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How Reducing the Use of Social Media Has Improved My Life

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My Holiday in Portugal: Reflection on All the Ups and Downs

Now I know, from this title, it sounds like I’m writing about a classic family holiday. I am... until the day we went to the beach. I was unleashing my inner daredevil side - to a point of life or death. It was the summer...

Personal Reflection on Work Experience: Difficulties and Conclusions

Learning encompasses both the acquisition of information and the application of skills. My job was a part-time position in one of the world's most well-known fast-food restaurants, and it was an incredible value opportunity. It allowed me to explore and comprehend the work's beauty. The...

Social Media: Friend or Foe and How It Shapes Our Lives

In my 'Social Media: Friend or Foe?' essay, I explore what role social media has played in my life. It is a summer evening, my family and I are all home watching Tv and time is flying by, we’re about to head to our rooms...

• Media Influence

My Dog is My Stress Reliever and My Partner in Crime

During everyone’s lifetime span there’s always someone who keeps me company and is always by my side no matter what. Some people have a significant other, favorite parent, or best friend. But there’s some that have an animal’s companion. For me that’s the case. In...

How Music Can Reduce Stress: an Overview

Albert Einstein once said, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music… I get most joy in life out of music”. Indeed,...

• Benefits of Listening to Music

My Volunteering Experience: Describing the Impact of Volunteering

Academically, I have always been a very committed and hard-working student; therefore, I knew that a university degree would be the logical next move. I have a wide interest in many subject areas, but I still feel drawn to a law-oriented or business degree. As...

• Volunteering

My Volunteering Experience: Volunteering as a Muslim Woman

In my sophomore year of college, I engaged in volunteering abroad for a month as an exchange participant in Suzhou, China through AIESEC XJTLU, for the aim of volunteering for a project called 'Special Care', and to become a global citizen. During which I was...

Overcoming Obstacles: Learning New Lessons

“It’s time to go, hurry up!” screamed my mom in Chinese. It was time for my first swimming lesson. Believing it was an important skill, my parents had signed me up without telling me many details. They just told me that I was going to...

• Overcoming Obstacles

What Would You Do If You Won The Lottery

The lottery is what every American dreams of winning. Everyone has their own plans for if they win. Fast cars and dream vacations are the primary things you hear people say they will do. My plans for the money are slightly different. I have thought...

What Was The Environment In Which You Were Raised

I remember myself since I was three years old. I was a lively and inquisitive child. I had many friends and we spent a lot of time together. My parents were very busy at that moment, they were working and building our house. I spent...

What Is The Secret To Success

When people are born, they begin their journey of pursuit. Some people pursue money, some people are eager to get happiness, and some people want love. Although the goals are different, their results are almost the same - few people can be successful. So what...

Visit A Museum To Be Educated And Have A Great Experience

The radio chatter between the Johnson Space-Center and Lunar Module echoed throughout the lobby. “One small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind.”could be heard so clearly and distinctly causing goosebumps to spread across my skin. I was finally here, at the Houston...

Embracing the Art of Volunteering: A Journey of Empowerment and Impact

I opted to partake in voluntary work at St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), an organization founded in Ireland in 1844. It stands as Ireland's most prominent voluntary charitable institution, offering free and confidential support to those in need, particularly caring for the homeless and providing...

Destruction of the Dust Bowl: Personal Expirience

We had bought the house right after we earned the land it sat on. Dad was paying $500 a month, but with the dust it was hard to make end meets. The bank was after us and they had threatened to knock our house down...

My Personal Reflection of Schindler's List After Watching

After watching Steven Spielberg’s, Schindler’s List, I gained a better understanding of all the horrible things that happened during World War Two. The film shows the life of a wealthy businessman, Oskar Schindler and how he went from partying with the Nazis, to saving 1100...

• Schindler's List

Be The Change You Wish To See In The World: A Story

The waiter in the vibrantly coloured corner coffee shop pauses briefly to glance out the window. Her eyes fall upon a man sauntering along the pavement, his time-chiselled face tight with concentration. In one hand his white knuckles are around his gnarled walking stick. A...

• Helping Others
• Homelessness

Exploring Good Life: Living Life To The Fullest

The idea of a good life can be defined as how a person wishes or desires to live their life. From interviewing my cousin, friend, and classmate I learned that it living a good like means for them to be financially stable, having a healthy...

Death Anxiety: Living Life To The Fullest

We are living our life to the fullest, the last stage of our life are when the vital activities of a living beings come to an end and death is an inevitable truth for all living beings (Yilmaz & Vermisli, 2015). Anxieties about our expected...

Motivation: Learning What Motivates You

The theoretical structure is the essential piece of each study since its fill in as a manual for deliberately distinguish, the coherent and entirely characterised relationship among variable. It doesn't just help researchers decided the relationship among variable yet, also, equips the researcher with a...

One Of The Most Embarrassing Moments Of My Life

I walked up to the stage in staggered steps like a zombie rising from the grave. My foot hit the stage, triggering a chain of claps from the crowd which radiated off the walls in the auditorium. There it was, the grand piano in all...

