Personal Essay Topics

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  • Writing Essays
  • Writing Research Papers
  • English Grammar
  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

A personal essay is an essay about your life, thoughts, or experiences. This type of essay gives readers a glimpse into your most intimate life encounters and lessons. There are many reasons you may need to write a personal essay, from a simple class assignment to a college application requirement . You can use the list below for inspiration. Consider each statement a starting point, and write about a memorable moment that the prompt brings to mind.

  • Your bravest moment
  • How you met your best friend
  • What makes your mom or dad special
  • How you overcame a fear
  • Why you will succeed
  • Why you made a difficult choice
  • A special place
  • A place you try to avoid
  • When a friend let you down
  • An event that changed your life
  • A special encounter with an animal
  • A time when you felt out of place
  • An odd experience that didn't make sense at the time
  • Words of wisdom that hit home and changed your way of thinking
  • A person you don't like
  • A time when you disappointed someone
  • Your fondest memory
  • A time when you saw your parent cry
  • The moment when you knew you were grown up
  • Your earliest memory of holiday celebrations in your home
  • Times when you should have made a better choice
  • A time when you dodged a dangerous situation
  • A person you will think about at the end of your life
  • Your favorite time period
  • A failure you've experienced
  • A disappointment you've experienced
  • A surprising turn of events
  • What you would do with power
  • What superpower you would choose
  • If you could switch lives with someone
  • How money matters in your life
  • Your biggest loss
  • A time when you felt you did the wrong thing
  • A proud moment when you did the right thing
  • An experience that you've never shared with another person
  • A special place that you shared with a childhood friend
  • A first encounter with a stranger
  • Your first handshake
  • Where you go to hide
  • If you had a do-over
  • A book that changed your life
  • Words that stung
  • When you had the desire to run
  • When you had the urge to crawl into a hole
  • Words that prompted hope
  • When a child taught you a lesson
  • Your proudest moment
  • If your dog could talk
  • Your favorite time with family
  • If you could live in another country
  • If you could invent something
  • The world a hundred years from now
  • If you had lived a hundred years earlier
  • The animal you'd like to be
  • One thing you'd change at your school
  • The greatest movie moment
  • The type of teacher you would be
  • If you could be a building
  • A statue you'd like to see
  • If you could live anywhere
  • The greatest discovery
  • If you could change one thing about yourself
  • An animal that could be in charge
  • Something you can do that robots could never do
  • Your most unfortunate day
  • Your secret talent
  • Your secret love
  • The most beautiful thing you've ever seen
  • The ugliest thing you've seen
  • Something you've witnessed
  • An accident that changed everything
  • A wrong choice
  • A right choice
  • If you were a food
  • How you'd spend a million dollars
  • If you could start a charity
  • The meaning of color
  • A close call
  • Your favorite gift
  • A chore you'd do away with
  • A secret place
  • Something you can't resist
  • A hard lesson
  • A visitor you'll never forget
  • An unexplained event
  • Your longest minute
  • An awkward social moment
  • An experience with death
  • Why you'll never tell a lie
  • If your mom knew, she'd kill you
  • A kiss that meant a lot
  • When you needed a hug
  • The hardest news you've had to deliver
  • A special morning
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110 Personal Essay Topics

Though written from a lived experience, personal essay topics can be tricky to come up with because they have to be universal enough for other people to relate to.

Since the skill of writing a good essay is being able to paint an image with words, students must choose a topic that will get others interested in the story and what it has to say about life, society, or themselves.

In essence, personal essays are written from a personal point of view and express a writer’s own insights, opinions, and feelings on a particular topic. Additionally, these types of essays lead to an overall point, lesson, realization, or revelation.

Most commonly, personal essays are written by high school students as part of their college applications. However, there are many other reasons that a personal essay may be assigned or written, including:

  • Scholarship applications
  • Job interview
  • Writing contest
  • Grad school admission

Students and others struggling with a valuable personal essay topic can choose from any of the 110 personal essay topics on this list to help them get started.

How to Write a Personal Essay

Writing a personal essay requires following traditional essay guidelines, structure, and format. However, you must ensure that your essay is personal and tells a story about yourself rather than being purely academic.

For instance, you might explain an experience that changed your worldview or share an opinion on something important to you, even if it’s controversial.

It’s often helpful to make a list of experiences you may want to share before starting the writing process.

If you’re struggling with writing your personal essay, you can order one from the professional writers at Write My Essays or hire a tutor at Wyzant to ensure it meets all requirements and effectively tells your story.

Introduction

The introduction to your personal essay will set the scene for the reader. Therefore, your personal essay needs to start with a compelling hook that will draw the reader in and make them want to read more.

This hook statement could be a humorous or poignant anecdote related to your topic or a line of questioning that the reader will be interested in following. For example, some possible opening lines for a personal essay could start with:

  • “I remember exactly where I was when I first realized …”
  • “What would you do if you knew the world was going to end tomorrow?
  • “So, I once had this problem …”

These beginning lines will often create questions in the reader’s mind, which is an excellent way to capture their interest and keep them reading. Following this initial opening sentence, you can introduce other details as you build up the main point of the story.

Your introduction should end with a thesis statement that verbalizes the general direction the story will go.

Body Paragraphs

Generally, a personal essay will have no less than three body paragraphs that detail your experience in chronological order. Each section should discuss one part of the story, including the events leading up to it, what happened during the experience, and what you learned from it.

Body paragraphs may also include examples of feelings, emotions, or arguments that support your experience. The goal of a personal essay is to share a compelling story and teach the reader something about life or themselves by using specific details and language.

Consider this formatting when creating the body paragraphs of your personal essay:

1st Paragraph

  • Beginning of the story that answers questions related to “Who?” and “Where?”
  • Initial attitudes, moods, feelings, and assumptions about the event or experience about to take place

2nd Paragraph

  • Middle of the story
  • Details that show how the situation evolved over time, including any changes in mood or assumption on your part

3rd Paragraph

  • Ending of the story/resolution
  • The final analysis on overall feelings, emotions, and mood

By sticking to this formatting for the body paragraphs, students can ensure that they are telling the story correctly and including every key detail as it happens.

Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion of a personal essay is optional and depends on what you want to accomplish with the telling of your story. If you want to leave the reader feeling inspired or emotionally moved, then focus on summarizing the main points in a short paragraph that ends on a positive note.

However, if this was a darker story, you may want to use the concluding paragraph to sum up your feelings after the experience has ended or explore any unanswered questions that remain.

In any event, your conclusion does need to include an overall moral or lesson of how the writer:

  • overcame hardship
  • rose to the occasion
  • identified new traits or abilities that they never realized existed
  • turned defeat into success
  • followed their instincts and made the right choice
  • came to appreciate something about life after the experience took place

Any of these statements can stand alone as a powerful lesson learned. However, when combined in one concluding paragraph, you will leave your reader with a profound impression.

Using any of these 110 personal essay topics will ensure that you have a strong and interesting story to tell.

Personal Essay Topics About Relationships

  • What was a time when you made a friend?
  • What would your worst enemy say about you?
  • Talk about the death of a friend.
  • How did it feel to be bullied in school?
  • The time when you had to get along with a sibling despite being different ages
  • What you learned from your first relationship
  • Why marriage isn’t important to you
  • How you discovered polyamory, and how it changed your view of relationships
  • How your best friend made you a better person
  • The lesson you learned from being catfished
  • The first time you experienced heartbreak
  • A funny story about how technology ruined a relationship.
  • How did you learn to recognize love?
  • Who would you consider your soulmate? What makes them that person specifically for you?
  • What was your most embarrassing moment as a boyfriend or girlfriend, and what did you learn from it?

Personal Essay Topics About Hardships

  • The worst thing that ever happened to me
  • The roughest time in my family’s life
  • The hardest challenge I’ve ever had to overcome
  • How did you deal with the stress of moving?
  • What was your most embarrassing moment as a kid?
  • What are some reasons that I am grateful for my disability/illness/condition?
  • When have you had an “Aha!” moment in life?
  • What’s something terrible that happened to you that turned into something good?
  • What’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned from my failures?
  • The time when it almost felt like the world was against me
  • How did I handle/recover from a severe illness/injury/accident?
  • When was the first time I realized that life isn’t fair?
  • What was the biggest struggle I went through in my teens?
  • The most challenging situation I faced in high school
  • When was a time when I made a negative impact on someone else?
  • The first time I got caught stealing
  • The most embarrassing mistake I ever made with money
  • What was the most challenging thing about getting sober/clean/overcoming addiction?
  • When did I realize that life is short and that nobody is promised tomorrow?
  • How did you learn to persevere through tough times?

Personal Essay Topics About Success & Achievements

  • Best moment in my sports career
  • My greatest success story
  • The time I overcame my fear and found strength I didn’t know I had.
  • What’s the happiest day of my life?
  • How did I learn to overcome failure?
  • The time I knew that dreams really do come true
  • My greatest triumph over adversity – and what it taught me about myself.
  • What made you realize that you have to work hard in order to achieve something meaningful in life?
  • When did I know that I had made it in life?
  • When was the first time you were acknowledged for your achievements?
  • The night when my hard work truly paid off
  • My most powerful moment after overcoming a setback
  • How did I become successful?
  • What are some defining moments in my career?
  • How did I make it through a difficult time in college/university?
  • What motivated me to become the person I am today?

Personal Essay Topics About Personal Growth & Self-Reflection

  • Whose lifelong encouragement helped make me who I am today
  • The first time I took responsibility for my own actions
  • What gave me the courage to be myself?
  • The most valuable life lesson I’ve ever received. Who taught it to me, and what was the context?
  • How did I get through a difficult childhood/adolescence/teenage years?
  • What did I learn from becoming a yoga master?
  • How has meditation helped me overcome anger issues?
  • How did I recover from using drugs and alcohol?
  • What’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned from quitting my job?
  • When did I realize that life is too short to hate someone?
  • The moment when I knew it was time for a change
  • I made a mistake – and this is how I bounced back
  • How did I overcome depression/anxiety/mental illness?

Personal Essay Topics About Passions & Hobbies

  • How did learning a skill change my life?
  • Why exercise makes me a better person
  • My passion for writing
  • What’s the best advice I’ve ever received? Who gave it to me, and in what situation?
  • The moment when I realized my true calling in life
  • The importance of keeping a journal and how it has helped me become a better person
  • My biggest bucket list dream and why it’s so important to me
  • What is my vision for the future?
  • How did I find peace, contentment, and happiness?
  • The time when I truly lived outside of my comfort zone
  • When was the moment when I felt like I “got” meditation?
  • My journey towards becoming vegan. What inspired me to make this change, and what were the challenges I faced?
  • What lessons have been easy for me to learn, and which ones have been harder?
  • The time when travel changed my life

Personal Essay Topics About Challenges & Failures

  • The low point of my life and how I got through it
  • How did an illness/injury/death in the family affect me?
  • Why did I decide to stop going on blind dates?
  • What were the consequences of losing my temper, and how did I make amends?
  • The time when I was broken. What happened, who got hurt, and how did it affect me? How did I overcome this experience?
  • When was the moment when I realized that my words carry weight?

Personal Essay Topics About Family & Childhood Memories

  • The time when my family showed me what unconditional love means
  • My most vivid childhood memory and how it has affected me as an adult
  • How did I learn to be patient and kind?
  • What was the moment that sparked a change in my life? What caused this change, and what happened after the changes took place?
  • The moment when I realized the true meaning of friendship
  • What lessons did growing up teach me about life?
  • My childhood dream and what it taught me about myself
  • How do I feel about my hometown after living in three different places?
  • Why is it important to visit your birthplace/hometown during holidays/vacations?
  • My family’s most influential life lesson and how it has affected me
  • What was the moment when I realized that my parents had their own struggles?
  • The time when I learned about my family history. What happened, why did this happen, and how did it affect me? How did things change after this event?
  • What do I know about family traditions now that I didn’t understand as a child?
  • Why are your family memories vital to you?

Personal Essay Topics About Cultural Heritage & Identity

  • What does being bilingual/multilingual mean to me? Why is it unique?
  • My first interaction with someone from another culture
  • What’s wrong with cultural appropriation, and how did I learn to stop?
  • The moment when I became aware of my race/ethnicity
  • My culture’s most influential life lesson and how it has affected me
  • How I learned to not be afraid of my cultural differences
  • Why is diversity important in my community? In what ways do I contribute?
  • The moment I realized that I am proud of my culture
  • How has the immigrant/refugee experience shaped who you are today?
  • How traditions have changed the way I view my family

Personal Essay Topics About Childhood Dreams & Aspirations

  • What were my childhood dreams, and how have they changed over the years?
  • How did I make peace with the fear of growing up?

Any of these 110 personal essay topics are perfect for students struggling to find a topic that will impress a college admission officer or any other person with whom you’re trying to connect with on a personal level through storytelling.

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Personal Essay Topics

personal essay topics

Samuel Gorbold

A personal essay is a piece of writing where the author explores and shares their own experiences, thoughts, or feelings. It combines storytelling with reflection, offering insights into the author's life and perspectives. This form of writing is often used to connect with readers on a personal and emotional level.

In this article, you will find 100+ personal essay ideas to inspire you. If you still have struggles after reading this article, EssayHub is the perfect service for assistance with any type of essay. The team at EssayHub consists of experienced writers who specialize in various subjects, ensuring that your essay is not only well-written but also tailored to your specific needs. Whether you're looking for help with brainstorming ideas, structuring your essay, or polishing your final draft, EssayHub provides comprehensive support to help you succeed.

How to Choose a Personal Essay Topic?

To begin with, you need to define a topic. Finding a personal essay idea that can make a difference can be difficult, but following certain steps will lead to choosing an inspiring and effective topic. Here are helpful steps:

  • Contemplate Influential Experiences : Ponder on significant occasions, experiences, or actions that would warrant a monument. What inspired you in a way you didn’t shape for yourself?
  • Recognize Passions : The inventory should include leisure activities and activities one enjoys. Being passionate about the topic of your essay is always beneficial because you will derive a certain amount of satisfaction from the writing process, and the resulting essay will be much more engaging.
  • Know Your Audience : Think about the audience to read your essay. Select a topic close to your heart that others may not have approached in such a manner.
  • Focus on Specific Themes : Analyze broad ideas to narrower events or themes. Precision enhances the quality of writing, making essays realistic and detailed.
  • Highlight Uniqueness : Look for unique ideas or angles of commonly tackled subjects. Every piece of writing requires creating something new, which is special about essays.
  • Evaluate Scope : Make sure your chosen topic encompasses a large idea and has clear boundaries. A clear scope means we can cover all the areas within without getting quagmired in the details.
  • Check Emotional Resonance : Choose a subject that is relevant to you. Liverpool passion means quality writing that captures the reader’s attention.
  • Confirm Relevance : Ensure compliance with the regulations of the essay. Meet all assignment criteria.
  • Get Feedback : Share ideas with friends and family members, teachers, and anyone else the student feels comfortable speaking to. Their expertise can enhance subjects/topics in terms of their definition and scope.
  • Revise Thoughtfully : Look at chosen topics more carefully and write small outlines to check whether the selected depth is enough. Tweak as needed.

These are some of the steps that aid in choosing the most relevant essay topics that make audiences understand. For more detailed information on this topic read how to write a personal essay guide.

100+ Best Personal Essay Topics

People like writing many personal essays because it allows them to share something from their lives, opinions, or feelings with others. Since personal essays are narrative, people can introduce themselves to the readers and share valuable lessons. These essays can describe an important event in one’s life, describe an interesting self-development process, or discuss a relevant and important relationship. The following is a list of personal narratives that will assist you in putting together some of the most inspiring and easy-to-follow personal essays that will appeal to the reader.

