unusual experience essay

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, unusual circumstances essay: how to write about it.

I'm working on my college essays, and some of the prompts ask about 'unusual circumstances' that have impacted my life. I've had some unique experiences but I'm not sure how to write about them. Any advice on how to showcase them well in my essay?

When writing about unusual circumstances, the key is to present them in a way that highlights your resilience, personal growth, and how they've shaped you. Here are some tips on how to showcase your unique experiences effectively:

1. Focus on the story: Begin with a brief but compelling narrative that illustrates the unusual circumstance you faced. Make sure to use vivid, engaging language that pulls the reader into your experience. Avoid simply listing facts; instead, aim to create a snapshot of that moment in your life.

2. Show personal growth: Explain how overcoming or dealing with the unusual circumstance led to significant personal growth or development. Discuss the specific skills or attributes you gained as a result of this experience. Perhaps the situation forced you to think creatively, taught you the importance of empathy, or helped you develop leadership abilities.

3. Highlight resilience: Demonstrate how your unusual circumstances required adaptability, strength, or perseverance. By showing that you were able to rebound from adverse events, you'll be illustrating your ability to handle challenges and succeed under pressure.

4. Connect to long-term goals: Tie your experience to your academic and professional goals. For instance, if your unusual circumstance spurred your interest in a particular subject or career field, elaborate on how it solidified your passion and commitment to pursuing this path.

5. Reflect: Lastly, make sure to spend some time reflecting on the impact of your unique experience on your overall character and worldview. Would you be the same person without this experience? How did it change your perspective on life? Share this introspection with your reader, as it will help foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of your story.

Check out this helpful CollegeVine article for more advice on tackling exceptional personal circumstances in an essay: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-explain-exceptional-personal-circumstances-on-applications

Remember, the goal is not simply to narrate your experience, but to share the insights, growth, and wisdom you've gained as a result. By incorporating these tips into your essay, you will give admissions officers a clear and genuine understanding of the unusual circumstance that affected you and the person you've become because of it.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Explain Exceptional Personal Circumstances on Applications

Your GPA and SAT don’t tell the full admissions story

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographics, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details.

Our chancing engine factors in extracurricular activities, demographic, and other holistic details. We’ll let you know what your chances are at your dream schools — and how to improve your chances!

What’s Covered:

• What Does “Exceptional Personal Circumstances” Mean?”

College Applications and Exceptional Personal Circumstances

• Tips for Writing about Low GPA, Disciplinary Record, etc.

Maximizing Your Chances of Admission

Where to get your additional info section reviewed.

If you’re a student with a less-than-perfect academic, extracurricular, or disciplinary history, filling out college applications can often be a nerve-wracking experience. As all colleges (not just elite private institutions ) become increasingly competitive each year, having a rough patch or two on your academic record can be extremely discouraging. It’s easy to feel as if a below-average GPA for your dream school or a history of disciplinary action will totally disqualify you, but the truth is, they might not.

What Does “Exceptional Personal Circumstances” Mean?

“Exceptional personal circumstances” is an intentionally broad term. College admissions teams want to give you the chance to talk about anything that may have impacted your ability to perform academically, or something that stands out on your record as a negative, like disciplinary action. What the term does not refer to, however, is something you just didn’t have space for in your personal statement, or excuses for poor academic performance.

Common topics for exceptional personal circumstances essays include natural disasters, long illnesses or injuries, legal or disciplinary action, or personal events that significantly disrupted the applicant’s life. You might also write about circumstances that were not single events, nor a significant change, but did represent an additional challenge to completing or engaging with schoolwork. Examples of this might include a time-consuming job to support your family financially, or poor wifi that prevented you from completing homework. 

As you think about whether to write an exceptional personal circumstances essay, consider these questions. 

• Did the event or events in question affect your ability to attend school? Was school closed, or were you unable to go for any reason?
• Were you unable to access the resources needed to fully engage with school? Perhaps at times you weren’t able to purchase books, consistently access wifi, or use a computer to research and write papers. 
• You may have been able to attend school and access resources, but unable to focus and fully participate due to distress or distraction. This could be from events inside or outside the classroom. Perhaps you were grieving a family member or battling chronic migraines. 
• Finally, are there negative items on your academic or legal record that are going to impact how colleges view you? While you shouldn’t deny or attempt to justify these events, this is a good chance to explain what happened, and how you’ve grown. For example, a student suspended for bullying should explain the events in her own words, taking responsibility and demonstrating that she understands the seriousness of the situation, as failing to address the suspension may show a lack of remorse

If your answer to these questions is “no,” don’t struggle to think of something that maybe could work. By definition, “exceptional personal circumstances” means most people won’t have anything to write about, so unless something immediately jumps into your mind, this opportunity probably isn’t relevant to you.