The Power Of Imagination And Power Of Knowledge

The power of imagination is, to a great extent, behind every development in the history of mankind. “Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world,” – this saying credited to Albert Einstein perfectly reflects the dual nature of every innovation. In order to create something new,...

Money Can Buy Happiness In One's Personal Experience

A person is said to be happy if they experience a series of positive emotions like pride, interest and joy, with rare cases of negative experiences like anxiety, sadness, and anger (Khoddam 1). A happy individual is also most likely to appreciate life since they...

My Convocation Day: An Experience I Will Never Forget

For most people, their graduation day is one of the memorable and the best days of their life the same goes to me. Many people have experienced the overwhelming excitement feeling as you approach graduation day, and for me, that was a day that I...

Unforgettable Musical Performance Experience Of Mine

The sound of music fills the stadium as I stand towards the back in my old, baggy uniform. I can feel the sweat dripping down my forehead as I nervously try to keep in step with the person in front of me. The band before...

• High School

Writing Assignment: Why I Adore Rain

Since my first rendezvous with dark, threatening clouds, I have been fascinated by the ethereal beads they shower. How the water droplets fall from the sky, as if the heavens are bestowing their blessing upon all of God’s creations – giving them an opportunity to...

Factors That Influenced My Leadership Potential Throughout My Life

Introduction Clearly, understanding and knowing the person you are is key to your self-development. For instance, looking through my prism and evaluating my leadership skills is easy to perform this assessment of self-analysis. Therefore, in this self-analysis assessment, I will draw the attention of my...

Reminiscences On The Event That Made Me Happy

“Something that made me happy” Life is like a puzzle; and when the pieces fit, you finally see what you have to do but before it does you have to be an active person with an open mind. This happened to me when I decided...

What Being An Aunt Means To Me

On August 26, 2007, I became an aunt. I remember the day my first nephew was born, I was only 12, but was very excited to meet him. Technically, I was not Immediate family to him and I was only 12, so I wasn’t allowed...

• Family Relationships

How The Happiest Moment Of My Life Has Influenced Me

People have the memorable moment of their lives that they wanted to cherish until the very last. Having the one who cares and being beside you to enjoy that moment which will last forever in our soul is precious. For myself having the chance to...

Why I Prefer Mountain Climbing to Other Leisure Activities

Activity Description The fact that there were a considerable number of events to choose from in our leisure event, we had to pick an event that could be endorsed by every student. In other words, the event had to meet the needs of every student....

• Mountain Climbing

The Fear and Terror of the Coming Storm

Night shrouded the glare of the masterpiece from the sky. I am now alone in this immense world; losing everything, nothing to lose anymore. My parent’s absence is my biggest fear. As if the sequin stars over the glooming azure is mocking me, the night...

The Experience of Reading Middlemarch and Visiting Bangalore

Bangalore city is considered to the silicon valley of India. It is the capital city of Karnataka state and central hub for information and technology field. Many people from different places come here to explore and for the sake of job and entertainment. I also...

• Middlemarch

Sociological Imagination And Benefits Of Sociology Course

C. Wright Mills describes sociological imagination as a vivid awareness of the relationship between personal experience and the wider society in which individuals are embedded. Analyzing and evaluating something further before making a judgement is a way of exercising your sociological imagination. For example, assuming...

• Social Imagination

The Personal Story of a Cripple: A Person with Cerebral Paralysis

This picture is pretty typical of the kids you'd see in Boston's North End in the 1950's- a bunch of Italian kids hanging out. We were kids like that and I want to tell you about one of us named Eddie Ferolla- or as I...

Experienceing a Storm on the Seas

It was a calm, motionless day. The gentle waves shimmered under the rising sun, as if snoozing in their liquid clothes. They rolled up to the pristine beach with its curtained cove, then shuddered and drizzled their sea spray onto the pitted sandy surface. The...

The Impact of Epistemic Humility from My Personal Experience

This paper concerns would be an evaluation of my take on the virtue of epistemic humility in relation to my personal experiences as well as using critical thinking skills to evaluate how far my negative thoughts have crippled me. The word “epistemic” means, essentially, anything...

Finding My Own Path in Life

A dream can alter so much in a person’s life – it affects everyone in varying degrees and propels people to push themselves towards a better future. My life is nothing short of an example to prove this claim. Having spent my childhood years engrossed...

• Finding Yourself

Mastering The Secrets Of Harmony in My Sixth Grade

Finally the day arrived. The first trimester of sixth grade had just started and I was on my way to school with smiles all over my face because a new subject had just been added to the curriculum-music. I had heard wonderful stories about music...

Reflection on Plot of the Movie Pay It Forward

Pay it forward is a film adaptation of a book with the same title written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. It is a drama and romance film directed by Mimi Leder starring Kevin Spacey as Eugene Simonet, Helen Hunt as Arlene McKinney, Haley Joel Osment as...

• Pay It Forward

My First Love: The Touching Story of the Granddaughter and Grandfather

For 11 years of my life, I woke up to the permeating smell of cinnamon tea and the vigorous flipping of comic book pages. Stumbling distraught into the living room, I would find my grandfather in his favorite armchair at the same time each morning,...

• Grandfather

The Excusive and Memorable Clues for Life from A Rare Person

Here stands the man who is full of rich knowledge that is worth spreading as family history. I am so proud to have this man with me today. This man is named Saad Ghanem Al – Saraf. He is my grandfather. I am about to...