  • A life-changing experience
  • Overcoming a fear
  • An important relationship
  • This term is a turning point in your life
  • Your favorite place
  • An action that you had to take that was not very easy to make
  • Your proudest moment
  • The worst & most common lesson from failure
  • Someone who influenced your life
  • A memorable journey
  • Technology and its effects on your Life
  • The importance of education
  • A cultural experience
  • A hobby or passion
  • The role of community service

Personal Essay Topics About Relationships

The choice is undoubtedly deeply dictated by relationships. Here are 15 ideas on meaningful connections:

  • The role of friendship in personal development
  • Presence or management of conflictual relationships in the family
  • Looking at Careers from a Different Angle: The Influence of Role Models on Career Choices
  • The process of solving problems in a relationship between two partners
  • Conclusions and recognition that the friendship failed
  • Part of trust is practicing the elements of building successful relationships.
  • How has your relationship with your sibling affected you?
  • The role of communication in relationships and between people
  • One that influenced your outlook on life
  • How Social Media Affects Your Interpersonal Connections
  • How can long-distance relationships be useful for understanding commitment?
  • The basis for harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships  
  • Combining business meetings and interpersonal communication
  • Empathy in creating stable relationships
  • Relationships that helped you understand and define yourself

Personal Essay Ideas About Success

Success can be defined in many ways. Here are 15 detailed personal essay ideas about success:

  • What gives you goosebumps?
  • How students achieve sociocultural competence
  • Achievements that were the result of failures.
  • The ability to persist until success is achieved
  • Creating your concept of success
  • How Mentoring Can Impact Your Success
  • Obstacles to career success
  • Passion in the design of success
  • Choosing between career and family or friends.
  • Success, earlier in your life
  • Family support and its impact on achieving failure
  • Why goals should not only be set but also achievable
  • How collaboration can lead to achievement
  • What is more important: identifying problems in successful and unsuccessful projects or managing lessons learned?
  • The role of self-discipline as a driving force for success

Personal Essay Topic Ideas About Challenges

Challenges are a part of life and often lead to growth. Here are 15 detailed personal essay topic ideas about challenges:

  • What are your main life goals?
  • The general issue of environmental change
  • Personal experience with a health problem and how it influenced your opinion
  • All aspects of loss management.
  • Ability to work, attend school, and manage time for other important activities
  • Difficulties that a person encounters in the process of acquiring a new skill
  • Facing fear face-to-face
  • The conflict of confronting one's beliefs
  • Making a Difficult Decision
  • The impact of financial problems on a person's life
  • Overcoming cultural barriers
  • Mental health dynamics are an issue that many people face in their daily lives.
  • Maneuvering to meet expectations
  • Natural disaster - seeing and knowing what it means to be in the middle of it
  • Husband and wife find it difficult to maintain a relationship

Personal Essay Topics About Personal Growth

Personal growth is a lifelong journey. Here are 15 detailed personal essay topics about personal growth:

  • How did a significant life event impact your life?
  • Travel and its influence on self-development
  • The process of self-esteem is a process of individual change
  • How did you learn something new or acquire a new skill or talent?
  • Education is one of the main factors of self-development
  • Overcoming personal weakness
  • The role of a mentor in your development
  • You need to see how volunteering has changed your thinking.
  • The process of discovering direction in life
  • The process of increasing self-esteem
  • How can difficult experiences be positive for personal development?
  • How Mindfulness Impacts Your Life
  • Learning to accept change
  • A look at the goals you should set in your life
  • Personal development: how it relates to oneself and in the areas of interpersonal communication

personal life essay topics

Personal Essay Ideas About Hobbies

Hobbies play a significant role in our lives. Here are 15 detailed personal essay ideas about hobbies:

  • How does your favorite hobby affect your personality?
  • How can you take your hobby to the next level of skill?
  • Stress and ways to solve this problem
  • How a hobby can open you up and bring you closer to people
  • The influence of hobbies on the decision to choose a profession
  • A new leisure activity and how it affects you
  • Why creativity should be supported even in adulthood.
  • Development of children's hobbies
  • Why is it difficult to find time for a hobby?
  • Family is one of the factors influencing hobbies
  • Personal experience of how interest saved you during a difficult period
  • Activities you can do outdoors
  • A new hobby that is outside of your interests
  • How pursuing a hobby can benefit a person socially
  • Positive changes that occur as a result of engaging in a hobby

Personal Essay Topic Ideas About Childhood

Childhood experiences often shape who we become. Here are 15 detailed personal essay topic ideas about childhood:

  • A Memorable Early Adventure
  • Experiences that contributed to the development of your qualities
  • Important Early Lessons
  • Cherished childhood friendship
  • Favorite family rituals
  • Contributions from your environment to your point of view
  • Children's imagination
  • Victory over youthful fears
  • People who influenced you to do something
  • Did not achieve the dreams and aspirations set in youth or continued to pursue those dreams
  • Children's passions and professional activities
  • How to become stronger after difficult events or situations
  • Special places of childhood
  • Memories that still resonate today
  • The role of education in human development

Personal Essay Topics About Family

Family is a central part of our lives. Here are 15 detailed personal essay topics about family:

  • Cultural characteristics and the importance of cultural practices
  • How families can affect your work and livelihood
  • Support from other family members in overcoming challenges
  • Important Family Milestones
  • Values ​​learned at home
  • Gender roles and family relationships, individual development
  • Special holiday memories
  • The role of brothers and sisters
  • Resolving family conflicts
  • Cultural heritage passed down by inheritance
  • How to cope with the death of people we care about
  • Family members as inspiration
  • Respecting individualism amidst expectations
  • Extended family connections
  • Development of generational rituals

Good Personal Essay Topics

Good personal essay topics are those that resonate with you and your readers. Here are 15 detailed good personal essay topics:

  • Books that inspired your life path
  • Stepping outside your comfort zone
  • Acquiring Intercultural Perspectives
  • Teachers who influenced your ideas
  • Victory over fears
  • Sports and character development
  • Transformative volunteer work
  • Learning from failures
  • Navigating adolescence
  • Inspirational art or music
  • Challenging long-held assumptions
  • Travel that expands your horizons
  • Technology to improve your lifestyle
  • Important personal achievements
  • Places of special significance

Assessing what content makes a good personal essay can make it enjoyable for readers to write and read. The best and most effective personal essay questions are often natural and can arise from active feelings or lessons learned. This means avoiding choosing boring subjects or subjects of little interest to you; the more you write about something you love, the more it will be reflected in your work. Moreover, people like to read articles that describe their experiences, events, important steps or changes in the author's life, and articles that express people's problems. Remember, if you need essay writing assistance or additional instructions, you can contact EssayHub.

personal life essay topics

What Are Good Personal Essay Topics?

Samuel Gorbold , a seasoned professor with over 30 years of experience, guides students across disciplines such as English, psychology, political science, and many more. Together with EssayHub, he is dedicated to enhancing student understanding and success through comprehensive academic support.

  • ‍ On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King.
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personal life essay topics

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100 Inspiring Personal Essay Topics by PaperTyper.ai

personal life essay topics

What is Personal Essay

Tips for Writing a Personal Essay

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Personal essay topics for college students, personal cause and effect essay topics, personal argumentative essay topics, unique personal essay topics.

Crafting personal essay topics is like selecting the perfect brushstroke for a painting. Each topic is a brush dipped in the hues of your experiences, capable of creating a vivid tapestry of emotions and thoughts. Yet, it's a delicate art, for these topics must bridge the gap between your personal narrative and the universal human experience.

In my writing journey, I've discovered that personal essays possess a unique power. They allow us to delve into our innermost thoughts, bringing them to life with words. These essays are a dance between the deeply personal and the universally relatable, offering readers a glimpse into our lives while echoing their own stories.

Personal essays transcend mere storytelling; they carry a message, a lesson, a revelation. They find their way into various aspects of our lives, from college applications to job interviews and writing contests. This article'll explore 110 personal essay topics, each a potential masterpiece waiting for you to paint with your words. Let's embark on this creative journey together and discover the topics that will inspire your storytelling prowess.

A personal essay is my heartfelt story, a window into my world. It's where I share my experiences, thoughts, and emotions, inviting readers to connect with my life's moments. Whether reflecting on personal growth, travel adventures, or social issues, it's my voice, perspective, and chance to convey life's significance through my lens.

Nowadays, with advancements in technology shaping our creative landscape, tools like paper typer AI provide an additional avenue for refining our narratives, assisting in the articulation of thoughts and emotions with greater precision and efficiency.

5 Tips for Writing a Personal Essay

These tips were instrumental in shaping my personal essay: ‍

  • Authentic Voice:  Embrace your unique style and voice; authenticity resonates.
  • Vivid Details:  Paint a vivid picture with sensory details; make readers feel your experience.
  • ‍ Engaging Hook:  Start with a captivating anecdote or question to draw readers in.
  • Reflect & Connect:  Reflect on your experiences and connect them to broader themes or insights.
  • Concise Focus:  Stay focused on a central theme or message to avoid diluting your essay's impact.

100 Personal Essay Topic Ideas

  • My most memorable travel experience.
  • The day that changed my perspective on life.
  • An encounter with a childhood hero.
  • A life-altering decision I made.
  • The role of family in shaping my identity.
  • A moment when I overcame a fear.
  • My first job and the lessons I learned.
  • An unexpected act of kindness I received.
  • A significant friendship that impacted my life.
  • My journey of self-discovery through a hobby.
  • A challenging life lesson learned through adversity.
  • A cultural tradition or celebration that holds personal meaning.
  • The impact of a book or movie on my beliefs.
  • An embarrassing moment that taught me humility.
  • The importance of a personal passion or hobby.
  • A life-changing conversation with a loved one.
  • The influence of a teacher or mentor on my growth.
  • The role of pets in my life and personal development.
  • A personal achievement I am most proud of.
  • The experience of moving to a new place and adapting to change.
  • The transition from high school to college life.
  • Balancing academics and extracurricular activities.
  • My most challenging course and how I coped.
  • The impact of college friendships on personal growth.
  • My aspirations and goals for the future.
  • The significance of internships and career preparation.
  • Overcoming the fear of public speaking or presentations.
  • The role of volunteering in shaping my values.
  • Coping with stress and time management in college.
  • My cultural identity in a diverse college environment.
  • The lessons learned from a gap year experience.
  • The importance of networking and building connections.
  • Coping with homesickness and maintaining relationships.
  • The influence of college extracurriculars on personal development.
  • Navigating the challenges of long-distance relationships.
  • The impact of studying abroad on cultural awareness.
  • The role of technology in college life and education.
  • Coping with academic failures and setbacks.
  • The influence of college professors on my perspective.
  • The significance of graduation and future plans.
  • The effects of childhood trauma on adult relationships.
  • How personal fitness habits impact overall health.
  • The consequences of a particular dietary choice.
  • The impact of social media on mental well-being.
  • The effects of procrastination on academic performance.
  • How volunteering affects personal happiness.
  • The consequences of a specific addiction or bad habit.
  • The impact of positive thinking on personal success.
  • How travel experiences change one's worldview.
  • The effects of peer pressure on decision-making.
  • The consequences of a significant life decision.
  • How financial choices impact personal freedom.
  • The effects of a strong support system on resilience.
  • The impact of self-care practices on stress management.
  • How environmental choices affect personal health.
  • The consequences of a significant career change.
  • The effects of educational choices on future opportunities.
  • The impact of personal belief systems on behavior.
  • How mentorship can shape one's career path.
  • The consequences of embracing a minimalist lifestyle.
  • Is technology making us more or less connected?
  • Should standardized testing be a primary measure of student success?
  • Is social media beneficial or detrimental to society?
  • Should college education be free for all students?
  • Is climate change primarily caused by human activity?
  • Should the legal drinking age be lowered or raised?
  • Is homeschooling a better alternative to traditional schooling?
  • Should animals be used for scientific research?
  • Is the death penalty an effective form of punishment?
  • Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use?
  • Is privacy more important than national security?
  • Should there be stricter gun control laws?
  • Is online learning as effective as traditional classroom learning?
  • Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
  • Is censorship ever justified in the media?
  • Should there be limits on free speech in the digital age?
  • Is genetic engineering ethical for humans?
  • Should fast food restaurants be held responsible for obesity?
  • Is the government's role in healthcare too extensive?
  • Should there be restrictions on the sale of violent video games?
  • The art of finding beauty in everyday moments.
  • The connection between music and my emotional state.
  • A day in the life of a fictional character I created.
  • The symbolism of a recurring dream or nightmare.
  • The impact of a specific smell or taste on memory.
  • The experience of visiting a haunted place.
  • The role of superstitions in my life and decision-making.
  • A conversation with my future self.
  • The journey of learning a unique skill or craft.
  • The experience of living off the grid for a week.
  • A personal philosophy derived from a childhood story.
  • The significance of a lucky charm or talisman.
  • The lessons learned from a failed creative project.
  • The exploration of lucid dreaming and its possibilities.
  • The perspective of an inanimate object in my room.
  • The influence of a specific piece of art or sculpture.
  • The impact of color on my emotions and creativity.
  • The experience of attending an unconventional event or festival.
  • The role of serendipity in shaping my life's path.
  • The insights gained from living through a natural disaster.

In closing, I've journeyed through many personal essay topics, each offering a glimpse into the tapestry of human experiences. These topics are not just subjects for writing; they are gateways to self-discovery and connection. As I've explored them, I've learned that personal essays transcend the boundaries of mere storytelling; they are a medium for sharing the depth of our humanity. So, as you embark on your personal essay writing journey, remember that your unique perspective is a gift. Embrace it, nurture it, and let it flow through your words. Share your stories, connect with others, and enrich the world with your personal essays.

biology ia topics

200 Narrative Essay Topics: Academic, Funny, Personal Life

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A narrative essay tells a story about a specific event or experience. A well-written essay helps readers visualize the exciting story clearly and vividly. However, students often struggle to write a narrative essay because they don’t have the best topic.

To tell the reader an exciting story, first, you must choose good narrative essay topics for your story. Once you select the right idea, it means you are half done with your essay.

Table of Contents

What Is A Narrative Essay

A narrative essay uses primarily descriptive and sensory information to validate the author’s point and story.

In simple words, a narrative essay is all about storytelling from the author’s perspective, which attracts the reader’s attention and helps them create a vivid and exciting image of the story.

According to (Students” writing: 84-91), A narrative essay has three mandatory elements:

  • Character:  The essay has two main characters, the author and some other characters, who relate to each other and the story.
  • Theme:  A theme or motif is always the central point of the narrative essay, primarily portrayed in the thesis statement.
  • Dialogue:  The conversation between the characters is referred to as dialogue.

Whenever you come up with  writing a narrative essay , please consider these elements to make it perfect.

How Do We Make A List of Top Narrative Essay Topics?

To create lists, we start by brainstorming our experiences, emotions, and situations that happen most often. Then, we note our ideas by focusing on which are most common in other students and how they can engage and inspire the readers.

We are sure that our crafted list includes a mix of narrative essay topics, including personal experiences, funny topics, fictional ideas, and sports events. Finally, we develop a wide collection that showcases our creativity and connects with our audience on a deeper level.

Our efforts are the key to your solution to the narrative essay topic. With that in mind, let’s begin.

Choose Topics For A Narrative Essay In 4 Simple Steps

Choosing a narrative essay topic can be straightforward if you follow these four simple steps:

Recall Your Personal Experiences

Think about the critical events, challenges, and moments of joy in your life. Consider the moments that have shaped you and left a lasting impression. Using this practice, you can choose a specific moment of your life from the narrative essay topics below.

Identify Themes and Emotions

Determine the central theme or emotion you want to convey in your essay. Every student has their own emotional state, allowing them to write about their interests. Choose a topic that matches your desired message, whether you want to talk about personal growth, school life, or sharing a funny incident.

Keep your audience in mind

Think about what would engage and resonate with your readers. For example, pick a motivational incident from your life if your target audience is broader. Furthermore, if your target audience is just a class of teenagers, try to choose funny topics for a narrative essay.

Narrow Down Your Choices

Make a list of top narrative essay topics and check out each one by one based on their significance and the details you can provide. Select a topic on which you have a lot of information, offer the wealthiest narrative, and allow you to tell a compelling story.

By following these steps, you can select a  narrative essay writing  topic that is meaningful and engaging.

70 Most interesting and trendy Narrative topics for Students

Interesting and trendsetter narrative essay topics always remain the top priority for students. What sets these ideas apart from others? The topics were primarily adopted from everyday student life, and after brainstorming, we evaluated 70 mostly relatable issues.

We have further categorized these topics on different academic levels in the section below. Read further and find a suitable topic of interest from the lists below.

Narrative Essay Ideas for Middle School

  • Things to do when bored in the classroom
  • A funny classroom incident that makes us laugh
  • The day when I met my best friend for the first time
  • A unique family tradition that inspires me a lot
  • Why did I learn to play a musical instrument
  • A Christmas day I will never forget
  • Riding a bike for the first time: my review
  • The time I got lost in the jungle
  • Helpful advice from my Grandparents
  • My first sports game in school
  • It was the best summer vacation I spent
  • A time when I stood up for my rights
  • My experience in solving mathematical problems in fun ways
  • A school trip to a historical place
  • The most exciting book I’ve read
  • A time I got in trouble
  • Making new friends in school
  • The best gifts I’ve ever received
  • What I learn from a challenging school project
  • I learn to perform publicly

Narrative Essay Topics for High School

  • My experience with high school bullying
  • My major academic achievement
  • A mentor helps me in creative learning
  • My experience with peer pressure
  • How do I manage to overcome school obstacles
  • The moments when I make the difficult decision
  • How I prepare myself for future career
  • The Impact of social media on my life
  • My challenge in sports
  • Volunteering myself for student councils
  • The Importance of friendship in my life
  • My tricks to balance school and extracurricular activities
  • A book or movie that inspired me a lot
  • My plans to get admission to college
  • How do I overcome my lack of confidence
  • I set myself aside from school violence activities
  • How do I manage my expenditure with an online paying job
  • The moment when I discovered my passion
  • Powerful quotations that I read for self-motivation.