On the other hand, if you know your circumstances do require some additional explanation, we urge you to provide the admissions committee with all the context they need in order to fully understand your story.

What students often forget is that the admissions committee at your top-choice school is made up of humans — actual, real human beings — who know that the people whose applications they’re reviewing are humans, too. The admissions process at most private schools and many public schools is holistic — meaning they consider the candidate as a person, not as a set of numbers.

This year, the Common App offers 250 words to discuss how COVID-19 and natural disasters specifically impacted you, and 650 words to elaborate on any other circumstances that are relevant to understanding your high school story. Most other application platforms also provide about 500 words for you to provide any additional information you feel is important for admissions officers to have as they make a decision on your application.

It’s important, however, to keep in mind when choosing whether to write something in the additional information section that you should not simply be blaming your bad GPA on a particular teacher not liking you, or trying to downplay getting suspended for cheating. Whatever you choose to include should substantially enhance colleges’ understanding of you as an applicant, by offering a perspective on your record and you as a person that is not otherwise reflected in your essays.

Tips for Writing About Low GPA, Disciplinary Record, etc.

If you feel as though choosing to write a short essay for the additional information section would add significantly to your application, we have a few tips for how to make the most of this space and how to effectively describe exceptional personal circumstances on your college applications.

Firstly, it’s important to be candid and straightforward. For example, if you were subject to disciplinary action for cheating, it’s not in your best interest to try and downplay your own responsibility for your actions or divert the blame to someone else. This will likely strike admissions committees as a transparent attempt to avoid taking responsibility, and it’s doubtful they’ll be moved by that.

Instead, tell the truth about what happened (honestly and objectively), and emphasize what you learned from the experience rather than focusing on the negative consequences. Take the opportunity to draw a contrast between who you were when you made that mistake and who you are now, as that will demonstrate maturity and growth.

Reflect on Your Experiences

If you had several semesters where your GPA dropped below average, you may be concerned about whether this dip in your cumulative GPA will adversely affect your chances at your top choice schools. While grades are obviously extremely important, a 4.0 is not necessary to gain admission to a great school. If the dip was drastic enough that your chances of acceptance are likely to be substantially affected, however, the additional information section provides you with a space to assure admissions officers that you’re a strong candidate nonetheless.

Begin by trying to identify the reasons why your grades dropped. Did you have additional stressors at home that prevented you from doing your work, or from doing it as well as you could have? Did you suffer from an illness (physical or mental) that impeded your ability to perform to your highest ability at home and in class? If you can explain a clear and legitimate reason why your grades dropped, admissions officers will take that into account when considering your academic record.

Remember That Admissions Are Holistic

Although they are certainly not ideal, B’s and even C’s aren’t automatic disqualifiers from admissions, even at the most selective colleges, and the role of grades in admissions is not as black and white as some might assume. Your GPA, whether it is exceptional or less than stellar, is not the be-all and end-all of your application.

The holistic admissions process is personal to each applicant, and considers all dimensions of your application–including extracurriculars, essays, teacher recs, and, yes, exceptional circumstances–not just your academic performance. And admissions officers know some students are better set up for success than others. If you have had poor grades in the past, but there’s a legitimate reason why, providing a clear explanation can show maturity and resilience, two qualities admissions committees value highly in applicants.

Overall, what the holistic admissions process means is that schools aren’t looking for only academically strong candidates, but also those who will contribute to their overall campus environment. If you are able to characterize yourself as an applicant with the maturity to acknowledge past shortcomings and show how you’ve learned from your mistakes, it can work to mitigate poor grades or lackluster extracurricular involvement.

Show Your Growth

It’s also important to communicate how you’ve improved since your dip in grades/disciplinary action/etc., and how you plan to continue performing well for the remainder of high school and throughout college. If you have an upward grade trend, that can provide strong evidence to corroborate what you say in the additional information section. 

This advice applies to applicants who may have less-than-stellar extracurricular profiles as well. Maybe you struggled with untreated anemia early in high school, and the exhaustion you experienced prevented you from dedicating yourself to after-school activities. In that case, explaining how you’ve made an effort to become more involved in extracurriculars since getting your anemia under control with medication can help reassure admissions officers that you will do your very best to be an engaged member of their campus community.

Also remember that in general, it’s better to display stronger academic habits over time, even if you initially struggled, than to have straight A’s initially but allow yourself to become lazy in your last few semesters. Your more recent academic performance is more indicative of the student you’ll be in college.