What Does Second Dan in Taekwondo Mean to Me

I've never been the best at doing things. I've never been the best at writing essays, I've never been the quickest sprinter, or the most brilliant researcher. Be that as it may, the entirety of this melts, away when I stroll into MR. Burns taekwondo....

Personal View on Aviation and Its Bigger Impact

Few passions which has dictated the direction of my life has been sports, family, friends and aviation. These passions were incentives for me on how to become happier and a better person. My first passion, sports, has guided me and my friends through temptations such...

Report of Healthcare Activist Interview and Activism' Impact

A wise woman once said “How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”- Anne Frank. The first thing that comes to mind when speaking of activism is action to change the world. These actions are...

My Decision to Pursue Psychology: A Journey of Understanding and Compassion

When I first chose to major in psychology, it was because I believed it would allow me to make a positive impact on people's lives. We all face challenges at some point, and the opportunity to help others overcome them felt incredibly rewarding. Additionally, psychology...

• Educational Psychology

Graduation as a Transitional Experience and a Rite of Passage

Throughout life, human beings often experience shifts and changes in their identity and their surrounding environment. Whether they are religious or secular, they are still transitional moments in one's life that are celebrated by rituals that take us to the next step in our lives...

My Experience Of Living On My Own, Far From Home

Leaving home two years ago was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m in my second year of university now, studying law at Trent University in Peterborough. Though the city of Guelph had been my home for seventeen years, a city which is three hours...

My Experience Of How To Became Brave & Self-confident

Ever since I was a little kid my mother would tell me to be strong and not let anyone pick on me. "Se valiente." she would say to me or in other words, "Be brave."It was something i always remembered but didn't really take into...

My Experience In Participating Group Project Of My GP Examinations

This year’s Group Project element of my GP examinations was unlike anything I had ever done before. Coming from a country that’s quite traditional when in comes to education, I’m far more accustomed to the “standard” academic practice of studying up the syllabus for the...

• Education System

History & Things To Admire About My Town Of Erie, Pennsylvania

There is a lot to admire about my home town of Erie, Pennsylvania that isn’t prevalent in today’s popular culture. Many people begin with the quality of life. They say that Erie is big enough to offer the amenities of much larger cities, combined with...

The Journey to Insight: A New Understanding

Experiences in life create new perceptions that alter people’s views on the world around them and how they act in everyday life. In Margaret Laurence’s “The Loons,” the main character shows how her mindset changes as she acquires new insights from her experiences with people...

• Book Review

Don Norman's "The Design Of Everyday Things" Book Review

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman is a book originally published in 1988 under the name The Psychology of Everyday Things. The book itself focuses on design principles within interaction design, and how to best apply them. Ever since the original release, technology...

My Experience Of Exchange Program In The United States Of America

My story started from a typical rainy day of July on a small town in Bangladesh and which ended up near the Atlantic shore in Florida. It was raining heavily with thunder and lightning which is why I decided not going school that day. I...

My Experience Studying In The UK

“Renewable Energy in Indonesia – A Sleeping Giant”, cautions the author of Global Business Guide Indonesia (2014), one of references I surveyed this early year for an honor thesis. Despite immense renewable energy resources of Indonesia, much of the potential remains untapped due to the...

Once I Cared Too Much, Now I Care Just Enough

At some point or the other, things happen that change the perspective of life. Likewise, Ive been completely transformed now from how I used to be. Over the years I have realised that there is a difference between being nice and being too nice. A...

• Personal Life

Reflection On Visiting The Metropolitan Opera

Many people have never been at the opera or were once when they were children. Some people, however, will not go there anymore, and someone, perhaps, will open up a new world that will give them pleasant moments which will not “let them go” for...

Reflective Journal On Emotional Intelligence

A few days before attending university, my parents had told me: “University is a whole new world where you will find extremely new experiences”. And yes, time has proved them right. I am proud to say that university has opened doors to lessons and experiences...

• Emotional Intelligence

A Reflective Journal On Medical Simulation Project

My simulation group consisted of four nurses that were assigned to different roles in the care of two hospitalized patients on a medical/surgical unit. The first patient was a 64 year old male, admitted for pneumonia, and the second patient was a 56 year old...

To Find Answers We Must Look To The Stars

A Ukrainian soldier told me that to find answers we must look to the stars. I was volunteering in Transcarpathia and sat with him while he pointed out constellations above the mountains. Through a combination of broken English and drawings in the sand, he said...

The Quandary of Being a Dyslexic: My Literary Experience

Like most people, my first experience of literature began with those four small words that despite their cliché so perfectly epitomise childhood imagination; once upon a time. Though in my case, they epitomised only stress and difficulty. Having been diagnosed with dyslexia at an early...

• Reading Books

An Event In My Life Having Impacted My Identity

A big influence that really made an impact in my identity formation is my dad leaving us. Him not being there made it really hard, not only on me and my sister but my mom as well. My dad isn’t the best person in the...