Choosing a topic is a little bit easy, but writing a narrative essay is a little bit hard. To overcome writing barriers, we have compiled some  examples of a narrative essay , which will ultimately help you out in writing a compelling essay on your own.

Narrative Essay Topics Ideas for College

  • How do I find the best college for my study
  • A significant turning point in my life
  • What challenges do I face in living away from home
  • A time when I failed and bounced back
  • My life-changing Internship experience
  • My personal experiences of studying abroad 
  • Excitement of the day when I got my driver’s license
  • My favorite subject in college and why
  • My efforts in time management
  • An Inspirational guest lecture 
  • A significant personal growth moment
  • Dealing with homesickness
  • How my college roommate became my buddy 
  • I tried to manage my budget in college life
  • My tips to avoid distraction

Good Narrative Essay topics on Learning and Education

  • How do I overcome a learning challenge
  • My most memorable school project
  • A field trip to remember in whole life
  • Hurdles I face in learning a new language
  • Positive impacts of technology on my education
  • My experience with remote learning
  • A memorable time I failed and what I learned from the failure
  • The book that inspired me a lot
  • My experience in participating in a Science fair
  • My opinion about extracurricular activities on learning
  • My interesting group study session with friends
  • The Importance of education in my family
  • My passion for reading books
  • An Inspiring educational speaker to which I listen
  • My techniques for preparing for a significant exam

These above-mentioned ideas for narrative essays are common and relatable to every student’s academic life. If you have chosen a topic but don’t know how to write an essay, just read these  tips to improve narrative writing  for your essay.

70 Good Narrative Essay Topics for Students: Personal To Sports Life

Writing an effective narrative essay allows students to explore the depth of their experiences. These essays can range from author reflections to humorous anecdotes. 

Here are 70 narrative essay topics: personal life tales, literary adventures, and funny and thrilling sports moments. Each topic offers a unique opportunity to engage the readers and reflect on the actual factors of life.

Personal Narrative Essay Topics About Life

  • What happens to me on my first day at school
  • It was a memorable birthday that gave me a lot of surprises
  • A family vacation in beautiful mountains
  • My first day in learning to ride a bike
  • My favorite pet, which is no longer with us
  • My feeling when I Win a competition at school
  • A day at the beach with my friends
  • Funny moments in my first time cooking
  • A surprise gift that I got from my father
  • A visit to the zoo for the first time
  • My academic journey with my best friend
  • How I overcome my fear of dogs
  • Challenges in moving to a new house
  • A holiday tradition in my village
  • A time when I got lost
  • A remarkable achievement in my career
  • Helping a stranger was the best moment in my life
  • Crying on my last day at school
  • A day well spent in the park with school friends
  • How did I develop my interest in literature 

Literacy Narrative essay topics

  • What I feel when someone motivates me
  • My personal opinions towards book reading
  • Learning to write essays is easy for me: you know why?
  • Discovering a new genre of literature helps me
  • I learned a way to write assignments that leave a positive impact
  • Why my teachers love me more than others in school
  • Assisting others in hardships makes me feel proud
  • Influence of my favorite author and why?
  • The best advice that I have ever got from parents
  • Online gaming helps me a lot with critical thinking
  • A collection book of poems which I gave to my little sister
  • How I benefit from the writing guide 
  • The first time I wrote a story
  • A literary character I relate to myself
  • Why do I not watch horror movies?
  • The first time I enjoyed poetry.
  • My favorite science fiction novel
  • How reading helps me in overcoming a challenge
  • My poor writing skills make me feel embraced in class
  • My recommendations on books to read about religion 

Funny Narrative Essay topics

  • The day I wear mismatched shoes
  • Prank my friend once, which goes wrong
  • An experience when I got stuck in the elevator
  • A hilarious miscommunication moment occurred during my presentation
  • A disaster happens to me at a costume party
  • The worst haircut makes my friends laugh at me
  • The time I got lost in my neighborhood
  • A funny camping experience with my friends
  • My first and probably last dance experience in school
  • The funny moment when my cell phone got caught in the classroom
  • My pet caused chaos on the day of my brother’s wedding
  • The funniest mistakes I have made in my science project
  •  The Day I Played a Joke on My Teacher
  • My Funniest Social Media Mishap
  • The moment when I tried to speak a foreign language for the first time

Bonus tip:  Funny narrative essay writing is sometimes hard for students because of its limited humorous nature. To overcome this issue we have developed a free  AI essay writer  tool which will add fun and humor in your essay.

Ideas for Narrative Essay about sports

  • My first sports team experience
  • How do I heal from a bad injury in sports
  • Cheering moments when I scored the winning goal
  • Why do I always try to learn new sports?
  • Sports helped me build confidence
  • The most challenging game I have ever played
  • My relationship with a coach
  • My major sports rivalry, which ends up with a fight
  • My team-building experience
  • Personal recommendation to deal with sports pressure
  • Sports helped me develop discipline
  • Share your first childhood sports mishap
  • Motivate my friends to get involved in sports
  • The Impact of sports on my life
  • My funniest sports moment

Blunders while narrative writing happens when you choose a topic on your own without preparation. Worry not, just pick the best topic from the above list and then follow these common  mistakes to avoid in narrative essay  to make it error free.

60 Unique Topics about Narrative Essay

If your narrative essay is unique compared to the others, then it is a win-win situation. In the lists below, you will find unique topics, whether you want to write about a fictional story, hobbies, motivational stories, or say something about some cultural and societal issues. 

Fictional Narrative Essay Ideas

  • A mysterious package arrives at my door
  • The night when I dream about time travel
  • My survival on a deserted island for months
  • It’s a story about my four friends and a magician.
  • My childhood dream was to become a professional athlete.
  • A World Where Animals Can Talk
  • Living in a world without electricity
  • I discover a portal in my backyard
  • Dreaming about being friends with an alien, which turns out to be true
  • A tale about a person who walks on water with superpowers
  • A secret behind the haunted house in my neighborhood
  • Imagining a school where children have magical capabilities
  • My opinion on the diary of a Pirate Captain 
  • A day when everyone speaks the truth
  • A robot becomes my best friend

Best Narrative Essay Ideas On Hobbies and Interests

Every student has a natural instinct to develop hobbies and interest in their lives. Below are some narrative essay topics which primarily focus on hobbies and interests.

  • My love for painting makes me feel proud
  • My journey in learning a new language
  • I found pleasure in planting trees in my garden
  • My friend’s passion for hiking
  • My thrill for collecting vintage items
  • Creating my first DIY project
  • My love for playing chess
  • My passion for cooking and trying new recipes
  • My collection of books, which I read a lot
  • Hearing birds chirp in the morning gives me a boost
  • Writing my first short story
  • Why I volunteer myself at an animal shelter
  • Learning to dance: my first class
  • My passion for traveling to discover new cultures
  • Benefits of creating my blog on the Internet

Narrative Essay Topics Related To Culture And Society

  • My experience of a cultural festival for the first time
  • Growing up in a multicultural family makes your experience more enjoyable
  • A tradition that has been passed down in my family
  • The positive effect of my cultural heritage on my identity
  • Why I found it challenging to adapt to a new cultural environment
  • Learning about my ancestry and heritage
  • My experience in participating in a traditional ceremony
  • The role of food in my culture
  • My experience with cultural exchange programs
  • A memorable visit to a historical, cultural site
  • The Influence of Media on Cultural Perceptions, in my opinion
  • My recommendations on how to preserve cultural heritage
  • The challenges of being bilingual
  • The role of religion in my society
  • Positive impacts of social media on society, according to my opinion

Best Motivational Ideas for Narrative Essay

  • A story of personal growth
  • Rebuilding my life after a significant loss
  • It was a precious time when I made a difference in my community
  • How do I conquer my biggest fear of life
  • The power of positive thinking in shaping your life
  • My strategy to turn failure into success
  • A journey of self-discovery
  • How do I find inspiration in unlikely places 
  • How I stay motivated during tough times
  • The influence of a mentor in my life
  • Finding a way to utilize my inner strength
  • Family support in my achievements
  • Random acts of kindness return with a big reward in my life
  • My motivation to stay strengthened in hardships
  • My secret ways to appreciate the little things

Writing a narrative essay is a daunting task for many students. To understand the reason behind why it is hard to write you must go through these  examples of narrative essay types  and find out the differences for each one.

Questions to help you choose a narrative essay topic

If you still need clarification about selecting the best topics for a narrative essay even after watching out from the above list. Just stay calm and think about these questions mentioned in the list below, and you will find a solution to choosing a topic.

1What are the earliest memories of my life? Think about your early life incidents.
2Think about some memorable moments, especially from middle or high school.
3Remember some special events you have seen in your early life that you remember clearly.
4Some harmful incidents happen to you that stay in your mind forever.
5Positive moments are when you do something extraordinary that changes your life.
6Consider when you make your friends, parents, or family feel proud.
7Furthermore, think of your sports life, such as your first sport, relation with your coach, funny sports moments, or injuries you suffered in the game.
8Ask yourself questions about some places you have visited and have good memories.

Focusing on these questions will help you uncover the best moments in your life. These questions are most common and generic in every student’s life.

Use our words as your narration

Writing a narrative essay to express your experiences is difficult, as it requires words that show emotions and feelings to engage the reader. Consider using our  professional essay writing service  to make the process easier and more helpful. Our skilful and experienced team will provide a polished, well-structured essay that effectively communicates your narrative to your audience.

No Confusion Left In Your Mind Now

You can now easily choose suitable narrative essay topics from the above lists. These rewarding topics allow you to explore and share meaningful experiences with the readers.

Whether you write about personal narrative essay topics, educational journeys, funny incidents, or memorable sports events, we have covered each aspect. Take out your pen, choose a topic, and begin writing down your experiences and thoughts to make the reader remember your words.

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550 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing

Questions that invite students to tell stories, describe memories, make observations, imagine possibilities, and reflect on who they are and what they believe.

personal life essay topics

By The Learning Network

Update, Sept. 9, 2022: We published a new collection of 445 narrative and personal writing prompts.

We’ve been posting fresh writing prompts every school day for over a decade now, and every so often we create a themed collection like this one to help you find what you need all in one place.

This fall, in honor of our new narrative-writing unit and our first-ever Personal Narrative Essay Contest for teenagers, we’ve rounded up 550 evergreen questions on everything from family, friendships and growing up to gender, spirituality, money, school, sports, social media, travel, dating, food, health and more. (They’re also all available here as a PDF .)

We hope they’ll inspire you, whether you’re entering our related contest or just want to improve your writing skills. Like all our Student Opinion questions , each links to a related Times article, which is free to read if you access it from our site.

So dive in and pick the questions that most inspire you to tell an interesting story, describe a memorable event, observe the details in your world, imagine a possibility, or reflect on who you are and what you believe.

Overcoming Adversity

1. How Resilient Are You? 2. What Do You Do When You Encounter Obstacles to Success? 3. When Have You Failed? What Did You Learn From It? 4. Have You Ever Felt Like an Outsider? 5. What Are Your Secret Survival Strategies? 6. When Have You Reinvented Yourself? 7. How Often Do You Leave Your ‘Comfort Zone’? 8. When Was the Last Time You Did Something That Scared or Challenged You? 9. How Do You Handle Fear? 10. What Do You Gain From Pursuing Something You Do Really, Really Badly? 11. Do You Give Yourself Enough Credit for Your Own Successes? 12. How Often Do You Cry? 13. How Do You Cope With Grief? 14. How Have You Handled Being the ‘New Kid’? 15. How Do You Deal With Haters? 16. How Do You React When Provoked? 17. Does Stress Affect Your Ability to Make Good Decisions? 18. Are You Too Hard on Yourself? 19. How Do You Find Peace in Your Life? 20. Does Your Life Leave You Enough Time to Relax? 21. What Did You Once Hate but Now Like? 22. Do Adults Who Are ‘Only Trying to Help’ Sometimes Make Things Worse? 23. How Well Do You Take Criticism?

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Top 50 Personal Essay Topics

You might be set a personal essay as a criterion for your admission to college or it might be set at any time during your academic career. A personal essay is essentially a form of self-expression. It draws on other essay formats – like a narrative essay – but of all academic assignments it is the loosest and least dogmatic. It can be more prosaic than other more technical formats demand. Whatever form, at its core is the presentation of your experience or emotions. It is a time when you can find your muse and really express yourself in the written word.

  • I went to college to say thank you to my parents
  • How being bullied made me the person I am today
  • William Blake is the poet I most admire
  • My spirit of adventure
  • How I propose to spend the long vacation
  • Why I am taking a gap year
  • What the “art of conversation” means to me
  • Why I left Facebook
  • I want to be able to drink legally before I’m 21
  • How being in a band helped my leadership skills
  • Why I chose a career in the medical field (or any other field)
  • My first experience as a babysitter
  • Becoming an older sister (or brother)
  • I will be a lifelong learner
  • My father (mother) is my hero
  • Life skills I learned in college
  • Why I love the Golden Age of Hollywood
  • Chocolate is my comfort food
  • The reasons I keep a food diary
  • The bravest thing I have ever done
  • The one thing I would change about the world
  • I will never forget the day that …
  • The advice I would give to a new high school student
  • My siblings and childhood
  • How I would spend $1 million
  • The place I would most like to live
  • The proudest moment of my life so far
  • Did I feel pressured into going to college?
  • Why I joined an online dating site
  • I wish I had looked after my teeth
  • The things I learned from my grandmother (father)
  • I’m proud to be a Millennial
  • The way I deal with my allergies
  • Why opera moves me so much
  • My love of Shakespeare
  • I will never prefer eBooks over printed books
  • Why pole dancing is my favorite form of exercise
  • I wasn’t allowed a pet as a child. Today I have 5 pets.
  • Why marine pollution breaks my heart
  • I took a gap year but wish I had traveled more
  • Why I plant a new tree every year
  • I do not use social media
  • I wish my mother had taught me to cook
  • Visiting museums has taught me a great deal
  • Monet and Van Gogh are my favorite artists
  • An eclectic music taste makes me interesting
  • I want to enter local politics in my 40s
  • It’s time I learned to appreciate my Irish roots
  • There was a time when …
  • If I ruled the world …

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100+ Personal Essay Topics For College And Writing Tips

Jared Houdi

Table of Contents

70 Great Personal Essay Topics for College

Looking for interesting personal essay writing ideas? We’ve got a bunch…

A personal essay is a typical assignment for high-school and college students. It’s a type of non-fiction that incorporates a variety of writing styles. Personal essay topics usually include real stories, experiences, and opinions of people.

Writers need to give an account of their own experience and express their thoughts on the subject of a paper. The key to success is to make an attempt to combine narration and opinion together. In this article, you will find a short writing guide and 100+ engaging personal essay topic ideas.

How to write personal essays?

Keep in mind that personal writing is always subjective. It is based on the writer’s observation, feelings, opinion, and experience. You are the speaker, so it’s quite natural to use such pronouns as I, my, me, we, and our.

First of all, most essay writing websites will say that you need to find a compelling topic. College personal essay topics include a lot of things.

Students may be asked to

  • state their opinion about an issue
  • document what they observed
  • share a story
  • give a description of an object, event, place, person
  • relate a specific subject to their own life

Whatever theme you choose, it’s crucial to start an introduction of your paper with a strong hook to capture the audience’s attention. Introduce the subject in the first paragraph. Think about the main idea you want to communicate.

In the body of your paper, inform readers about the subject. It’s better to create an outline before to start writing. It will help you organize your thoughts, stay focused, and write clearly and concisely. Start each paragraph with a new idea. Show, don’t tell. Use strong verbs and include a lot of sensory details.

End with a thought-provoking conclusion. You need to explain what lesson you have learned, how your experience contributed to your development as a person and shaped your personality.

Why choose personal persuasive essay topics for writing

When writing on personal persuasive essay topics, writers must state their position or opinion on an issue and try to persuade people to accept their point of view, telling stories and appealing to their feelings and emotions.

That differs from elaborating on personal argumentative essay topics, when students have to support their point of view with strong arguments, reasons, relevant examples, appropriate illustrations, etc.

These types of papers are not easy to write as well as papers on personal cause and effect essay topics.

But there are important reasons why you may want to do that.

  • You’ll improve communication and critical thinking skills .
  • Challenging themes can help you stand out from the crowd.
  • You will be able to demonstrate your creativity and ability to apply persuasive techniques.

… Can’t decide what idea to choose?

Here we have gathered a wide variety of moving ideas for your inspiration. Whether you need personal experience essay topics or personal narrative essay topics, we’ve got you covered.

Personal essay topics: what are they about?

You may write on any subject. Popular themes include hobbies, nature, childhood, illness, travel, making a difficult choice, learning something new, friends, family, and relationships.