Have Realistic Expectations

However, it’s important to note that to be admitted to top schools, providing an explanation and having an upward trend in academic performance won’t completely cancel out a relatively low GPA. While, as mentioned before, GPA is not an absolute determinant of whether or not you will be admitted, it is still among the most important aspects of your application.

To be a strong candidate for top schools, your reason for poor performance must be extremely compelling, such as a serious illness, the death of a family member, or other exceptional family circumstances. The same applies for disciplinary records: while minor infractions are more excusable, major instances of academic dishonesty or repeated offenses will harm your application, regardless of how eloquently you write about them in the additional information section.

Be Direct and to The Poin t

Finally, as you’re writing your exceptional personal circumstances statement, remember that this is not a second common app essay, nor a supplemental essay where you demonstrate your writing talent. It’s best to keep these essays short and specific, and to state your circumstances as plainly as possible. 

The admissions committee will not be thinking about the strength of your writing. Rather, they will be evaluating your story and its impact on your academic profile. With this in mind, it’s best to take some time to make sure you’re telling your story as clearly and effectively as possible, versus trying to flex your creative writing muscles.

If you choose to utilize the additional information section, it’s crucial that you highlight how learning from past actions has made you a stronger applicant, rather than focusing on the actions themselves and trying to excuse yourself for or otherwise diminish them.

So much of the application process is, essentially, self-marketing: presenting yourself in the best possible light, emphasizing your strengths, and demonstrating how your overall experiences, positive or negative, have made you into the person you are. A subpar GPA, disciplinary record, or lack of extracurricular involvement might seem like the death knell for your shot at admission to a top school, but this isn’t necessarily true. If you can frame that information in a positive way, its adverse impact on your application can be mitigated.

If you do have extenuating circumstances you want to explain, you’ll want to be sure your explanation is as clear and informative as possible. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of this essay, or any other, from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — The Most Meaningful Experience in My Life

The Most Meaningful Experience in My Life

• Categories: Personal Experience

About this sample

Words: 733 |

Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 733 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The journey begins, lessons in resilience, cultural immersion and empathy, reflection and self-discovery, continued impact.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1435 words

2 pages / 1035 words

3 pages / 1282 words

5 pages / 2232 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Personal Experience

What i learned in english class? I’ve learned many things through the course of this class: how to write a good essay, how to get batter at some essays I’ve already written in the past. I’ve learned how to locate my resources to [...]

It never can get better than getting involved in your own community. Just to know that you are helping your community become a better place. One action at a time. From picking up a little piece of garbage to starting a [...]

This is a short story about myself. My essay is particularly about me in third grade. In third grade, my family and I moved to Morgan, Utah. I had to go to a different school, where I knew nobody. I had to make new [...]

In the context of my autobiography essay, it's essential to understand my background. My name is Tharun, and I was born on December 18, 2004, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My parents are Suresh and Karolina. Unfortunately, both of [...]

Wake up! Wake up! The shrieking commands of my now irate mother abruptly awake me. As I strain to open my eyes, I am pierced by the fiery hot coals of the suns rays. I roll out of bed, only to hear more commands barked out by my [...]

From a young age, I saw my dad’s hard work to provide a better life for me. Every time he left for work with his black suitcase, I would sit on top of it to keep him from leaving. As he walked out the door, I would burst into [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Mentor texts

Telling Short, Memorable Stories From Your Life: ‘My Secret Pepsi Plot’

An invitation to students to tell a meaningful story in a limited number of words, with an example from The Times’s Lives column to help.

By Katherine Schulten

Our new Mentor Text series spotlights writing from The Times that students can learn from and emulate.

This entry, like several others we are publishing, focuses on an essay from The Times’s long-running Lives column to consider skills prized in narrative writing. We are starting with this genre to help support students participating in our 2020 Personal Narrative Essay Contest .

Our Personal Narrative Essay Contest is inspired by The New York Times’s Lives column, which ran from 1996 to 2017 and featured “short, powerful stories about meaningful life experiences .”

The editor of the column once posted some advice on “How to Write a Lives Essay” to guide those who submitted to the column annually. Much of that advice applies to our contest as well.

For example, several points boil down to reminders to keep it simple, including tips like:

Don’t try to fit your whole life into one “Lives.”

Don’t try to tell the whole story.

Tell a small story — an evocative, particular moment.