• Personal Identity

Best topics on Personal Experience

1. The Canvas of Self: A Kaleidoscope of Experiences

2. The Scariest Moment of My Life: A Brush with Fear

3. Reflecting on an Experience that Shaped My Character

4. An Unforgettable Day: A Chapter Etched in the Tapestry of My Life

5. A Visit to the Grocery Store: My Recent Experience

6. A Turning Point: An Event That Changed My Life Forever

7. A New Chapter Unfolds: Reflections on My First Day of High School

8. A Journey Through Time and Tranquility: About a Place I Visited

9. The Best Day of My Life: a Beacon of Positivity in My Journey

10. My Memorable Experience and How It Has Shaped My Perspective

11. A Night in a Haunted House: An Eerie Experience

12. Narrative About Death of Family Member’s Passing

13. My Near Death Experience at the Beach: A Life-Altering Encounter

14. Reflections on the Death of a Loved One

15. Why I Choose Biotechnology: A Personal and Professional Journey

• Personality
• Being Different
• Actions Speak Louder Than Words

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Personal Experience - List of Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Essays on personal experience often take the form of narrative or reflective essays, sharing personal stories, insights, and lessons learned from particular life events or challenges. They might explore the growth and transformation of the author, the impact on their relationships or worldviews, or the broader social, cultural, or philosophical insights derived from the personal experience. These essays often aim to evoke empathy, understanding, or introspection, and might also delve into the processes of memory, identity, and storytelling. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to Personal Experience you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

My Personal Experience of PTSD

Post traumatic stress disorder also known as PTSD is one of the most common mental illnesses in the world.  Anyone that is faced with trauma and shock can develop PTSD. Someone diagnosed with PTSD can show no outward signs of mental illness until they are triggered, so you should never assume who has PTSD and who does not. People who have experienced war combat, rape, natural disasters, serious accidents, acts of terrorism, and personal violence can all develop PTSD. "While […]

My Personal Experience

Money is one of the most important things in our lives, next to food, a home to live in, transportation, amongst many other things, but of course you wouldn't be able to have these things without money. I understand many people believe money can buy happiness because without money we wouldn’t have the many things we appreciate in life now. I believe money can’t buy us happiness. Money gives us instant gratification, will never be enough, and I believe in […]

My Love for Mathematics Since Childhood

It all started from my childhood, I loved mathematics to the extent that I used to teach pupils like me. At primary 3, I became the best student in mathematics and was given six books as a prize. Many parents usually strongly urge their children to choose medicine, pharmacy, and the like as their preferred courses at the end of secondary school, but my parents realized early on that I will thrive in a mathematics and logical thinking related course. […]

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A Personal Experience Narrative on Racism

Experiencing Racism and Stereotyping Racism is still very much instilled in society, whether direct, subconsciously, or indirectly is still present in all our lives, every day, whether we notice it or not. I, as a Dominican American woman, have experienced racism personally, and I've seen it very much active and in ways that shouldn't be socially acceptable. As early as the 5th grade, I experienced prejudice indirectly. I attended "All Saints Regional Catholic School," where the students were predominately white. […]

Personal Experience Essay about Love: the Ignition of my Soul

Childhood Memories: The Black Piano in My Youth A cool, summer breeze air was blowing in through a window of our five thousand square foot house that day. The sky was a clear, baby blue, with the fluffiest white clouds as I followed my parents into our living room. In the corners of my memory, a black piano takes up space on one side. In the corners of the house of my youth, a black piano lay. I remember that […]

Personal Narrative about my Education

It was not until college when I realized I was considered or called an English language learner (ELL) back in elementary school. When I was young I always knew I was bilingual but never heard the negative term of ELL or students with English as a second language (ESL) until middle school. My first language was Spanish, and English did not get introduced into my life until I was 3 years old. As soon as I heard my older brother […]

A 16-Year-Old Child does not have the Personal Experience to Influence the Future of the Country

Have you ever wanted to do something but couldn't? Well, that's how most 16- and 17-year-olds feel. In 1776, when the United States was formed, only certain people could vote. These people were white men who were over 21 and owned land. Nearly a century later, the 15th amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. This amendment eliminated racial barriers, but some states didn't like this and continued to discriminate against people. In 1920, women nationwide gained the ability to […]

Personal Experience Helps to Understand the Depth of the Poem

Robert Lee Frost was an American poet born in San Francisco. Although he lived a few years in England, he spent most of his life in the United States. He was known for writing about the beauty of nature, with the exception of the poem, “Acquainted with the Night.” This poem was first published in the “Virginia Quarterly Review” in 1927, and soon after it was published in Frost's book “Running Brook” in 1928 (Shmoop Editorial Team). It is written […]

My Favorite Toys as a Child

Reflecting on my childhood, I remember how a marker and a whiteboard used to be my favorite plaything. I recall myself pretending to be a teacher and scribbling words on the whiteboard to teach my imaginary students. Little did I know what a teacher was and how they impacted the lives of so many young people. But as I grew up, went to school and earned my educational experiences, I began to appreciate the immense contribution they made in molding […]

My Personal Experience that Led to Success

I understand why common core is an issue for some people and students. From personal experience, the state tests that I had to take were difficult, but they helped me learn how to deal with failure and disappointment. Just because I did not do as well as I wanted to, it did not stop me from achieving my goals and bettering myself for the future. As I already said, failure leads to success. CCS was put together by men and […]