You may use some personal challenge essay ideas and tell about overcoming an obstacle. Or you can buy argumentative essay if you don’t have time to work on college tasks tonight.

Actually, the subject is not as important as you think. Readers want to see your point of view that reveals your unique personality.

  • How you met a special person in your life?
  • A person you admire most.
  • The best place in the local area.
  • A place where you would like to live your whole life.
  • Works of art you admire.
  • The job of your dream.
  • Your biggest disappointment.
  • Books that made a great impression on you.
  • What annoys you?
  • Your family traditions.
  • Are you addicted to technology?
  • What modern songs inspire you?
  • Could you live without money?
  • Do you like commercials?
  • What is your best method of studying?

Personal narrative essay topics

  • Tell about your first trip abroad.
  • The most unfortunate event ever happened to you.
  • What happened during your first day at school?
  • What is your first childhood memory?
  • What is your most memorable family event?
  • Did you experience failure?
  • What games did you play when you were a child?
  • The biggest challenge you have overcome.
  • Do you remember your first birthday party?
  • Tell how you learn something new.
  • Have you ever encountered a wild animal?
  • Tell about the first time you were home alone.
  • How you cooked a meal for the first time?
  • Tell how you helped someone.
  • How you overcame fear?

Personal experience essay topics

  • What things make you feel happy?
  • How you came to healthy eating habits?
  • How did you celebrate Christmas?
  • Did you bring a stray animal home?
  • How did you learn to drive?
  • How you met a famous person?
  • How did you learn something from enemies?
  • Describe the accidents you witnessed.
  • How you got hurt?
  • Describe disastrous trips or vacations.
  • Fantastic concerts you attended.
  • Describe terrifying nightmares.
  • Your reaction when provoked.
  • Experience of being a leader.
  • A friendship breakup experience.

Personal argumentative essay topics

  • What could you live without?
  • Why are you concerned about environmental issues?
  • How much money do you need for happiness?
  • What does your ethnic identity mean to you?
  • Significance of personal growth.
  • Male and female roles in your family.
  • Your attitude to feminism.
  • Explain what does it mean to be a Human.
  • Most precious moments of your life.
  • What is more critical: wealth or happiness?
  • Your attitude to getting a tattoo.
  • Is it important to be crazy about fashion?
  • Your opinion on cosmetics surgery.
  • Significance of healthy lifestyle choices.
  • Your favourite holiday destinations.

College personal essay topics

  • Have you been in love with someone?
  • What is your life’s goal?
  • What does success mean to you?
  • How freedom matters in your life?
  • How you leave the comfort zone?
  • Things you appreciate in life.
  • What things do you hate?
  • How you met college roommates?
  • Your plans on spending a gap year.
  • How you got your first job?
  • Describe intellectual challenges you would like to solve.
  • What did you learn from failures?
  • Outdoor activities you like most.
  • Explain your commitments.
  • What motivates you?

Personal persuasive essay topics

  • Your opinion of distant learning and online education.
  • Can listening to music help complete your homework faster?
  • Can hobbies help in a future career?
  • Is it ethical to buy products tested on animals?
  • Why is volunteering important?
  • Should drugs be banned?
  • Your favourite restaurant everyone should visit.
  • Things to do to help our world survive.
  • How can we make the world a better place?
  • Is it possible to avoid stress?
  • Should zoos be forbidden?
  • How online shopping makes me spend more money?
  • Why I don’t smoke.
  • Things I want to be doing when I become 85.
  • Why do I recommend students to study abroad?

Personal cause and effect essay topics

  • Why I don’t watch TV.
  • Reasons I go in for sports.
  • Effects of social media on the daily routine.
  • How my failures make me stronger?
  • Books that changed my world view.
  • Reasons why I study computer science.
  • Influence of my parents on my life choices.
  • Importance of learning math for my future career.
  • Effect of being a single child.
  • How my pets make me a better person?
  • Influence of regular exercise on my health and wellbeing.
  • What makes me rebel against my parents?
  • How did my parents help me to study?
  • Why going to college made me an independent person?
  • What caused my burn out?

Feel free to use our good personal essay topics for creating amazing pieces that will make a powerful impression on your readers and get you high grades.

Can’t grab your thoughts together and come up with a perfect personal essay? No worries! Our writers will do all the writing, while you enjoy your free time. Psst, it takes a few clicks only…

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100 Best College Essay Topics & How to Pick the Perfect One!

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Crafting a college essay can be a pivotal moment in your academic journey. It’s an opportunity to showcase your voice, share your experiences, and stand out from the crowd. 

Picking from a vast array of college essay topics can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve compiled an exhaustive list of 100 college essay topics. These topics are categorized to boost your creativity and help you find the perfect theme that resonates with your story. 

Get an A+ with our expert essay editing services! Learn more

We’ve also given helpful tips on how to choose and write the perfect essay for college. So let’s start by understanding how to pick the perfect college essay topic:

How to pick the perfect college essay topic

Selecting good college essay topics is more than just finding a subject that sounds impressive. It’s about finding a genuine fit for your personality and experiences. Here’s how to identify the best college essay topics for your unique narrative:

Reflect on your passions: What excites you? What are you eager to explore further?

Consider your experiences: Which life events have shaped who you are?

Identify your growth: How have challenges and obstacles contributed to your personal development?

Think about relevance: Will this topic be engaging for the admissions committee?

Be authentic: Choose a topic that allows your genuine self to shine through.

With these considerations in mind, let’s dive into a curated list of essay topics for college students, designed to spark inspiration and provoke thought.

100 Best college essay topics

We’ve created a list of the unique college essay topics that stand out to help you ace your essay!

Argumentative college essay topics

Here is a list of top argumentative essay topics for college:

1. The role of government in regulating internet content.

2. Should higher education be a right or a privilege?

3. The ethical implications of gene editing in humans.

4. Are standardized tests an accurate measure of student intelligence?

5. The impact of social media on youth and society.

6. Should college athletes be paid for playing sports?

7. The viability of a four-day workweek.

8. Is a gap year beneficial before starting college?

9. The influence of advertising on consumer behavior.

10. Privacy vs. security: How much surveillance is too much?

Persuasive essay topics for college

Here is a list of top persuasive essay topics for college:

1. The importance of arts education in schools.

2. Why volunteering should be part of the college curriculum.

3. The benefits of bilingual education.

4. The necessity of making public transport free.

5. Why we must invest in renewable energy sources.

6. The case for banning single-use plastics.

7. Should voting be mandatory?

8. The importance of preserving historical monuments.

9. Why we need stricter regulations on animal testing.

10. The need for more progressive tax systems.

Compare and contrast essay topics for college students

Here is a list of top compare-and-contrast essay topics for college:

1. Living on campus vs. commuting: Which is better for college students?

2. Online classes vs. traditional classes: A comparison of effectiveness.

3. The pros and cons of private vs. public universities.

4. Western vs. Eastern philosophies of education.

5. Fast food vs. home-cooked meals: Implications on health.

6. Traditional vs. alternative medicine: A comparative study.

7. The leadership styles of two prominent figures in history.

8. Book adaptations: When the book or the movie is better?

9. Comparing two different approaches to environmental conservation.

10. The impact of different parenting styles on child development.

Cause and effect essay topics for college students

Here is a list of top cause-and-effect essay topics for college:

1. The effects of social networking sites on communication.

2. How does consumerism affect the global economy?

3. The impact of college debt on future life choices of students.

4. The effects of global warming on polar ice caps.

5. The causes and effects of insomnia during exam periods.

6. How does stress affect health and well-being?

7. The influence of diet on cognitive functions.

8. The effects of music on mood and productivity.

9. The impact of technology on the job market.

10. Causes and effects of cultural appropriation.

Creative college essay topics

Here is a list of top creative essay topics for college:

1. Imagine a day in the life of your favorite book character.

2. If you could invent something, what would it be and why?

3. The adventures of living in a parallel universe.

4. Writing a eulogy for a historical villain.

5. A world without smartphones: Chaos or calm?

6. If you could converse with an artist from the past, who would it be?

7. The experience of time travel to your most and least favorite historical periods.

8. What if you were the president for a week?

9. If animals could form their own society, how would it look?

10. A letter to a future generation about life in the 21st century.

College essay topics about life goals

Here is a list of top life goals essay topics for college:

1. How your career goals have evolved over time.

2. The influence of a family business on your professional aspirations.

3. The importance of role models in shaping your future ambitions.

4. A major life goal and the steps you’re taking to achieve it.

5. How overcoming a significant challenge has refocused your life goals.

6. The impact of travel on your personal and professional objectives.

7. The importance of lifelong learning in your career path.

8. The role of mentorship in achieving success.

9. How do you plan to give back to your community in your future career?

10. The pursuit of happiness: Defining and achieving your life’s goals.

Informative essay topics for college

Here is a list of top informative essay topics for college:

1. The history and impact of the feminist movement.

2. The process of neural network development in artificial intelligence.

3. Exploring the causes of economic recessions.

4. The role of genetics in determining personality.

5. The significance of the Green Revolution in agriculture.

6. The evolution of space exploration technology.

7. The impact of colonialism on modern-day global relations.

8. The fundamentals of quantum computing.

9. Understanding the human impact on ocean life.

10. The rise of virtual reality and its potential applications.

Research essay topics for college

Here is a list of top research essay topics for college:

1. Analyzing the efficacy of the current educational model in fostering innovation.

2. The role of social media influencers in shaping youth culture.

3. The effects of urbanization on biodiversity.

4. The relationship between mental health and modern work culture.

5. The impact of cryptocurrencies on global finance.

6. The evolution of gender roles over the past century.

7. The influence of climate change policies on international relations.

8. The effects of diet trends on public health.

9. The future of genetic engineering in medicine.

10. The role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of employment.

Narrative essay topics for college students

Here is a list of top narrative essay topics for college:

1. The moment you overcame a profound fear.

2. An encounter that changed your perspective on life.

3. The experience of losing something or someone important.

4. A moment of failure that turned into a lesson of success.

5. Your first day at college and how it met your expectations.

6. A journey that was more than just travel.

7. A significant memory that defines your childhood.

8. The challenge of adapting to a new culture.

9. An act of kindness that left a lasting impact on you.

10. A situation where you had to stand up for what you believed in.

Personal essay topics for college students

Here is a list of top personal essay topics for college:

1. How has a book or movie influenced your understanding of the world?

2. The role of a particular extracurricular activity in shaping who you are.

3. A personal philosophy or mantra that guides your life.

4. The journey of self-discovery during your teenage years.

5. Overcoming a personal struggle to achieve a goal.

6. A cultural tradition that holds significant meaning for you.

7. The impact of a mentor or teacher on your life.

8. A pivotal moment of realization about your identity.

9. How do you cope with stress and maintain mental well-being?

10. The importance of a work-life balance in your personal vision.

Now that we have a list of 100 college essay topics that cover many types of essays and writing styles, let’s delve into how to write an essay , perfect for college!

How to write the perfect college essay

Writing an essay for college admission is not just about showcasing your knowledge; it’s about telling a story that reflects your identity, aspirations, and the value you can bring to a college community. Whether you’re starting an essay or aiming to conclude an essay , here are steps to ensure your essay stands out:

Understanding the prompt

Before you begin writing, understand the academic writing prompt thoroughly. Make sure you know what the question is asking and how you can address it in a unique way that showcases your strengths and experiences.

Choosing your topic wisely

Select a topic that resonates with you and allows you to share something personal and significant. Know which common college essay topics to avoid, and instead, choose unique college essay topics that allow your personality and voice to shine through.

Crafting a compelling introduction

Your introduction should hook the reader and set the tone for the rest of the essay. Start with an anecdote, a surprising fact, or a thought-provoking question to draw the reader in.

Developing a clear structure

Organize and format your college essay with a clear essay structure , including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph should support the main thesis outline of your essay with evidence and personal reflections.

Showcasing your voice

Your essay should sound like you. Use your own voice and avoid overly formal language. The goal is to make the reader feel as though they are getting to know the real you.

Being honest and reflective

Be honest in your writing and reflect on your experiences. Admissions officers can tell when a student is being genuine versus when they’re saying what they think the college wants to hear.

Proofreading and revising

After you’ve written your essay, take the time to do essay proofreading and edit your essay if necessary. Look for grammatical errors , check for flow, and make sure your essay is clear and concise. It can be helpful to have someone else read your essay to provide feedback. You can also use tools like essay checkers to make your work easier.

Avoiding taboo topics

There are certain college essay topics to avoid, such as those that are overly controversial, inappropriate, or cliché. Choose a topic that is meaningful but also appropriate for a diverse audience.

Some examples of essay topics to avoid include:

1. Grandiose tales of heroism that seem exaggerated or implausible.

2. The story of your achievements without reflection on the journey or challenges.

3. Controversial topics that do not contribute to a positive discourse or understanding.

4. Overly polarizing political or religious topics that may not resonate with the reader.

5. Cliched volunteer experiences that don’t reveal anything unique about you.

Ending with impact

Your conclusion should wrap up your essay without simply summarizing what you’ve already said. End with a reflection on how the topic has shaped you or how you’ve grown from the experience.

Your college essay is more than an assignment; it’s a canvas for your experiences and dreams. Choose a topic that resonates with you, and let your passion shine through your words. And while AI essay writers can provide assistance with the initial stages of drafting, the real magic comes from your personal touch and insights. 

To ensure your essay truly stands out, consider the expert editing and proofreading services offered by PaperTrue. Our team can sharpen your narrative, correct any linguistic errors, and enhance your essay’s clarity, allowing your unique voice to captivate the admissions committee. Happy writing!

Keep on reading for more useful tips:

  • Guide to a Perfect Descriptive Essay [Examples & Outline Included]
  • What Is an Adverb? Definition, Types, Differences & Examples

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  • Personal Statement

50 Personal Statement Topics Recommended by Experts

If you’re looking for good personal statement topics, don’t worry, you are not alone: millions of students all over the world are in the same boat. Writing such an essay is an extremely responsible task because in many ways, it determines the degree of success your application is going to have. To overcome your competition, the first thing you should do is understand what a personal essay is and why colleges and universities ask their potential students to write one. Personal statements for undergraduate admissions are a piece of writing describing personality, achievements, hobbies, and plans of students who want to join a specific educational establishment.

What makes them important? They help the committee see who a person is, what they think, what motivations they have, and how well they are capable of essay writing. Reading through academic numbers is great, but the only thing they indicate is how well a student could study. What professors want to see instead is how motivated and inspired people applying to them are, and this could be done only via an application essay. The tricky question is, where to find a great topic for it?

Tips For Choosing the Best Personal Statement Ideas

Finding a topic is always difficult. It has to resonate both with you and with people who are going to review your work, so it is vital not to make a mistake. Here are some tips you could use for solving this problem.

  • Think about your life.  Even the most boring and monotonous lives have their small tragedies and victories. Start remembering them. Go through key moments and think about details surrounding them. The clearest memories are the best foundation for essay topic.
  • Focus on an interesting event.  Whatever personal topics you consider, they must revolve around a prompt that evokes some genuine feelings in you. It must be something you are passionate about, something that has really affected your growth as an individual. Feel invested as you describe this situation.
  • Add a challenge to it.  Don’t forget that such essays should somehow show your strong sides or your willingness to learn. Describing a situation that didn’t have a meaningful impact related to your growth won’t fit here, so focus on challenging memories. Topics must be unique.
  • Speak by yourself.  Application essay is your chance to speak and present things from your perspective. If you ever felt misunderstood, betrayed, or under-evaluated, this is an opportunity to shed light on it and explain everything in a way you see it. By combining these four tips, it’ll be easier to narrow down a potential range of topics and choose a truly great one.

50 Inspiring Topics for Personal Essay

Apart from options we mentioned above, there is another alternative. When you are fruitlessly looking for possible topics and cannot find anything, it is time for using the Internet. There are many lists with suggestions people could choose from — they offer free themes and encourage students to pick them in case they find them inspiring. We present 50 top ideas that could give you a sense of direction.

Personal Statement Topics on Your Past

These topics for personal statement never get old. Look into your life; consider every relevant moment that has ever happened. Here are some ideas.

  • First Day at School: My Fears, Hopes, and Strength I Gained
  • Living with Workaholic Parents & How This Background Made Me Who I Am
  • Accepting a Concept of Death: Frightening Story of Loss, Recovery, and Acceptance
  • Overcoming Envy and Learning Self-Control
  • Why I Hated Risks and How I Learned to Start Taking Them
  • How Reading This Book Changed My Life & Goals
  • When I Realized Why I Want to Go to College
  • The Event That Brought Me to a Start & Changed Direction of My Life
  • The Thing You Did That You Are Still Proud Of
  • Which Event Made You Regain Faith in Humanity

Personal Statement Ideas About Challenges

We all have challenges, and some of them leave a deep mark on our hearts. Check these good personal statement topics examples — maybe they’ll remind you of a problem that you managed to overcome.