Better to start from something very simple that you think is interesting (an incident, a person) and expand upon it, rather than a large idea that you then have to fit into a short essay. For example, start with “the day the Santa Claus in the mall asked me on a date” rather than “the state of affairs that is dating in an older age bracket.”

This advice is similar to advice often given to high school seniors writing college essays : You have only 650 words to show admissions officers something important, interesting or memorable about who you are and what matters to you. A list of awards you’ve won won’t do it, but an engaging story about making brownies with your stepbrother just might.

As you’ll see when you read the texts below, none of them try to tell the whole story of a life, but, instead, illuminate an important aspect of it through focus on one event or moment. Yet that one focus ripples out, and says so much more.

Before You Read

Use the sentence starter below to write for a few minutes about whatever comes to mind. You will return to this writing in the “Now Try This” section.

A moment I’ll never forget from my childhood is …

Mentor Text: ‘ My Secret Pepsi Plot ,’ a 2014 Essay From the Lives Column, by Boris Fishman

This essay describes a memory from when the writer was 10 years old and his family had just immigrated from the Soviet Union to Brooklyn. “In the Soviet Union, we were secretly wealthy, but we arrived in Brooklyn as paupers,” he writes.

Somehow, his family ends up with 24 Pepsi-Colas in their refrigerator. The story of what happens next is Mr. Fishman’s short, powerful story:

Around this time I learned that American supermarkets gave back 5 cents for every returned empty. (Some states, like Michigan, its very name like a granite monument, gave you 10 cents.) I decided I would return those cans and give the money to my parents. My secret — a surprise.

Read the essay, focusing on how Mr. Fishman anchors the whole story in this one goal he had at age 10 — to return the Pepsi cans and get money for them.

As you read, you might trace the structure of the story. What does each paragraph do? What does each add to the telling of this small story?

Then, consider these questions:

How do the first two paragraphs set the stage for the story and give some necessary background?

How does telling this story allow the writer to show readers a particular time and place through the eyes of a new immigrant?

How does he pull you into the action, minute by minute, in the three paragraphs that begin “On Saturday afternoon …”?

How is money a theme throughout, in both stated and implied ways? What other ideas recur?

What is the role of the last paragraph?

Now Try This: Find Your Own Short, Powerful Stories

Look back at the writing you did before reading the mentor text. What is strongest about it? Could it become a short essay like the one you just read? If so, what would you need to do to shape it?

What other small stories — or “evocative, particular moments” — from your life might make wonderful short essays?

In a 2010 lesson plan, “ Going Beyond Cliché: How to Write a Great College Essay ,” we suggest students first make a timeline of their lives, or of one period in their lives, brainstorming at least 20 events, big and small, that were significant to them for any reason.

You might try that, or you can brainstorm answers to this list of prompts — or both:

-A time I took a risk: -A time I learned something about myself: -A memory from childhood I think about often: -Something that happened to me that still makes me laugh: -Something very few people know about me: -Something I regret: -A time when I felt rejected: -Something I am really proud of: -Something that changed the way I think or look at the world: -How I am different from most people I know: -Some of my fears: -A time I felt truly satisfied: -A time I failed at something: -An object I own that tells a lot about me:

Once you’ve chosen a topic, you might try to free-write for 10 minutes or so, asking yourself as you go: What was most interesting or memorable about this? What images come to mind when you think about this topic? Do you picture a person, a scene, a place? Do you hear a conversation or a bit of music? Do you smell, taste or feel something?

Finally, if you are still stuck, we have a list of prompts from our site that can inspire narrative writing . Take a look and see if any of them spark ideas for you.

More Mentor Texts for Telling Short, Memorable Stories

While the entire Lives column is devoted to “short, powerful stories,” the pieces we chose below are especially student-friendly in terms of both their subject matter and the way the writers focus on “an evocative, particular moment.” Below each title, an excerpt from the piece.

“ How Ramen Got Me Through Adolescence ,” a 2014 Lives essay, by Veronique Greenwood

When I was in fifth grade, I developed an intense dislike of eating around other people. The cafeteria was a place of foul odors, gelatinous spills, horrific mixtures of chocolate pudding, fruit cocktail and ketchup consumed on dares, and I found myself fasting from breakfast, at about 6 in the morning, until 3:35, when I walked home through the woods from the bus stop. Each step up our hill, a narrow ridge in rural California, I fantasized about the big bowl of ramen I would make myself when I reached the top.

“ Charmed ," a 2015 Lives essay, by Laila Lalami

‘‘Wait,’’ I said. From my pocket I pulled out a brown suede pouch bearing the name of a little jeweler in Rabat, the kind of place you send your friends to and say, tell him I sent you. In the pouch was a necklace with a silver khamsa — a charm in the shape of an open palm.