My Personal Experience of Getting to Know Asperger’s Syndrome

The beginning of this paper covers the history of Asperger’s Syndrome, followed by an explanation of what Asperger’s is. The history provides detailed insights into Hans Asperger and Leo Kanner, and their relationship to each other. Their work has significantly enriched our understanding of the research surrounding Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome. The paper also discusses the process leading to Asperger’s becoming a recognized diagnosis, including the contributions of Lorna Wing and Ulta Frita. Furthermore, it traces Asperger’s entry into the […]

Dancing as my Passion

Dance is an art, in my word. Art is the window of my soul, is the tool for the communications with others, and the magic thing about dance is you can use the beauty of your body language to express your feeling and convey your message to the audience. Dance is the language hidden in the soul, every movement is a word, and it combine the dance to this beautiful poem. In fact, I have several years of dance experience […]

Personal Experience, Intuition, Spontaneous Emotions that Romantic Music Helped to Develop

Romantic music emerged in the 18th century, emphasizing personal experience, intuition and spontaneous emotion. There are four principal ideals of Romanticism: individualism, love of nature, fascination with the supernatural and nationalism. Individualism pertains to distinguishing oneself from the masses. In the context of Musical Romanticism, individualism places emphasis on originality and distinctiveness; in other words, personal emotional expression. Essentially, Romanticism in music was of two kinds - romantic idealists and romantic realists. The idealists maintained that music must exist for […]

How the Personal Experience of Nurses Helps to Care for the Elderly

 Introduction This paper will discuss, analyze, and reflect on the different types of professions which involve aging. The first section of this paper will explore the top three commonly known careers that care for the elderly. These three main careers include a Certified Nursing Assistant, a Registered Nurse, and a Geriatric Social Worker. Following the descriptions of these careers, an interview was also organized. The professional who consented to being interviewed is Micah Gultom, 43. Micah has been living in […]

Personal Experience that Changed my Life: a Journey of Resilience and Discovery in South America

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns. These events can lead us into unknown territories, redefining our purpose and identity. I once had a profound encounter that did just that. It reshaped my life's trajectory and taught me the power of resilience and adaptability. In this narrative, I share that personal experience. I want to highlight the lessons I've learned and how my perspective has changed forever. Unveiling New Horizons As I embarked on a solo backpacking expedition through […]

Personal Development Plan is very Important

Identify sources of support for your own learning and development. Sources of support for my learning and development include attending all my study days and getting help to finish my apprenticeship program on time. Also, attending all my trainings to stay up-to-date with my role is very important. I can also get support from my mentor, team meetings, conversations with my colleagues, research, appraisals, supervisions, and observations with my mentor or manager. Describe the process for agreeing on a personal […]

My Fox Experience with how i Studied Mathematics

Before expressing my admiration for the University and stating the reasons limit and my choice, I would like to give you some personal information. My name is Semen Borisov. I finished high school in Russia, and I am strongly planning to link myself with China. I am extremely enthusiastic about my decision to study mathematics, economics, business at university. As for as long as I can remember these disciplines have been an inseparable part of my life since the middle-school. […]

My Career Benefiting from the Intersection of Nutrition and Mental Health

I want to pursue a Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School because I want to extend my career interests to the intersection of nutrition and mental health. I will be focusing on age-associated conditions which influence the development of disabilities such as poor mobility and dementia. After earning my PhD in Public Health on the relationship of nutritional biochemistry and epigenetics of vitamin D metabolism and cancer, I turned my interests to broader associations of nutrition and […]

My Experience in Helping People with the Help of Psychology

Since I was first introduced to the subject science, I was very passionate about it. I often sit there and observe people wondering, why they are so diverse? Struggling with attention or eating disorders? As well as finding out the answers to these questions, I want to help people and I am confident that Psychology will allow me to do that. At high school, my favourite subject was science and thus I came to the decision of studying BTEC Applied […]

My Health Behavior Led me to Take up Sports

Personal health behaviors encompass any activities an individual undertakes that impact their wellbeing. These health behaviors may help to prevent underlying medical conditions (Baranowski, Perry, and Parcel, 2012). Although some personal health behaviors are deliberate, others are entirely unintentional. My health behavior is a gradual shift to frequent exercising, especially taking morning or evening walks, and running. The transition from not exercising to regularly exercising came about due to the benefits it brought to my life, which are related to […]

Practice of Working with Medical Professionals

“Frozen!” Yelled the OR nurse, while rapidly transporting what appeared to be a simple cystic ovary to the surgical pathology lab. We locked eyes and I immediately got to work. Dr. Sutherland punctured the specimen and fluids came flowing out, but this time there was hair and teeth inside! The rush from seeing my first teratoma was incredibly exhilarating and piqued my curiosity. Yet, while my foray into Pathology played a distinct and remarkable role in my life direction, I […]

Personal Narrative: Trouble Whith my Education

On December 21, 2018, I received news from my university’s honor board that I had been accused of plagiarizing an assignment. I, in turn, spent the entire winter break thinking about the extent of plagiarism committed and the subsequent consequences of this incident. Later, I learned that it was very minor and that I had accidentally ignored to put proper references ('insufficient citations'). I consider it a lesson well-learned in that even such a minor mistake will have a strong […]