  • First Taste of Betrayal & Its Impact on Me
  • My Biggest Accomplishment and Challenges on Its Way
  • How I Stepped Out of My Safety Zone & Changed My Core Belief
  • How Being Academically Unsuccessful Made Me Want to Be the Best
  • The Biggest Embarrassment of My Life: Learning From Mistakes
  • Having Two Best Friends at Once Is Tough
  • Coping with Stereotypes Inflicted By Other People
  • Days When Panic Attacks Did Not Let Me Get Up From Bed
  • Understanding Depression and Learning to Live with It
  • Event That Broke My Heart & How I Healed It

Personal Statement Prompts on Academic Subjects

How about some subject-related ideas for personal statements? They are always welcome by application committees.

  • My Love for Seeking Truth Was Born the Day I Discovered the Role of Law in Our Lives
  • Visiting the Hospital for the First Time and Why It Fuelled My Interest in Medical Education
  • My Work Was Stolen & It Woke My Interest in Intellectual Property
  • Why Seemingly Impossible Career Seems Closer Now
  • My Thirst for Knowledge and Why It Could Make Me a Good Journalist
  • The Most Beautiful Building I’ve Ever Seen or the Day When My Love for Design Was Born
  • Spending Every Sunday in My Life Cooking: Where Does That Lead Me?
  • Outrageous Historical Lies and Why That Inspired Me to Study History
  • From Toys to Engineering Devices: I Was an Inventor Before I Could Work
  • Animals Are as Important as People: My Hopes For Becoming a Vet

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Personal Qualities Topics

People might have the same interests, but their personal characteristics make them different. These personal statement prompt examples could help demonstrate it.

  • Being the Definition of Stubbornness & Its Ups and Downs
  • Why My Resilience Makes Me a Good Fit For This College
  • How Love and Education Come Together: My Background and My Goals
  • Three Key Events That Boosted My Creativity
  • Suspiciousness Is My Second Nature: It’ll Help Excel in My Field
  • Passion for Politics I Carried Through Life: Then vs. Now
  • Loving to Argue: Childhood Screaming Matches vs. Mature Evidence-Based Discussions
  • Crying When Others Cry: How My Empathy Lets Me Live Complete Life
  • What Having Creative Mind Means For Me
  • I Wanted to Be a Superhero: How It Affected Who I Want to Be Now

Diversity Ideas

College personal statement topics related to diversity never lose their relevance.

  • Witnessing Cruelty for the First Time and What It Taught Me
  • The First Time I Faced Prejudice and Cried
  • Complex Story of Figuring Out My Sexuality: Why Things Should Have Been Easier
  • How My Race Affected My Social Acceptance
  • Understanding Racism After Making a New Friend
  • How I Believe Diversity Should Be Publicly Celebrated
  • How Being Strange Became a Norm For Me
  • Small Ways in Which I Intend to Change This World
  • Why Diversity Is Key to Achieving Peace
  • Racial Make-Up of My School  Class and How It Shaped My Views

Write an Essay That’ll Move Everyone

As long as you’re truly invested in your chosen topics for personal statements, you have every chance of crafting a stunning essay. Basically, you’ll be retelling a meaningful experience from your life, showing how you found purpose and how it led you to select this specific college. This kind of writing is always emotional, so you could affect your readers and share your joy, pain, and determination. The more effective you are in this, the more likely it is that you’ll reach success. After you settle on personal statement essay topics, write about them with sincerity and passion, and this will definitely get you some precious points!

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242 Personal Persuasive Essay Topics and Ideas

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Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

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Personal essays are some of the most diverse assignments you can receive. Whether you’re a student in middle school or university, the best personal essay will highlight an individual’s personal views and unique experience. They’re not confined by the restrictions of literary essays and give plenty of opportunity for introducing the writer’s personality. The key here is selecting the right topics to talk about in a personal essay. Usually, this is the toughest part. After all, it’s the emotional core of your text. A lot of people also struggle to write about themselves and their experience as subjects of the text. Where does one start? Essay topics in general are frustrating to formulate so if you need help with some inspiration, take a look at some more ideas here ! And if you’re wondering what some good personal essay topics are, you’ll find a lot of sample ideas here as well as a guide on how to write a persuasive text.

In this article:

How to Write Personal Essays

Personal narrative essay topics, personal experience essay topics, personal argumentative essay topics, personal cause-and-effect essay topics, personal persuasive essay topics, personal essay topics for middle school, personal essay topics for high school students and college students.

Start by taking a trip down memory lane. The most gripping stories come from personal experience, especially if you’re thinking of writing a personal narrative essay. Think about a memory from your past that includes some inciting incident. If this is the first time you come across this phrase, inciting incidents are typically the metaphorical “ hooks ” of the story that have the audience interested in your text.

You could talk about your experience working as a volunteer, for example, or if you aren’t the volunteering type, you can write about some exciting memories from your childhood and summer vacations. Have you taken a trip abroad that has really left an impression on you? Are you drawn to different cultures because of that exotic trip? Maybe you went to visit a museum of your favourite artist, and this has inspired you to become an artist yourself. Perhaps you were immersed by the sound of a different language and decided to have a go at it. What have you enjoyed the most in the process? What did you hate about it? Perhaps you tried acquiring a new skill, but it went completely the wrong way for you. The list goes on and on.

There’s something there. Just remember the golden rule: always be honest in your personal essays . Trying to change your viewpoint on a subject so that it fits the masses’ opinion won’t make your personal essay enticing. The topic you’ll talk about in your personal essay is extremely important and so is the first sentence. Writing phrases such as “ever since I was a baby, I wanted to become a doctor” isn’t convincing or truthful. Try not to stick to clichés. You want to make an impression with your text, so ask yourself: What would grab your attention if you were reading your persuasive essay? I always think of Charles Dickens’ first sentence from A Christmas Carol : “Marley was dead: to begin with.” It begs for explanation and resolve, and it’s short and simple. The same should go for the personal essay entry sentence.

Why Choose Personal Persuasive Topics for Your Essay

If you’re wondering why you should choose personal persuasive topics for your essay, the answer lies in the question. We are a narrative-oriented society, and much of our relatability comes from convincingly expressing to others our individual, personal experience. What better way to let your personality shine than through conveying your emotions and adventures in a gripping story?

Personal experience essay topics vary depending on your age, and it’s quite likely that a story that worked for a high school assignment won’t have the same effect in your university days. That’s why in the sections below, we have divided the best personal essay topics into different categories. That way, you can easily navigate across all topics (and there’s quite a lot of them – a total of 242 ), but don’t let that restrict you. If you’re confident, you can always choose a topic from any of the categories.

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Of course, there are other important takeaways from writing a great personal essay. Usually, your teacher or admissions officer will look out that you have successfully done the following:

  • Communicated and implemented your critical thinking skills
  • Spoken convincingly and from experience about challenging themes that make you stand out from the crowd
  • Demonstrated your creativity and unique voice all the while applying persuasive techniques in your writing

With all this in mind, you can now start by selecting the right type of personal essay topic from our categories. We have included everything from personal essay topics for middle school to personal essay topics for high school, as well as narrative essay topics and many more. Go on, what are you waiting for?

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

Personal narrative essays are a great way to tell your unique take on a personal story. You just have to choose a project you feel passionate about. Typically, choosing a story involving your success and personality growth is your best bet, but of course, always make sure to check that your topic is suitable for the task given by your tutors. If you’re wondering what topics are suitable for a great personal narrative essay, check out the following ideas:

  • Starting your first job
  • Volunteering for the first time
  • A memorable teacher that made an impact on you
  • A dangerous experience
  • Your first journey abroad/to the countryside
  • An experience that changed your behavior
  • An experience that made you gain/lose religious faith
  • A comedic situation based on some misunderstanding
  • Events from your summer vacation that changed your life
  • The first time you got a pet
  • The experience of meeting your little sibling for the first time 
  • A time when you decided what your future job will be 
  • The change of a relationship with some you didn’t expect you’d like
  • The first time you experienced a dangerous event of some kind 
  • The first time you won something
  • Your experience participating in a sport/political/environmental design
  • A story about a teacher who inspired you
  • A story about a family member who is dear to you
  • Your experience of being in charge of something for the first time
  • Your experience traveling on your own for the first time 
  • How a book you read changed your life 
  • How the most exciting subject in school changed your life
  • How technology changed the way you access information
  • The first time you experienced an earthquake or tornado
  • A story about someone who has become your patron/idol 
  • Your reaction/opinion on an event that influenced your country 
  • A moment you caught someone in a lie
  • An episode that changed your relationship with your parents
  • An event which showed you taking responsibility and leadership 
  • An event in which you face discrimination 
  • An experience of successfully fighting procrastination 
  • A time when you helped people in a crisis
  • The experience of creating secret places in your childhood
  • An experience playing your favorite game
  • A time you got lost 
  • Your first time going on a trip by yourself 
  • The influence of technology on your younger siblings vs you
  • What you would do if you won the lottery for the first time 
  • Your best childhood memory
  • Your experience of discovering a disability for the first time 
  • A secret talent you have 
  • Your experience learning a musical instrument
  • Your experience with an inexplicable event that happened to you
  • A story about the greatest fear you have 
  • How your favorite work of art inspires you
  • The best advice you have heard in your life 
  • A place you would go to if you could travel in time 
  • A story about the most beautiful place you have visited
  • Something you witnessed in your lifetime that you will never forget
  • Your favorite holiday experience 
  • Your most awkward moment in college
  • Your biggest fear
  •  The most crucial lesson in your life 
  • Your experience of being betrayed by someone and your response to it 
  • An advice your parents gave you that wasn’t useful
  • Describe your biggest moment of failure 
  • Your biggest argument with a family member
  • A difficult decision you have made 
  • The day you realized you had made a best friend
  • The most interesting dream you have had 

Personal Experience Essay Topics

Personal experience essays aren’t that much different from personal narrative essays. They still have an element of narrative storytelling within them, but this time, they focus more on a level of experience you have gained because of a certain event. Usually, personal experience essay topics are focused around the theme of personal development. Many things can be described and included in a personal narrative essay, and you not only are given the opportunity to demonstrate your personal views on a subject, but you can also have your level of determination and ambition evaluated by a professional teacher or college admissions officer. Usually, personal narrative essay papers are written when submitting a college application, but it’s also possible to receive such an essay in school. In my personal experience, some of the greatest essays presenting an intellectual challenge are in fact the personal experience essays.

Let’s get straight into some essay prompts:

  • How do you handle stress when attending an important exam?
  • Which school subject motivated you to study hard?
  • Did a teacher have a significant influence on your confidence in selecting a career?
  • Is homework a waste of time?
  • How would you go about doing research for an essay?
  • What motivates you to study and pursue your dreams?
  • Everyone has a plan “A” when it comes to choosing a career. What is your plan “B”?
  • How has your biggest failure shaped your personality today?
  • What is your biggest accomplishment outside of college/school, and how did you come to achieve it?
  • What is the difference between female and male roles in your family? In what way would you change them?
  • How did a book/film change your worldview?
  • What role have teams and clubs had in your life?
  • What role has television had in your life? 
  • What is your relationship with social media?
  • How have moments of racial or religious discrimination affected you?

Personal Argumentative Essay Topics

Personal argumentative essay topics are generally given to college students or sometimes to people applying for a degree in Humanitarian Sciences. Such essays are a great way for admission officers to evaluate your knowledge of current events and relevant social discussions. Personal argumentative essay topics are usually considered more difficult than narrative essays, for example. For more argumentative ideas and speech topics , check the guide! Thus, if you’re planning on taking up this challenge, make sure you have enough time to prepare. If you have a whole term to prepare for this personal argumentative essay topic, you’ll surely be able to tackle it. Also, if that sounds too engaging, don’t worry, there are plenty of other, easier essay ideas on our lists!

Check out our example personal argumentative essay prompts for argumentative essay topics:

  • Should prisons be abolished? If so, what is the negative and positive impact of this global decision?
  • How does higher education affect the merit in meritocracy?
  • Should artificial intelligence be applied actively in warfare?
  • Does revolution go hand in hand with violence?
  • Has the COVID-19 pandemic made us more prepared for the prevention of future epidemics occurring worldwide?
  • In what way has the instant gratification of social media changed our relationship to technology?
  • How has the digital age changed children’s relationship to empathy?
  • What would the impact of a potential legalization of productivity drugs look like in current society?
  • Is there a difference in work performance between Ivy League alumni and lower-ranking university students?
  • Is obesity preventable?
  • Is gun control a necessary method for the prevention of shootings?
  • Should everyone have the right to vote?
  • Should the right to vote be exclusively available to people with some form of education?
  • Does the #metoo movement yield meaningful social change?
  • Is knife control a necessary and sufficient method of knife crime prevention?
  • How can the value of digital collectible art be accurately determined?
  • Is fan fiction writing real writing?
  • Do all students need to learn a foreign language?
  • Should students take a gap year between high school and university?
  • Why should universities teach financial literacy?
  • Should students participate in the maintenance of school property?

Personal Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics

Personal cause-and-effect essay topics are pretty self-explanatory. You’re aiming to express your opinion on a subject that has a cause, for example, supposedly, school uniforms are meant to cause discipline among students. Exercising and backing up your opinion on this essay idea will make it personal. Here is a detailed guide on how to write a great cause and effect essay . Think of a topic that excites you. It could be something you’re unhappy with or something you think is unjust.

Here are personal cause-and-effect essay topics we came up with:

  • How can video games boost people’s IQ?
  • Can a personal relationship in a family improve with phone use?
  • Can going to college make for happier marriages?
  • How can the involvement of a parent change a child’s education?
  • How have smartphones impacted general communication?
  • What is the effect of cookies, and does it make people shop more?
  • What is the effect of tablets on young children?
  • What is the effect of mobile usage during class?
  • Why can’t another popular engine be established in place of Google?
  • What is the effect of the financial success Disney has had in the last 30 years?
  • Should dating in school be banned?
  • Can living together before marriage make a relationship between partners stronger?
  • Can a couple sleeping in separate beds have a healthy relationship?
  • What is the effect of bullying on mental health?
  • What is the cause of bullying behavior?
  • Why shouldn’t women have to work after an abortion or miscarriage?
  • What is the impact of smoking on a pregnant mother ?
  • How can the presence of acne affect the life of a teenager? What about an adult?
  • Why do some people avoid vaccines?
  • What causes a lack of interest in sports?
  • How can teenagers better protect themselves against cyberbullies?
  • What causes certain social media apps to lose popularity?
  • Can continuous sporting activities cause character development?
  • Is “cancel culture” sparking meaningful change?
  • What is the root cause of racism?
  • Why is it essential to manage forest fires?
  • What are the harmful effects of antill hunting on the ecosystem? 
  • Why is it important for everyone to conserve water?
  • What is the environmental impact of a single-use plastic ban?
  • Can a long-distance relationship work?
  • What are the causes and effects of cheating during exams?
  • Is it a necessity to have an obligatory Sex Ed class ?
  • How has the Internet changed the public’s sexual education?
  • Should there be student bars on campus?
  • Should work become mandatory for anyone over the age of 18?
  • What causes some sports to be more popular among students than others?
  • What are the effects of using computers and tablets in school? What about university?
  • Have libraries become more popular over the last few years? 
  • What caused the General Data Protection Regulation, and why is it necessary?
  • What are the effects of online dating apps such as Tinder or Grindr?
  • What are the effects of drugs and alcohol on people?
  • Should people be allowed to drive after drinking a single unit of alcohol?
  • What are the effects of a family structure on an individual?
  • Does having a sibling make a person more responsible?
  • Are siblings better at sharing?
  • How has the golden child syndrome affected millennials?
  • How can teachers positively and negatively affect student lives?
  • What are the root causes of commitment phobia in men and women?
  • What is the effect of social media on romantic relationships?
  • How does eating fast food affect the energy levels of an individual?

Personal Persuasive Essay Topics

Unlike personal cause-and-effect essay topics, personal persuasive essay topics aim to convince the reader that your opinion is right. This type of academic writing assignment explains a particular problem and uses research combined with personal experience in order to end up with a powerful persuasive conclusion. Through logic and convincing evidence, as well as always keeping in mind the goal of persuasion, you can write a powerful assignment.