My Volunteering Experience in the Medical Field

“Aaaaaah”, I heard a loud scream coming from downstairs as I ran down to the kitchen and saw my mom standing over my grandpa lying on the floor. She had tears running down her cheeks. I held her hand and shook her. “Go call 911,” I said. As, he gasped for breath and struggled to speak, I knelt down and put my hand on his heart. I loosened his shirt, bent his knees, and put a pillow under his head […]

A Caribbean Cruise Changed the Trajectory of my Career and Lifestyle

Like most people, I enjoy traveling. I immerse myself in the excitement of exploring new destinations. Regardless of how many vacations I went on, there was always a feeling of post vacation blues on the flights back home. It was because I knew it would be at least another year before I would be on a plane again heading off to some new or a favorite destination. That’s about how long it would take my husband and I to save […]

About me and my Sister Future Plans and how they did Throughout the Lifespan and what God Intended for me

Personally I have always had a strong belief that God sends people to us all for specific reasons. When I walked into the room waiting to find my sister to interview I was incredibly nervous. I had concerns of having nothing to discuss or having difficulty relating to my sister’s life experiences. However, as soon as sister Regina sat down with Lauren and I all my worries had gone away completely. The warmth and love sister Regina gives off is […]

Importance of Personality and the Characteristics of Personality

"What is personality and how does it shape who I am?" This is a question someone may ask themselves. While there is no simple answer, it can certainly be addressed. Just like fruit, all things can be compared and analyzed. Personality supposedly defines who we are. It determines whether we like attending parties, how we tolerate uncomfortable situations, and how much we procrastinate. Dissecting the concepts of determinism and free will, depending on which one you believe in, can give […]

Research Related to the Personality Styles

I would like to start off by saying that I scored relatively low in the majority of the personality styles. The book states, however, "A low score in any style does not indicate a deficiency in personality." (Oldham, J., & Morris, L.B., 2012). The traits I scored the lowest in were solitary, idiosyncratic, mercurial, sensitive, devoted, leisurely, aggressive, and serious. The trait in which I scored the highest was the conscientious-style, followed by (still marked by a low score), self-sacrificing, […]

About my High School Experience

My name is Arizona Poole, and I am a junior at Cornerstone. I have attended Cornerstone since 5th grade. I've wanted to be a teacher all my life. Since I was a young child, I've known that teaching is what I want to do. The only thing that has changed is the grade I want to teach. I am an extremely responsible and hardworking student. I am a part of the Beta Club and Community Service Club. In 10th grade, […]

Personal Narrative about New Year’s Day where Personal NarrativeMy Birthdays

It was at Buffalo Wild Wings, where a spicy wing on the menu was described by the waiter as "as spicy as a ghost pepper" due to their very own mango habanero sauce. My uncle challenged me to eat the wings for the stake of 300 dollars. I didn't want to appear timid in front of all my older cousins either. Unfortunately, one had to be at least 14 years old to eat the wing, but I had just turned […]

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Everyone has a unique story to tell, whether it is an unforgettable moment, an embarrassing or a valuable experience. Though these events in life can be positive or negative, the uptake is that they are worth remembering.

Every person has been in a challenging or memorable situation that meant dealing with hardships and making tough choices. The critical thing is whether you learned something from this life experience. Overwhelming events teach lessons about overcoming obstacles and reaching your goals. They can also help you discover your inner self and strength.

Writing about a personal experience in life is not always straightforward. In practice, you will explore and read several essay examples on personal experience. You must also have profound knowledge of writing a thought-provoking introduction and conclusion.

Typical storytelling won’t do the job. Ideally, you’d hook your readers by revealing a sorrow you overcame, a failure that sharpened your character, or an incredible transformation fueled by a misfortune. These types of essay topics about personal experience show triumph over adversity and are a compelling read.

If you feel reluctant about your thesis statement or the outline, don’t hesitate to check the numerous free narrative essays about life experience at PapersOwl. The stories available on this top-notch writing platform will inspire you to create a real masterpiece. You can also get practical assistance from an expert who will craft a unique personal experience in research paper example in a few hours.

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🧓🏼 Personal Experience Essays

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• College Experience
• Helping Others
• High School Experience
• Life Changing Experience
• Life Lesson
• Personal Challenges
• Personal Philosophy
• Self Reflection
• Volunteering
• 🎯 Personal Goals
• 🌱 Personal Growth
• 💪 Personal Strengths
• 👨‍⚕ Dream Job
• 👷🏽‍♀️ Work Experience

Most callow writers may consider personal experience essays the easiest writing task. However, this topic still has a lot of requirements. You may ensure that such essays are not only about what you know or feel. Persuasive essays about life experiences belong to academic papers, and you may trace how skillfully our authors handle this simple and simultaneously challenging task. Our database showcases lots of samples covering this topic.

Challenges in Writing Personal Experience Essays

In your personal experience narrative essay, you do not have to refer to any additional references, just your life experience. However, a high-quality essay must be persuasive and make the reader visualize all your feelings and emotions. The individual background should be analyzed and concluded in your paper.

Students are often given essays about the experience to make them conclude themselves while analyzing the behavior or actions of others. You should be creative and write a thought-provoking and logical outcome of your personal experience.

Use Our Personal Experience Essay Examples as a Writing Guidance

Have lots of experience, but no idea how to organize your thoughts into coherent text? So, use our personal experience essay examples so as not to take the wrong turn.

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You may skin several pages from our samples if you need to tune into a creative mood. The abundance of ideas may inspire any student evoking bright thoughts and ideas.

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As a rule, the teachers give you a topic, and you concentrate on it. No matter what you write, a college essay about a personal experience, or any other type of paper, do not forget formatting. Applying our samples, you may emulate the structure of a personal essay and invent an exciting topic.

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15 Inspiring Personal Narrative Examples for Writers

Reveal a part of yourself in your essay.

Students start writing personal narratives at a young age, learning to use descriptive language to tell a story about their own experiences. Try sharing these personal narrative examples for elementary, middle, and high school to help them understand this essay form.

What is a personal narrative?

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use descriptive language, and be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. The essay should recount your personal experiences, including your thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Learn more about personal narrative essays here:

• What Is Narrative Writing, and How Do I Teach It in the Classroom?
• Engaging Personal Narrative Ideas for Kids and Teens
• Best Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing in Elementary School

Elementary School Personal Narrative Examples

In elementary school, personal narratives might be quite short, just a paragraph or two. The key is to encourage kids to embrace a personal style of writing, one that speaks in their own voice. Take a look at these elementary school personal narrative essay examples for inspiration.

The Horrible Day

“next i fell asleep in my cereal and my brother stole my toast”—anonymous student.

In this short personal narrative written by a 2nd grader, the author describes a bad day with lots of details and an informal tone. It’s a great model for your youngest writers.

Read the full essay: The Horrible Day at Thoughtful Learning

Keep an Eye on the Sky!

“as we made our way out to the field, my stomach slowly turned into a giant knot of fear.” —anonymous student.

Any student who dreads gym class will connect with this essay, which turns a challenge into a triumph. This narrative from Time for Kids is annotated, with highlighted details and tips to help kids write their own essay.

Read the full essay: Keep an Eye on the Sky! at Time for Kids

Grandpa, Chaz, and Me

“i really miss grandpa, and so does my brother, even though he never met him.” —cody, 4th grade student.

Written by a 4th grader, this essay relates the author’s loss of a grandfather at a very young age. Using simple, personal language, they tell a compelling story in a few short paragraphs.

Read the full essay: Grandpa, Chaz, and Me at Thoughtful Learning

Surviving an Embarrassing Situation

“i had made the shot in the wrong basket, giving the green shirts the win” —anonymous student.

Personal narratives tell a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. This annotated essay outlines those parts, making it easier for young writers to do the same in their own writing.

Read the full essay: Surviving an Embarrassing Situation at Sopris West Educational Services

“Do you have a friend who loves you?” —Kendra, 4th grade student

Writing about friends gives writers the chance to describe someone’s physical characteristics and personality. This 4th grade essay uses personal details to bring a beloved friend to life.

Read the full essay: Ann at Thoughtful Learning

Middle School Personal Narrative Examples

By middle school, personal narratives are longer and more involved, telling more detailed stories and experiences. These middle school personal narrative essay examples model strong writing skills for this age group.

“As thoughts of certain death run through my mind, the world appears a precious, treasured place.” —Amy, student

Describing an opportunity to overcome your worst fears makes an excellent personal narrative topic. The vivid descriptions of the landscape and the author’s feelings help the reader make a strong connection to the author.

Read the full essay: The Climb at Thoughtful Learning

The Best Friend Question

“i’ve often wondered, does not having a best friend make me defective” —blanche li, age 13, diablo vista middle school, danville, california.

When her Spanish teacher asked students for an essay describing their best friend, 13-year-old Blanche Li fell back on her standard story: that of a made-up person. Here, she explains why she made up “Haley” and wonders what having an imaginary best friend says about her.

Read the full essay: The Best Friend Question at The New York Times

The Racist Warehouse

“i didn’t know racism was still around; i thought that situation had died along with dr. king.” —alicia, 8th grade student.

Strong personal narratives often relate the way the author learned an important life lesson. Here, an 8th grader describes her first experience with racism, in an essay that will sadly ring true with many readers.

Read the full essay: The Racist Warehouse at Thoughtful Teaching

“For the first time, we realized that we didn’t know how to express our voice, and we always suppressed it.” —Jocelyn C., 7th grade student, Texas

Seventh-grader Jocelyn C. describes the unique experience of spending two years living in an RV with her family, traveling the country. She relates the ups and downs of their trip, illustrating the way her family learned to live together in close quarters and embrace the adventure.

Read the full essay: RV Journey at Write From the Heart

An Eight Pound Rival

“i’m trying to accept that he didn’t mean to dominate the center stage all the time, that’s just one of the many lovable assets of his personality.”.

A new sibling can change everything in a family, especially when you’ve always been the baby. This middle schooler explains her challenging relationship with a little brother that she loves, even when he drives her a bit crazy. (Find this essay on page 42 at the link.)