Here are some personal persuasive essay ideas to choose from for your next writing assignment:

  • Is chess considered a sport or a game?
  • How is modern music not as well-composed as music from the past, such as the 1970s?
  • Is it important to put PG labels on music tracks or films?
  • Elaborate on the importance of the right education when playing professional music.
  • Is animal hunting an immoral hobby?
  • Is it a good idea to keep pets indoors?
  • The cruelty behind testing beauty products on animals
  • Is it ethical to breed animals for sale?
  • Schools have to reduce the amount of homework assigned to students.
  • SATs and ACTs are not effective ways of examining the knowledge of students.
  • There should be an Emotional Intelligence mandatory class for all years.
  • Vaccines can lead to autism.
  • Astrology isn’t an effective way of predicting future events.
  • All transport vehicles should be automatic or electric.
  • Can distant online learning replace traditional classes?
  • Working from home is better for finance but worse for mental health.
  • The current taxation system is unfair.
  • Listening to music when writing homework is an effective way of sparking productivity
  • Hustle culture has taxing effects on mental health.
  • People volunteer for their personal benefit, instead of kindness
  • People who have survived a near-death experience have a newfound appreciation for life.
  • Is “fake it until you make it” a healthy way of progressing?
  • Why do people lie on their resumes?
  • Why book reading during summer vacations should become mandatory.
  • Weekends should change from 2 days to 3 days.
  • Why we should be making selective school sports mandatory in school.
  • Cooking and body health classes should be mandatory subjects in school.
  • Can e-books and Kindles replace physical books?
  • Should the death penalty exist?
  • Why should children have chores?
  • Why should it be made mandatory for children to contribute to the overall maintenance, cleanliness, and gardening of schools?

Personal Essay Topics for Middle School

When choosing a personal essay topic, it’s important to take on subjects and ideas related to your age. Some topics require a lot more research, while others can be a little too sensitive for a younger writer. Selecting the right one for you will leave you with less workload and can guarantee you a better grade. Of course, if you feel confident and knowledgeable enough, you can try your skills with a more difficult essay idea. Paper writing can be a difficult intellectual challenge, but we’re sure that with these essay ideas, you’ll be able to tell your personal story and write a great essay:

  • How did you make a best friend?
  • A special top-secret place you have.
  • A story of a time a friend let you down.
  • A time when you disappointed someone.
  • What is your happiest memory?
  • Your first time receiving a pet.
  • Your bravest moment.
  • A time you felt embarrassed.
  • What would you do if you were omnipotent? 
  • What would you do if you could switch lives with someone? Who would it be?
  • How did a book change your life?
  • What would you do if your pet could talk?
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • If you could shapeshift into an animal, what would you be? What would you do?
  • If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Would you change anything?
  • What’s your secret talent?
  • The first time you fell in love.
  • An accident that changed your life.
  • Talk about the ugliest thing you have seen.
  • Talk about the most influential family member.
  • Talk about your favorite gift.
  • Talk about something you can’t resist.
  • Talk about a guest you had in your house that you’ll never forget.
  • Talk about the hardest news you’ve had to deliver.
  • Talk about a special gift you have received.
  • Talk about something that if your mum knew, you’d be in a lot of trouble. A lot.
  • If you could volunteer anywhere, where would it be?
  • If you won a million dollars, how would you spend them?
  • What is an unexplained event that stuck with you?
  • The one thing you can’t resist.
  • If you could be a superhero, what power would you have? Why?
  • If you could teleport anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Personal Essay Topics for High School Students and College Students

This list of personal essay topics for high school students will definitely inspire you to practice your personal essay skills. Covering topics like communication, ethical consumption, personal experience and more, you’ll be able to gain new ideas and express your deepest thoughts within the confines of the page. These personal essay topics for high school students are also a great way of reflecting on your growth and personal opinion, while expressing your thoughts and opinions.

  • What inspires you?
  • What inanimate object best embodies you?
  • What’s one thing your parents don’t understand about you?
  • What is the one quality a good person must have?
  • Describe the best decision you ever made
  • What is one thing you would change that you know will make a great difference in your life?
  • How do you respond to criticism? Talk about a time you were critiqued.
  • Do you feel the impact of peer pressure in your life? How is it manifested?
  • Are you religious, an atheist, or agnostic? Why and why not?
  • Do you feel comfortable in your body? Do you feel pressure from the media about how you “should” look?
  • What are your views on ethical consumption? Does it matter to you?
  • What are your views on veganism? 
  • Do you feel like your friends are honest with each other? Why and why not?
  • When you look back on your time in high school, what part will you remember with fondness?
  • If you could tell your 12-year-old self something, what would it be and why?
  • Do you have a dream profession? What is it?
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
  • Do you believe in “soulmates”? Why and why not?
  • What is your dream goal? Do you feel like you’ll ever achieve it?
  • Do you believe in the concept of “best friends”? Why and why not?
  • Do you believe in astrology? Why and why not?
  • What do you think the world will look like in 100 years?
  • If you could bring to life any famous historical figure and spend the day with them, who would you pick, and what would you do?
  • If you could go back in time, would you kill Hitler? 
  • What TV series you saw recently made an impression on you? Why?
  • What part of high school do you wish you could get rid of?
  • If you could start your own business, what would you do?
  • What issues truly motivate you and why?
  • If you were an admissions officer, what positive qualities would you look for in students?
  • What period of school do you think is most important? 
  • What is your dream profession? What are it’s positives and negatives?
  • Do you think the world can function without money? What would that alternative universe look like?
  • Do you think all students should go to college? Why?

Writing essays is a great way to showcase your writing skills, as well as clearly communicate your views and ideas. Personal essay writing improves your debating, logical, and deductive skills, so it’s important that you select a topic you’re passionate about and inspired by. This will give you enough fuel to power through the most difficult essay topics while at the same time enjoy what you’re writing about. We hope you enjoyed our personal persuasive essay topics! Make sure to bookmark and come back to this personal essay ideas list in the future when you’re given an assignment! Here are some more college essay topics , check them out!

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670 Personal Essay Topics & Free Ideas

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  • Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
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Colleges and high schools require students to complete personal essays. Basically, personal memoirs aim to stimulate readers to act in a specific way. In this case, writers can use unique examples of personal essay topics for starting, organizing, and writing their papers. Personal papers include real stories, involvements, and individual opinions. Besides, authors should give an account of their responsibilities and express thoughts on assigned subjects. Further on, there are two types of personal essay topics, which include secret lives and defining moment narratives. In particular, the first type focuses on essential but mysterious experiences where learners give stories that concentrate on infrequent life tracking down. Moreover, the second type of individual essay theme focuses on a critical moment in a person’s life. In turn, one should follow specific schemes to write personal papers by considering two types of topics. As a result, such aspects make essays outstanding for readers.

General Guidelines on Personal Essay Topics

A personal essay topic refers to a typical assignment for high school and college students, while they can use many examples of personal essay topics for their writing assignments provided in this article. Basically, personal memoirs exist as two major types. The first type focuses on secret lives, where learners provide stories that focus on unusual life pursuits. For example, this composition takes writers behind specific scenes of their unique experiences in odd jobs. Then, the second type of personal essay focuses on defining moments in a person’s life. Hence, personal essay topics resemble not only some secrets of life but also focus on one crucial moment that explains how authors think about their occupation or a unique situation. However, people should not limit their ideas and themes to these two types since other topics also work with writing interesting papers.

Best Personal Essay Topics

  • The journey to mastering my favorite hobby.
  • Overcoming a fear that changed my life.
  • An unforgettable encounter with a stranger.
  • Travel experiences that changed my perspective.
  • Realizing the importance of mental health.
  • My most significant failure and what I learned.
  • Living through a natural disaster: My story.
  • Memories of my first best friend.
  • Growing up in a multicultural household.
  • How has volunteering shaped my character?
  • Conquering the fear of public speaking.
  • Adapting to life after moving to a new city.
  • The time I confronted my biggest critic.
  • Experiences that taught me the value of time.
  • A passion that’s not popular among my peers.
  • Lessons learned from an unexpected source.
  • The moment I stood up for what was right.
  • How I cope with stress: My personal methods.
  • Going against societal norms: A personal account.
  • Balancing dreams with reality: My experience.
  • The importance of self-care in my life.

Easy Personal Essay Topics

  • Experiences that shaped my political views.
  • The journey to accepting my sexuality.
  • Unraveling my unique talent.
  • Achieving my most ambitious goal.
  • My favorite childhood memory and its impact.
  • The role of spirituality in my life.
  • Navigating through a major life transition.
  • Learning to appreciate my heritage.
  • The influence of art on my personal growth.
  • Overcoming a personal health challenge.
  • An event that triggered personal growth.
  • How I managed a personal conflict?
  • A time when I had to forgive someone.
  • Finding happiness in the little things.
  • My journey toward body positivity.
  • Experiencing a unique cultural event.
  • Lessons I learned from my first job.
  • A hobby that helps me relax.
  • Reflections on my time in high school.
  • The impact of technology on my life.
  • A trip that ignited a newfound passion.
  • Handling a financial crisis: A personal tale.

Personal essay topics

Interesting Personal Essay Topics

  • Perspectives on global citizenship.
  • My journey with mental health.
  • Overcoming the fear of failure.
  • The impact of family traditions.
  • Being an introvert in an extroverted world.
  • How minimalism simplified my life.
  • Reading books versus eBooks: A personal preference.
  • The role of music in my life.
  • Unusual habits that keep me sane.
  • Body positivity and self-love.
  • Finding courage in vulnerability.
  • The influence of a favorite teacher.
  • Digital detox: My experience and insights.
  • Reflecting on a childhood ambition.
  • Coping with loss: A personal journey.
  • Living a sustainable lifestyle.
  • Pets and their effect on our well-being.
  • My experience with a unique hobby.
  • Choosing passion over a paycheck.
  • Embracing change: My personal experience.
  • The importance of setting boundaries.
  • How have my parents shaped my worldview?
  • Volunteering and the act of giving back.

Personal Essay Topics About You

  • Discovering my hidden talents: A journey of self-exploration.
  • How has adopting a pet changed my life?
  • Overcoming personal fears: My story of growth.
  • The role of music in my personal development.
  • A significant moment of failure that shaped me.
  • My experience with cultural diversity and what I learned.
  • Navigating through life with a rare medical condition.
  • Dealing with loss: How has grief transformed my perspective?
  • Lessons learned from my first job experience.
  • My lifelong passion for cooking and how it is influenced me.
  • Confronting my anxieties: The path toward mental well-being.
  • Balancing academics and sports: My high school experience.
  • Embracing solitude: The importance of being alone.
  • How has volunteering shaped my worldview?
  • Reflections on a family tradition that means a lot to me.
  • Making a difference: My journey into activism.
  • How has moving to a new city opened my mind?
  • My evolution as an artist: From doodles to masterpieces.
  • Personal growth through the lens of travel experiences.

Personal Essay Topics About Your Experiences

  • Unraveling the knots: The toughest challenge I faced in my past relationship.
  • How has my first vacation with my ex shaped my understanding of compatibility?
  • The subtle art of compromise: Learning to balance my needs with my ex’s.
  • Discovering personal growth: What breaking up taught me about myself?
  • The day we adopted a pet: Learning about responsibility and care in a relationship.
  • When culture clashed: Navigating differences in our backgrounds.
  • Chasing dreams: Supporting my ex in their professional journey.
  • Navigating long-distance: The trials and triumphs of our virtual relationship.
  • Managing conflict: How have we tackled our first major disagreement?
  • In pursuit of trust: Mending our relationship after a breach of faith.
  • Lessons learned from cooking together on Sundays.
  • Cherished holidays: Creating traditions in our shared life.
  • Rebuilding bridges: Reconciling after a painful breakup.
  • A shared love of music: How have concerts become our refuge?
  • Exploring fitness together: How has working out affected our relationship?
  • Meeting the parents: The fear, excitement, and aftermath.
  • Understanding sacrifice: The most significant compromise I made.
  • The joy of shared hobbies: Learning to sail together.
  • Fostering independence: Finding personal space in a committed relationship.
  • Adapting to change: When my ex’s career shift uprooted our life.

Personal Essay Topics About Relationships

  • Discovering love in the unlikeliest places.
  • When do friendships turn into romantic relationships?
  • Balancing individuality and unity in a relationship.
  • Healing after a devastating breakup.
  • The silent language of long-term relationships.
  • Navigating the challenges of long-distance love.
  • The beauty and hardship of platonic love.
  • Mending broken bridges: Reconciliation in familial relationships.
  • Lessons learned from failed relationships.
  • The role of vulnerability in strengthening bonds.
  • Being single: A journey of self-love and exploration.
  • Age differences and their impact on relationships.
  • Integrating cultural backgrounds in relationships.
  • Living with your partner: A test of compatibility.
  • The intricacies of dating in adulthood.
  • Childhood friendships that have stood the test of time.
  • The emotional roller coaster of unrequited love.
  • Understanding the role of trust in relationships.
  • Adapting to change: The evolution of relationships over time.

Personal Essay Topics About Dreams

  • Exploring the world through my dreams.
  • How do my dreams influence my creative process?
  • A specific dream that changed my perspective on life.
  • The connection between dreams and subconscious thoughts.
  • Lessons I have learned from my recurring dreams.
  • Overcoming fears: The role dreams play.
  • Nightmares and what they teach us about ourselves.
  • Can dreams predict the future? My experience.
  • Analyzing the symbolism in my dreams.
  • The role of dreams in different cultures: A personal perspective.
  • Discovering personal growth through dream journaling.
  • How has lucid dreaming expanded my self-awareness?
  • Dreams and their impact on my mental health.
  • My journey with dream interpretation: Successes and challenges.
  • Unforgettable dream experiences that have left lasting impressions.
  • The relationship between my dreams and my waking life.
  • Dealing with loss and grief through dreams.
  • Diving into the science of dreams: A personal inquiry.
  • My personal endeavors in dream incubation: Seeking solutions in sleep.
  • Revisiting childhood through dreams: A voyage of self-discovery.

Personal Narrative Essay Topics

  • My journey through learning a new language.
  • Overcoming the biggest challenge in my life.
  • The day I stood up for what was right.
  • An unforgettable experience with a stranger.
  • Exploring my heritage during a visit to my ancestral homeland.
  • A life-changing experience on my first solo trip.
  • Memories from my favorite childhood place.
  • My perspective on life after a near-death experience.
  • How has my favorite book shaped my personality?
  • Understanding the meaning of friendship from a surprising source.
  • My transformative experience while volunteering at a shelter.
  • The incident that made me a more compassionate person.
  • Becoming a pet parent: Joy and responsibilities.
  • Experiencing a culture shock on my exchange program.
  • Navigating through life with a unique hobby.
  • Lessons learned from a devastating failure.
  • Discovering my passion in an unlikely way.
  • How has a single book shaped my worldview?
  • The role of a mentor in my personal growth.
  • The unforgettable journey to my ancestral home.
  • Discovering strength in my weakest moment.

Personal Persuasive Essay Topics

  • Online education is superior to traditional schooling.
  • Mandatory voting will improve democratic participation.
  • Self-driving cars should replace human-operated vehicles.
  • Adoption of plant-based diets is necessary for global sustainability.
  • Privacy concerns outweigh the benefits of surveillance technologies.
  • Animal testing is unacceptable in modern scientific research.
  • Artificial intelligence poses more threats than benefits to society.
  • Corporations should have stricter regulations to prevent climate change.
  • Countries should open their borders to all immigrants.
  • All schools should implement mental health education in their curriculum.
  • Society benefits more from arts education than from sports programs.
  • Public spaces should always offer free Wi-Fi.
  • Parental consent is necessary for minors to access social media.
  • Health insurance should be a fundamental right, not a privilege.
  • Single-use plastic items must be banned globally.
  • Personal finance courses should be a mandatory part of high school education.
  • Social media platforms need stricter measures against cyberbullying.
  • Humanity should prioritize colonizing other planets.
  • Excessive screen time is detrimental to children’s development.

Personal Cause and Effect Essay Topics

  • Volunteering at a local shelter and its impact on my worldview.
  • The effect of social media detox on my mental health.
  • Experiencing failure and its role in shaping my resilience.
  • The consequences of procrastination on my academic performance.
  • Moving to a new city and the unexpected outcomes.
  • Practicing mindfulness and its effect on my stress levels.
  • The implications of becoming a vegetarian on my health and lifestyle.
  • Embracing minimalism and its transformative impact on my life.
  • How has learning a new language influenced my cultural understanding?
  • A significant childhood event and its long-lasting effects.
  • The repercussions of taking a gap year after high school.
  • Committing to regular exercise and its impact on my self-esteem.
  • Cultivating a hobby and how it altered my leisure time.
  • Learning to play a musical instrument and its influence on my cognitive abilities.
  • A health scare and its effect on my life priorities.
  • Pursuing a passion and the subsequent changes in my career path.
  • Joining a book club and its impact on my intellectual growth.
  • Undertaking a solo travel adventure and the resulting self-discovery.
  • Coping with a significant loss and its effect on my emotional growth.
  • Incorporating meditation into my daily routine and its influence on my concentration.
  • Deciding to live abroad and the resulting changes in my worldview.