Read the full essay: An Eight Pound Rival at Teaching That Makes Sense

High School Personal Narrative Examples

High school students have more complex stories to tell, though they’re sometimes reluctant to do so. Reading personal narrative essay examples like these can encourage them to open up and get their thoughts, feelings, and ideas down on the page.

Sorry, Wrong Number

“when i received the first text, i was a playful sixth grader, always finding sly ways to be subversive in school and with friends.” —michelle ahn, high school student.

When Michelle Ahn was 11, she started getting texts for a wrong number, a man named Jared. Rather than correcting the error, she spends the next few years occasionally engaging with his texters as “Jared,” learning more about him. Though she finally comes clean, her time as “Jared” exposes her to a way of life very different from her own, and opens her eyes to the inner lives of others.

Read the full essay: Sorry, Wrong Number at The New York Times

Caught in the Net

“little does everyone else know how often i’m not doing school research or paper writing; instead i’m aimlessly writing emails or chatting with internet friends and family hundreds of miles away.” —kim, college student.

Even before social media and smartphones swept the world, internet addiction had become a problem. Here, a student shares her experiences in AOL chat rooms, meeting people from around the globe. Eventually, she realizes she’s sacrificing life in the real world for her digital friends and experiences, and works to find the right balance.

Read the full essay: Caught in the Net at Thoughtful Learning

Nothing Extraordinary

“an uneasy feeling started to settle in my chest. i tried to push it out, but once it took root it refused to be yanked up and tossed away.” —jeniffer kim, high school student.

During an ordinary shopping trip, high schooler Jenniffer Kim suddenly realizes she’s ashamed of her mother. At the same time, she recognizes all the sacrifices her mom has made for her, and gladly takes the chance to make a tiny sacrifice of her own.

Read the full essay: Nothing Extraordinary at The New York Times

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

“at this point in life, i had not yet learned to be gentle with myself, or others.” —anonymous student.

A teen who lives with bipolar disorder recounts a difficult conversation with her parents, in which her mother dismisses her as “crazy.” A few years later, this same teen finds herself in the emergency room, where her mother has just tried to die by suicide. “Crazy!” the daughter thinks. After her mother also receives a bipolar disorder diagnosis, the author concludes, “‘Crazy’ is a term devised to dismiss people.”

Read the full essay: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black at Pressbooks

What a Black Woman Wishes Her Adoptive White Parents Knew

“i know that i am different, but do not have the words to understand how.” —mariama lockington.

Though not written by a high schooler, this essay by Mariama Lockington makes an excellent mentor text for this age group. Lockington dives deep into her feelings about being adopted by parents of a different race, and shares her challenges in poignant language that speaks directly to the reader.

Read the full essay: What a Black Woman Wishes Her Adoptive White Parents Knew at Buzzfeed News

Do you use personal narrative examples as mentor texts in your classroom? Come share your experiences and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook !

Plus, strong persuasive writing examples (essays, speeches, ads, and more) ..

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / Experience / Personal Experience

Personal Experience Essay Examples

The ignorance of humanity.

One enchanting spring evening, my family decided to take a drive down a rural road. My dad rolled down the windows and I stuck my head out to get a better view of the upcoming sunset. With the wind in my hair, I witnessed an...

The Role of Faith in My Life

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” Helen Keller. If you asked many people, you would get different answers from everyone because faith is different for everyone. Faith is a very important value for me. Faith...

Personal Narrative: Learning from My Mistake

“Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts.” - Nikki Giovanni. Life is about making mistakes. This is an essential part of life and it is how we grow and learn in our everyday lives. It is okay to...

Examples of Social Imagination I Have Experienced

Sociological imagination “allows us to look beyond a limited understanding of human behavior to see the world and its people in a new way and through a broader lens than we might otherwise use. ” For me, being in college has really allowed me to...

Embracing Diverse Intelligences: My Personal Statement

I am interested in this topic because it is one of the most interesting topics about multiple intelligences and because it has been assigned to us to report and discuss with the whole class, so that's why I chose to write multiple intelligences essay.  My...

Master of Public Administration: My Choice and Achievements

To start with, this is MPA personal statement essay.  From my childhood days, I always want to be a leader and serve the community. I have worked hard to study in my school and college days. I have done my graduation from Dr. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR...

How Academic Path Increased My Intellectual Vitality and Curiosity

I became familiar towards the unfamiliar as I continued to sparkle my ever-growing curiosity and intellectual vitality, in this essay I want share how my academic path teaches me the art of using my own weakness to my advantage. How it increased the complexity of...

An Example of Persuasive Speech About Life

What is life? It’s quite funny how people, not only do they not understand what life is, but also don’t even live to enjoy their own lives whilst still alive. This is an example of persuasive speech about life where I will try to share...

What Was My College Experience

My name is Victoria Rodriguez; I show leadership in my life by attending college because I am the first generation in my family to attend school. In this college experience essay I will share personal story of attending college.  I see myself as a leader...

Coming to America: Personal Experience of Living at New Place

To start with, this is coming to America essay example paper where I will show personal experience. My first steps on American soil wasn’t really on American soil, it was on the tarmac of the airport, the people around me where speaking and at the...

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