Personal Argumentative Essay Topics

  • Impacts of social media on personal relationships.
  • Remote work is more efficient than traditional office work.
  • The necessity of financial literacy in the modern world.
  • Veganism: A healthier choice or a passing trend?
  • Online dating: Are the risks worth the rewards?
  • Is maintaining personal privacy possible in the digital age?
  • Standardized tests do not accurately reflect a student’s abilities.
  • Living abroad can broaden your perspective on life.
  • Fast fashion and its effect on individual purchasing behavior.
  • Personal growth: Is it essential to experience failure?
  • Meditation as a powerful tool for stress relief.
  • Self-driving cars: Safer or riskier than human drivers?
  • Online influencers: Are they shaping or harming our society?
  • The role of pets in enhancing mental health.
  • Renewable energy at home: Is it a practical choice?
  • How important is physical exercise for mental health?
  • Continuous learning: A key to success or a source of stress?
  • The effectiveness of mindfulness practices in daily life.
  • Decluttering: A path to mental clarity or a trendy illusion?
  • Gap years: Are they beneficial for personal growth?

Examples of Personal Essay Topics

One can write about different personal essay topics for two types of personal memoirs identified above. Hence, some unique types of personal essay topics are:

Personal Essay Topics on Secrets of Life

  • The confession of a failed help mission.
  • The disclosure of searching for a soul mate.
  • The secret life of a rescue volunteer.
  • A detailed account of obesity caused me to develop joint problems.
  • Secrets of a successful learner.
  • Unveiling the beauty of everyday moments.
  • The healing power of laughter in life’s journey.
  • Nature’s wisdom: How do the outdoors teach us to live?
  • Lessons learned from unexpected friendships.
  • Adapting to change: Life’s only constant.
  • The transformative power of love and kindness.
  • Harnessing the strength within: Self-discovery in times of turmoil.
  • Serenity in solitude: A journey toward self-love.
  • Perseverance and hope: A tale of personal growth.
  • Mysteries of the subconscious mind: Dream interpretations and their impact on life.
  • Simplicity, minimalism, and the quest for a meaningful existence.
  • Understanding the role of failure in the pursuit of success.
  • Life’s hidden messages in seemingly mundane routines.
  • Endurance and resilience: Learning to dance in the rain.
  • Reflections on wisdom: What have elders taught me about life?
  • Connections and coincidences: A contemplation on fate and destiny.
  • Cherishing the transient: An essay on life’s fleeting moments.

Personal essay topics above may vary from one discipline to another, depending on the writer’s focus and life experiences. In turn, possible topics for different subjects that one may consider when writing a personal essay about a secret life are:

Examples of Personal Topics on Art and Culture

  • An account of a failed social media relationship.
  • The confession of my experience with native communities.
  • The impact of street art on urban development.
  • My first experience with classical music.
  • The evolution of pop art and its impact on my artistic vision.
  • How do different cultures influence contemporary fashion?
  • My personal connection with abstract expressionism.
  • The cultural significance of traditional folk music in my life.
  • Understanding the power of photography: Capturing moments that matter.
  • The intersection of technology and art: My experience with digital art.
  • The role of theatre in shaping cultural perspectives.
  • How has anime influenced my appreciation of Japanese culture?
  • My journey with literature: The books that have changed my perspective on life.
  • The confession of how I used to copy a colleague’s work.
  • An account of how my choice of college promoted learning skills.
  • My confession with a haunting artwork.
  • Why graffiti is more than just vandalism: My personal perspective.
  • My account of how I faced the law due to throw-away culture.
  • Cultural celebrations: A deeper look at their artistic components.
  • My secret account with a haunting experience with my cultural identity.

Samples of Personal Topics on Economics

  • Effects of global financial influence on my life.
  • Impacts of consumerism on my economic status.
  • Balancing a personal budget: A journey to financial independence.
  • The influence of global economic events on local economies.
  • Lessons learned from the 2008 financial crisis.
  • Microfinance: Transforming lives and communities.
  • Effects of Hurricane Katrina on my school life.
  • Influence of tariffs on my consumption behaviors.
  • How does politics influence my relationship with natives?
  • Exploring the concept of “money” in the digital age.
  • How does my understanding of supply and demand influence daily decisions?
  • Sustainability and economics: Can they coexist harmoniously?
  • Unraveling the impact of inflation on my purchasing power.
  • Capitalism vs. socialism: My personal perspective.
  • How do economic policies influence my poverty levels?
  • The role of government in my economic life.
  • Demystifying the complex world of stock markets.
  • Evaluating the pros and cons of consumerism.
  • How did my father’s choices influence my behavior?
  • My experience with cryptocurrency: A gamble or a wise investment?
  • Effects of monetary policies undermined my business.

Examples of Personal Essay Topics on Education

  • An account of how standardized testing influenced my high school performance. 
  • The role of technology in modern education.
  • My journey toward understanding the value of inclusive education.
  • An account of how my indigo identity ruined my life.
  • Navigating the educational system as a first-generation student.
  • Benefits of extracurricular activities for holistic development.
  • ADHD and dyslexia damaged my education.
  • An account of how internal and external factors make my learning experience boring.
  • How has homeschooling changed my perspective on learning?
  • The importance of language learning in global citizenship.
  • Parent involvement: A critical aspect of educational success.
  • Lessons learned from my first teaching experience.
  • An account of how technologies weakened my learning abilities
  • My horrific account with e-books and collaborative boards in class 
  • An account of how homeschooling caused social distress
  • My experience with student-led learning initiatives.
  • Emotional intelligence: An overlooked aspect in classrooms.
  • Benefits and challenges of studying abroad.
  • Experiencing cultural diversity in the school environment.
  • My horrific experience in charter schools

Sample Topics for Personal Papers on Ethics

  • My negative perception of genetic engineering.
  • Exploring the role of personal integrity in decision-making.
  • My journey toward understanding the essence of truthfulness.
  • Altruism and its impact on my life choices.
  • My negative perception towards the legalization of marijuana.
  • How marijuana legalization increased my juvenile delinquency.
  • A personal account of cultural imperialism.
  • The ethical dilemma I faced in the digital age.
  • Personal reflections on the ethics of non-violence.
  • The influence of empathy on my ethical framework.
  • Standing up against groupthink: A story of moral courage.
  • An account of how cultural imperialism ruined my life.
  • An account of globalization influenced my lifestyle.
  • Living green: The ethical considerations of environmental responsibility.
  • My experience with ethical consumerism and its impact.
  • The morality of forgiveness: Lessons from my personal life.
  • How has practicing fairness reshaped my outlook on life?
  • Understanding the significance of justice in everyday situations.
  • Balancing personal gain and ethical responsibility.
  • Uniquely personal experience as a global citizen.
  • An account of how traditions affected my ethics.

Examples of Personal Topics on Government and Politics

  • The United States’ invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan affected my family life.
  • An account of how the Community Reinvestment Act (RCA) influenced my lifestyle.
  • How has the increasing homeownership in the United States affected my life as a low-income earner?
  • The balance between freedom and security in modern society.
  • Why trust in government is essential for social progress?
  • The role of media in shaping political views.
  • Influences of political ideologies on personal lives.
  • Ethical dilemmas in government surveillance.
  • How has the growing debt in the United States impacted my life?
  • Our evolving understanding of democracy in the digital age.
  • Deciphering the complexity of immigration policies.
  • How is my life affected by international politics?
  • How the tariffs made by President Trump impacted my life?
  • Impacts of decreased military activity in my family life.
  • An account of how historical injustices undermines my family life.
  • Decoding political propaganda in the 21st century.
  • Understanding the link between politics and education reform.
  • My journey into grassroots activism.
  • A personal account of how the constitution undermines my employability.

  Sample Personal Topics on Health

  • An account of how emotional problems lowers my body’s immunity.
  • Exploring my journey through recovery from addiction.
  • How has adopting a vegan diet transformed my health?
  • Navigating the complex world of mental health stigmatization.
  • Life lessons learned from my experience with chronic pain.
  • My personal insights into battling and overcoming obesity.
  • Unraveling the mystery of my rare genetic disorder.
  • An account of the excessive consumption of junk food increases my body’s energy levels.
  • Self-care: My key to managing stress effectively.
  • An account of how emotional eating causes indigestion.
  • The struggle and victory: My tale of beating cancer.
  • Walking the tightrope: Balancing health and career ambitions.
  • An account of how a lack of moral support causes anorexia and bulimia.
  • Reflections on my experience with gender dysphoria and mental health.
  • An account of how positive life changes stressed me.
  • Embracing the unexpected: How has yoga changed my perspective on health?
  • An account of how I discovered that ozone in the air leads to respiratory diseases.
  • My adventure into the realm of holistic healing.
  • An account of how high blood pressure caused me to develop cardiovascular disease.
  • Decoding the enigma of sleep disorders: A personal perspective.
  • An account of how social media increases my psychological challenges.

Examples of Personal Essay Topics on History

  • How has World War I separated my family?
  • How did the continued effects of slavery affect my family life?
  • An account of how my interest in women’s movement affects my thoughts on racism.
  • How has my family weathered the Great Depression?
  • Personal reflections on the fall of the Berlin Wall.
  • Discovering my roots: Tracing my lineage to the American Revolution.
  • Living in a post-9/11 world: My perspective.
  • Interpreting the French Revolution through my ancestor’s letters.
  • An account of how World War II influenced my family.
  • Visiting historic sites: My journey through the Civil Rights Movement landmarks.
  • The legacy of the Vietnam War in my family.
  • How has studying the Holocaust shaped my worldview?
  • An account of how the Holocaust affected my education and career path.
  • How religion influences my delinquency levels?
  • Personal experiences in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse.
  • My pilgrimage to the landmarks of the Women’s Suffrage Movement.
  • Historical epidemics and their relevance to modern-day pandemics.
  • A reflection on the Rwandan Genocide through the lens of a humanitarian worker.
  • The Arab Spring and its significance in my life.
  • British imperialism and its negative impacts on my life.

Sample Topics for Personal Essays on Science

  • Effects of global warming on my health and social well-being.
  • Results of excessive temperature on metabolism.
  • Discovering the beauty of fractals in nature.
  • Life under a microscope: The unseen world.
  • How does the study of genetics shape our self-perception?
  • Results of sunlight on my skin.
  • From science fiction to reality: The progress of artificial intelligence.
  • The lure of space exploration: A personal perspective.
  • Journey toward sustainable living through science.
  • Evolutionary biology and its impact on my worldview.
  • Effects of ambient temperature on my pet’s feeding habits.
  • How does temperature influence my daily routine?
  • Human interaction with technology: A blessing or a curse?
  • Grappling with the ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering.
  • Neuroscience and the mystery of human consciousness.
  • How do scientific findings affect my food consumption?
  • How do research methods influence my health outcomes?
  • Impacts of my scientific knowledge on my social behavior.

Examples of Personal Essay Topics on Sports

  • Workouts enhance my immunity.
  • Regular workouts strengthened my bones.
  • An account of how physical exercise relieves my stress.
  • Participating in sports lowered my juvenile delinquency.
  • How has paying college athletes promoted my talent development?
  • A narrative of how workouts boost my memory, yield, and intelligence.
  • Overcoming obstacles in sports: A journey of perseverance.
  • The role of sports in shaping my character.
  • Lessons learned from teamwork in sports.
  • The psychology of sports: Understanding the mindset of athletes.
  • The importance of sportsmanship in competitive athletics.
  • A narrative of how children who take part in sports developed my peer relationships.
  • How have sports taught me the value of discipline?
  • The joys of playing sports: Finding happiness on the field.
  • A sports injury and its impact on my life.
  • The relationship between sports and academic success.
  • Sports as a medium for cultural exchange.
  • Exploring the connection between sports and leadership.
  • The evolution of sports: From ancient times to modern day.
  • The intersection of sports and technology.
  • An account of how regular exercise enhanced my communication skills.

Personal Essay Topic Samples on Technology

  • An account of how increased internet accessibility increased my cyber-bullying.
  • My cyber-bullying increased my rate of juvenile delinquency.
  • A narrative of how the state control of the internet pushed me into cyber-bullying.
  • Ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering.
  • Roles of technology in enhancing communication.
  • How has technology revolutionized the music industry?
  • Future of robotics and its implications.
  • Influence of social media on personal relationships.
  • An account of how social networking influences my ways of life.
  • Social networks influence my collective behaviors.
  • An account of how social media affects my overall well-being.
  • My personal beliefs that facial recognition technologies undermine human rights.
  • Benefits and drawbacks of cryptocurrency.
  • Power of big data analytics in business.
  • Roles of technology in improving healthcare.
  • Exploring the ethics of biometric technology.
  • Evolution of e-commerce and its effect on traditional retail.
  • Impacts of augmented reality in education.
  • Roles of technology in addressing climate change.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing.
  • My views on how artificial intelligence enhances active learning.

Personal Essay Ideas on Defining Moments

  • I was a police officer for thirty years, which is an experience that continues to haunt me.
  • Every individual has a moment that changes his or her life.
  • How has a trip to New York changed my family life forever?
  • Obesity has led to joint problems.
  • Influence of adults on my life choice.
  • Discovering my true passion in a hidden hobby.
  • The unexpected encounter that altered my perspective on life.
  • A turning point: Embracing vulnerability in a moment of strength.
  • Embracing failure experiences as a stepping stone to success.
  • A single moment of kindness that changed everything.
  • Finding beauty in the midst of chaos.
  • The bittersweet taste of saying goodbye for the last time.
  • Lessons from a near-death experience.
  • How have I found hope in the darkest hour?
  • Transformation through a moment of silence.
  • The day I chose to break free from societal norms.
  • Healing through unexpected friendships.
  • Lessons learned from my first heartbreak.
  • Navigating through life after a life-changing diagnosis.
  • Understanding the importance of mental health after a personal crisis.

Personal essay topics above may vary from one discipline to another, depending on the writer’s focus and life experiences. Hence, examples of possible topics for different subjects that one may consider when writing a personal essay about a secret life are:

Examples of Personal Essay Ideas on Art and Culture

  • How have social media relationships influenced my social behavior?
  • My experience with native communities influenced social behaviors.
  • From viewer to creator: My personal journey into filmmaking.
  • The power of poetry: How did it allow me to express myself?
  • Art as a tool for activism and peace: How do artists reflect social issues in their works?
  • The influence of hip-hop culture on contemporary society.
  • The artistic beauty of architectural landmarks: How do they reflect a city’s culture?
  • How has reading graphic novels expanded my perspective on storytelling and culture?
  • My experience of learning a foreign language was momentous.
  • Copy a colleague’s work changed my attitude towards education.
  • My choice of college transformed my career goals.
  • Exploring body art: A personal narrative on tattoos and piercings.
  • The art of cooking: How has cultural cuisine shaped my culinary skill?
  • The emotional power of music and sound: How does it shape our mood and behavior?
  • The influence of indigenous art on modern design trends.
  • An interaction with a haunting artwork changed my attitude toward employment.
  • The increased levels of throw-away culture motivated me to become an environmental activist.
  • A haunting experience with my cultural identity encouraged me to become an activist.

Sample Ideas for Writing Personal Papers on Economics

  • The global financial crisis influenced me to embrace a saving culture.
  • Consumerism encouraged me to embrace financial savings.
  • Effects of Hurricane Katrina influenced my thoughts about humanity.
  • The current tariffs in the United States forced me to change my business strategies. 
  • Transition from a traditional economy: A personal story.
  • From scarcity to abundance: Understanding the economic principle in personal life.
  • Implementing cost-benefit analysis in everyday life decisions.
  • How does a deeper understanding of economics affect voting choices?
  • Reflections on wealth distribution and income inequality.
  • The domino effect of oil price fluctuations on my living expenses.
  • Facing the student loan crisis: My personal story.
  • The current politics influence me to develop a positive relationship with natives. 
  • Economic policies imposed in 2023 contributed to my poverty.  
  • My father’s choices motivated my delinquent levels.
  • Navigating through the gig economy: Opportunities and challenges.
  • A personal account of living through a recession.
  • Encountering and overcoming wage stagnation in the 21st century.
  • The power of compound interest: A pathway to financial freedom.
  • Various monetary policies forced me to make the wrong choices.

Examples of Personal Essay Ideas on Education

  • Standardized testing changed my high school performance. 
  • My indigo identity changed my attitude toward other aboriginals.
  • ADHD and dyslexia changed my education perception.
  • Experiencing internal and external factors encouraged me to adopt a negative attitude toward education.
  • Interacting with technologies weakened my learning abilities.
  • The use of e-books and collaborative boards affected my attitude toward education.
  • The transformation of education through online learning.
  • Vocational education: A path less traveled.
  • Attaining equality in education: My personal experience.
  • Lifelong learning: The key to personal and professional growth.
  • My unforgettable experience with collaborative learning.
  • Bullying in schools: A personal encounter.
  • My encounter with the arts in education.
  • Grappling with the reality of educational disparities.
  • Integrating environmental education into the curriculum: A personal perspective.
  • The influence of positive reinforcement on academic performance.
  • How do study habits shape academic success?
  • The adoption of homeschooling caused me social distress.
  • Joining charter schools caused a negative attitude toward education.

Sample Ideas for Personal Essays on Ethics

  • Experience with genetic engineering changed my attitude toward ethics.
  • Legalization of marijuana forced me into drugs.
  • Marijuana legalization was the cause of my juvenile delinquency.
  • Corporate social responsibility: A personal perspective.
  • The intersection of culture and ethics in my life.
  • Reflecting on the ethical aspects of animal rights.
  • Dealing with biases: My journey towards ethical awareness.
  • Grappling with the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
  • Transparency and honesty in the era of fake news.
  • Learning to respect diversity: An ethical obligation.
  • Cultural imperialism led to negative attitudes toward other people.
  • Globalization motivated me to live abroad.
  • Being a global citizen influenced my charity levels.
  • Cultural traditions affected my attitude toward ethics.
  • My ethical stance on wealth inequality and poverty.
  • How has ethics shaped my perspective on privacy in the digital age?
  • The struggle with ethical choices in a globally interconnected world.
  • Balancing the scales: A personal tale of justice and mercy.

Examples of Personal Ideas on Government and Politics

  • The impact of political polarization on friendships and family.
  • Navigating through the maze of bureaucracy.
  • Climate change policy: A personal perspective.
  • Reflections on the current state of political discourse.
  • Gun control and the politics of fear.
  • From apathy to advocacy: My political awakening.
  • Money, power, and politics: A critical look.
  • The psychology of voting behavior.
  • The United States’ invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan encouraged me to join the armed forces.
  • The Community Reinvestment Act (RCA) changed my attitude toward communal unity.
  • Increasing homeownership in the United States forced me to move from my motherland.
  • The increasing debt in the United States ruined my economic progress.
  • The tariffs made by President Trump ruined my business. 
  • Health care reform: A personal journey through the political maze.
  • Observations on political activism in the social media era.
  • Living under the shadow of nuclear diplomacy.
  • The impact of gender politics on my worldview.
  • Human rights in foreign policy: A personal narrative.
  • Navigating partisan politics in a divided nation.
  • The decreased military activity led to a stabilized life in my family.
  • Historical injustices separated me from my family.
  • The constitutional amendments undermined my employability as an illegal immigrant.

Samples of Personal Essay Ideas on Health

  • The beginning of emotional problems lowered my body’s immunity.
  • The excessive consumption of junk food affected my sugar level balance.
  • Emotional eating led to indigestion.
  • My lack of moral support led to Anorexia and bulimia.
  • Trapped in my own body: The trials and triumphs of living with paralysis.
  • Experiencing life through the lens of color blindness.
  • The silent fight: My personal struggle with an invisible illness.
  • Aging gracefully: Accepting and embracing the golden years.
  • The long road to acceptance: My personal struggle with body image.
  • A new lease on life: Surviving a near-death experience.
  • Learning to fly: How has disability shaped my worldview?
  • Making positive life changes was the source of my distress.
  • My discovery of the importance of the ozone layer increased my interest in respiratory problems.
  • The promise of tomorrow: Living with a terminal illness.
  • When food became my enemy: My battle with an eating disorder.
  • Living in the shadows: My journey with depression.
  • From victim to victor: Overcoming the trauma of domestic abuse.
  • Dance as therapy: How has movement healed my soul?
  • My high blood pressure led to cardiovascular disease.
  • Using social media increased my psychological challenges.

Examples of Personal Ideas on History

  • The emergence of World War I led to my family’s separation.
  • A journey back in time: My visit to the historic Underground Railroad sites.
  • My experience researching the Arab Spring for a school project.
  • Indian partition: Stories passed down through generations.
  • Unearthing my family’s connection to the Spanish Civil War.
  • A reflection on my ancestral ties to the transatlantic slave trade.
  • The development of slavery affects my family life.
  • My interest in the women’s movement led to my activism against racism.
  • The emergence of World War II led to my family’s breakup.
  • Tracing my heritage back to the Irish Potato Famine.
  • Learning about my family’s involvement in the Korean War.
  • Interpreting the impact of the Industrial Revolution on my hometown.
  • South African apartheid: Understanding its impact through my parents’ eyes.
  • Artifacts of history: My personal collection of World War I memorabilia.
  • The lasting effect of the Cuban Missile Crisis on my community.
  • The emergence of the Holocaust ruined my education and career path.
  • Joining religion reduced my delinquency levels.
  • The Arab Spring improved my quality of life.
  • British imperialism reduced my employment opportunities.

Samples of Personal Essay Ideas on Science

  • Global warming undermined my social well-being.
  • Excessive temperature reduced my digestion strategies.
  • The art and science of brewing coffee: A personal journey.
  • Why am I fascinated by the science of sleep?
  • My journey toward understanding the interconnectedness in ecology.
  • The personal impacts of living in the Anthropocene era.
  • Experiencing awe: The cosmos through an amateur astronomer’s lens.
  • The inspiration behind my interest in forensic science.
  • Exposure to excessive sunlight was the cause of my skin cancer.
  • Ambient temperature threatened my pet’s feeding habits.
  • High temperature threatens my daily routine.
  • Scientific findings undermined my food consumption.
  • Reflections on my first science experiment failure.
  • The deep sea: A realm of science still largely unknown.
  • Balancing faith and science: A personal exploration.
  • The fascinating world of microbiomes and their impact on health.
  • Appreciating the subtle science in everyday life.
  • Various research methods undermined my health outcomes.
  • My scientific knowledge promoted my social behavior.

Examples of Personal Essay Ideas on Sports

  • Embracing workouts enhanced my immunity.
  • Exploring the mental and emotional challenges of sports.
  • Sports and identity: How do they shape who we are?
  • The cultural significance of sports in different societies.
  • Ethics of sports: Fair play and integrity.
  • Embracing regular workouts strengthened my bones.
  • The role of sports in reducing stress and promoting well-being.
  • Sports and the pursuit of excellence: Striving for greatness.
  • The legacy of sports heroes: Their impact on society.
  • The intersection of art and sports: Capturing the beauty of movement.
  • Embracing physical exercise relieved my stress.
  • Sports and empowerment: How do athletics inspire confidence?
  • Sports and social change: Breaking barriers and challenging norms.
  • The impact of sports on mental health and well-being.
  • Sports and time management: Balancing athletics and responsibilities.
  • Embracing sports lowered my juvenile delinquency.
  • Participating in college athletes led to talent development.
  • Engaging in workouts boost my memory.
  • Taking an active part in sports improved my peer relationships.
  • Embracing regular exercise enhanced my communication skills.

Samples of Personal Ideas on Technology

  • Internet accessibility increased my cyberbullying.
  • Increased cyberbullying increases juvenile delinquency.
  • Effects of technology on mental health.
  • Impacts of technology on sustainable energy solutions.
  • Evolution of wearable technology.
  • Benefits and drawbacks of internet censorship.
  • Roles of technology in enhancing personal productivity.
  • Influence of technology on travel and tourism.
  • Challenges and opportunities of 5G technology.
  • Pros and cons of biometric identification systems.
  • Future of work: Automation and job displacement.
  • Influence of technology on the entertainment industry.
  • Roles of virtual assistants in modern living.
  • Implications of quantum computing on society.
  • The emergence of state control of the internet pushed me into cyberbullying.
  • Embracing social networking influences my ways of life.
  • Embracing social media influenced my overall well-being.
  • The emergence of facial recognition technologies undermined my human rights.
  • Adoption of artificial intelligence that enhanced my active learning.
  • Roles of technology in promoting accessibility and inclusion.

Creating a Topic for a Personal Essay

Writers identify essential and exciting life experiences. In this case, they create exciting topics about their thought-provoking essay topics. Also, one must create a topic that interests readers. However, authors must ensure that they use real-life experiences. Hence, a scheme template to develop a unique item for a personal essay is:

  • For essays on secrets of life, one should use a scheme: “secret events and its consequences.”
  • For papers on defining moments, one should use a format: “momentous events and their influence on one’s life.”

Summing Up on Personal Essay Topics

Personal essay topics refer to a typical assignment that high school and college students must develop. Basically, the primary goal of writing personal papers is to stimulate readers to act in a specific way. In this case, authors can use different writing styles to complete this type of arrangement. Then, personal writing includes real stories, involvements, and individual opinions. Besides, authors should give an account of their involvement and express thoughts on subjects. In turn, there are two types of personal essay topics. The first type focuses on some secrets of life, whereas learners represent stories that focus on unusual life pursuits. The second type of personal paper focuses on defining moments in a person’s life. Hence, one should follow examples of template schemes for two types of personal essay topics:

  • Secret events and their consequences.
  • Momentous events and their influence on one’s life.

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Personal Essay Topics

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personal life essay topics

Personal essay is considered to be one of the most interesting academic assignments. Writing such an essay, you are not just creating a regular text about some person but also have a great opportunity to demonstrate your views, feelings, or opinion on a given topic. In a good paper, you can influence the readers and present some new ideas to them.

Students often think that a personal essay is difficult to write. Moreover, they often get scared when they realize that they may need to prepare for this assignment longer than usual. Well, in fact, there is nothing complicated in this task. All you need to do is express the main idea clearly, discuss it, and be honest with your readers.

However, sometimes the situation gets worse when a teacher gives quite specific college personal essay topics, and you have no opportunity to touch upon some important issues that you might want to discuss. Relax and do not think of the topic as a limitation! Instead, try to provide a deeper comprehension of the issues and concepts related to the theme of your paper.

The next challenge of creating such a text is that you will need to combine a lot of writing styles. But do not panic! Look at this struggle from a different perspective, and it will become an advantage which allows you to express your thoughts more vividly. After all, it’s a fact that your writing style reflects your personality.

Of course, the success of your essay mostly depends on the topic, so you are welcome to choose one of the interesting personal essay topics presented by our essay writing service in this article. Then, working on the task, make sure that it is not a monotonous piece that will be difficult to read. Well-structured papers on relevant common personal essay topics provide an excellent opportunity to show your point of view and express your feelings regarding the subject.

How to write personal essays?

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This question is pertinent among the new writers who struggle to create a whole text about a person. But there is nothing to worry about! First of all, try to collect as much information as possible. For example, look for some interviews with the individual you want to write about. If you have one of the top personal essay topics, it will be quite easy to find this kind of info.

The next aspect of a good essay is the formatting of the text. This is not the easiest part of writing, but it is definitely not the thing you should be concerned about. Make sure that you have a writing guide to refer to or just ask your professor about formatting rules at your college. By the way, mind that we are talking mostly about personal essay topics for college, so if you have to write such text for school or university, you will need to adapt it to the requirements of that educational institution.

Finally, let’s consider the structure of a good personal essay. In the first paragraph, you have to provide a brief biography of the person you are writing about. It should contain some information about their life, achievements, and some interesting facts. After that, try to find some info about the childhood years of this individual. Using this technique, you can create an interesting intro which will prompt your audience to read the text to the very end. If you have troubles with that, you can just pick one of the personal essay topics for high school students, as they should be easier to find info on. After you are done with the first section, it is time to move on to the most challenging part of writing. Here, you have to describe the outstanding years of a person’s life and analyze the most important experiences or events during that time . Do not get scared if you are assigned to write a text about yourself or someone you do not know. You may have excellent writing skills, but it is always difficult to tell personal stories or share memories. So don’t lose heart if you won’t succeed with your first personal essay.

Why choose to write on the personal persuasive essay topics

While reading the information above, you may get the following question, “Why would a novice writer pick such a complex topic to write on?” First of all, people need to do something new and challenging all the time in order to become well-versed in particular spheres. Secondly, students learn how to work on several types of texts, which not only helps them to become better writers but also reach a totally new level of proficiency. Another great thing is that if you pick one of the personal essay topics for college applications, you will be able to stand out from the crowd of those who are going to choose the easier topics.

So, now it’s time to start writing the actual essay. Do not worry if you still have no ideas what to write about. In this article, we will provide the list of personal essay topic options which will definitely help you to write a perfect paper and get an excellent mark.

College level personal essay topics

college-level-personal-essay-topics

College-level personal experience essay topics are more challenging to cope with than school ones because you have to search and analyze a lot. Moreover, writing college-level essays presupposes the development of analytical and critical thinking skills. Just like writing a personal essay for college application, it requires a more in-depth evaluation of the issue under consideration. If you struggle to find a proper topic for your essay, here is a list of interesting themes for college students:

  • The biggest fear in your life
  • A difficult decision you have made
  • When did you have the biggest argument with your sibling?
  • The most interesting dream you have ever had
  • Music that inspires you and makes you feel good
  • Perfect family vacation
  • The day you met your best college friend
  • The most awkward moment in college
  • Your phobias
  • Things your parents have taught you
  • The time you spoke out about something important to you
  • How would you spend your gap year?
  • What is the bravest moment of your life?
  • What did you do when a close person betrayed you?
  • The most important lesson in your life
  • Describe the biggest failure in your life and what you have learned from it

Personal essay topics for education

These topics are slightly different from the previous ones. Educational themes are usually a bit more school-based, which means that you need to have some basic knowledge to complete them. A lot of things can be described in this essay, but it is important to include only relevant information and clearly state your opinion. By the way, these themes are considered the best personal essay topics among all. The reason is that writing this kind of essay, you have an opportunity to demonstrate your views, goals, and aspirations so that your teacher can determine your ambitions and potential in the study area. Therefore, let us move on to the actual examples:

  • How can a professor motivate you to become a better person?
  • What are the best methods to deliver a speech?
  • Do you like doing homework, or is it a waste of time for you?
  • The best lesson you have learned studying in college or high school
  • Is it hard for you to prepare for school exams? How do you handle stress during that period?
  • What second language did you learn and how?
  • What motivates you to study hard and pursue your dreams?
  • The right and wrong choices you made regarding study and education

Easy topics for personal essay

Students choose easy topics quite often because they are not willing to spend a lot of time on writing. Selecting such a theme is not a bad idea at all because these topics are usually quite broad. Make sure you know how to write the best pieces using these great personal essay topics:

  • How to relax after a hard day?
  • The greatest fear you have
  • The best place in your house
  • The best period of the history of your country
  • Your favorite movie
  • What would you buy right now if you had a lot of money?
  • The work of art that you adore the most
  • The best period of your life
  • Who is your favorite singer?
  • Secret talent you have
  • The unexplained event that happened to you
  • Your favorite season
  • Your best birthday party
  • Your favorite type of food
  • The best childhood memory
  • What would you do if you won the lottery
  • Your favorite holiday

Some other good personal essay topics

other-good-personal-essay-topics

If you are still out of ideas for personal essay topics, you can consider the themes listed below:

  • The last act of kindness that you have made
  • The job of your dream
  • The most beautiful place in the world you have ever seen
  • The best music band that helps you to fall asleep
  • The most annoying things in your life
  • A thing that reminds you of your childhood
  • The role of money in your life
  • The best words you have heard in your life
  • Have you ever witnessed something that you will remember for the rest of your life?
  • The best morning in your life
  • Something that makes you feel guilty
  • Your shopping habits
  • A place you would go if you could travel back in time  

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53 Stellar College Essay Topics to Inspire You

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College Essays

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Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

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53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

  • How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
  • A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
  • Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
  • A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
  • Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
  • Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
  • A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
  • How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
  • An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
  • How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
  • How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
  • A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
  • How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
  • A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
  • Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
  • The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
  • A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
  • A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
  • A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
  • A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
  • The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
  • A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
  • How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
  • A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
  • Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
  • Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
  • A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
  • How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
  • A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
  • How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
  • A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
  • Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
  • A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
  • How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
  • Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
  • What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
  • A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
  • Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
  • A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
  • Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
  • A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
  • A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
  • How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
  • A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
  • A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
  • Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
  • How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
  • A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
  • A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
  • An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
  • A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
  • The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
  • An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

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How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

  • Emotions you felt at the time
  • Names, places, and/or numbers
  • Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
  • A specific anecdote, example, or experience
  • Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

  • You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
  • You're excited to write about
  • You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
  • You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

  • Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
  • Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
  • End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

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Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

  • Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
  • Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
  • Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
  • Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
  • Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
  • Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

  • They’re specific
  • They show who you are
  • They’re meaningful to you
  • They’re unique
  • They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

  • Write down all the details
  • Figure out your focus and approach
  • Structure your narrative
  • Write a rough draft
  • Edit, revise, and proofread
  • Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts  to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications.

Want to see examples of college essays that absolutely rocked? You're in luck because we've got a collection of 100+ real college essay examples right here on our blog!

Want to write the perfect college application essay?   We can help.   Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges.   Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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Home / Essay Samples / Sociology / Identity / Personal Life

Personal Life Essay Examples

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