“ Montana Soccer-Mom Moment ,” a 2010 essay from the Lives column, by Laura Munson

I live in northwest Montana, and I have a teenager, and my teenager plays sports. That means a lot of driving — over-the-Rocky-Mountains-and-back-in-one-day kind of driving. I think about Meriwether Lewis every time I cross the Continental Divide, usually with sleeping soccer players wearing headphones in the back of my Suburban. I want to say, “Can you imagine everything depending on your horse and your ability to dream of an ocean past the mountains?” But it isn’t worth the eye-rolling.

“ All the Single Ladies ," a 2014 essay from the Lives column, by Jen Doll

“Single ladies to the dance floor!” came the cry, a masculine voice urging us forward. Wedding guests parted, creating a narrow path for the train of unmarried women to parade through in their finery. But we single ladies no longer looked so fine as we had that morning. We were worn and tired, sweat beading down our necks, sand crunching unpleasantly in our shoes, which were wearing raw the backs of our heels. We should have been lying down in cool rooms elsewhere, but the wedding was not over. We were 28. We knew what was next.

“ Working the Reunion ,” a 2008 essay from the Lives column, by ZZ Packer

My residential college always hosted the 45th reunion, one of the most well attended, I suppose because you just might not be around for the 50th. To my eyes, these guys were the picture of old money. Although they may have mastered physics or appraised the sharp beauty of “King Lear” in school, at reunions they reminisced about football glories and practical jokes. I sometimes felt less like a Yale co-ed who happened to be black than a black waitress who happened to be bringing them an extra fork. But after their dinner we reunion workers would drink up all the leftover bottles of wine while cleaning the dining hall.

Related Questions for Any Short, Narrative Essay

What is the one small moment or event this piece focuses on? Why do you think the writer might have chosen it?

What do you learn about the writer and his or her world through this moment or event? How? What lines do this well? What is implied rather than stated?

How is the piece structured? What does each paragraph do? How does each contribute to the story?

Look closely at how the writer tells a complete story in a limited number of words. Where, in terms of time and place, does the story begin? Where does it end? How does the writer weave in necessary background even while keeping the action of the story moving forward?

What else do you notice or admire about this essay? What lessons might it have for your own writing?

My English Pages | Learn English Grammar Online

Writing about personal experiences, table of contents, introduction.

• What Does It Mean to Write about Personal Experiences?
• What Does It Involve to Write About Your Personal Experiences?
• Structure of an Essay about Your Personal Experiences

1. Preparation:

2. drafting:.

• 3. Revising, Editing, and Final Draft:
• General Tips for Writing the Perfect Narrative of Your Personal Experience

Topics About Personal Experience Narrative

Sample personal experience narrative.

Writing about  personal experiences  is an art that requires infusing your story with raw emotions and vivid details. More than just recounting events, these narratives offer a glimpse into the author’s life, fostering connection and understanding. This blog is your guide. We will explore a step-by-step procedure to unlock the potential of your memories.

Let’s start by understanding what writing about personal experiences means!

What Does It Mean To Write About Personal Experiences?

Understanding what writing about personal experiences means is like unlocking a treasure chest of emotions, memories, and unique perspectives. It transcends the mere act of putting words on paper; it’s about excavating the essence of your lived moments, distilling the emotions that linger in the corners of your memories.

It involves not just recounting events but infusing your narrative with the richness of your personal journey, allowing readers to get a glimpse of your life.

What Does It Involve To Write About Your Personal Experiences?

Writing about your personal experiences involves the following:

• Self-Reflection:  Engage in deep introspection to identify key moments in your life that have left a lasting impact or evoke strong emotions.
• Emotional Connection:  Convey the raw emotions associated with your experiences; be it joy, sorrow, triumph, or challenge, as it is this emotional authenticity that resonates with readers.
• Vivid Detailing:  Paint a vivid picture by incorporating sensory details, setting the scene with sights, sounds, smells, and textures to immerse your readers in the essence of your experiences.
• Personal Growth and Reflection:  Explore how these experiences have shaped you, sharing insights into the lessons learned or the personal growth achieved as a result.
• Universal Relevance:  Connect your personal narrative to broader themes or universal truths, making your story relatable and offering readers a chance to find common ground in their own experiences.

Structure Of An Essay About Your Personal Experiences

An essay about your personal experiences typically follows a specific  narrative  structure. This structure often includes the following components:

• Sets the tone for the essay.
• Introduces the central theme or experience.
• Captures the reader’s attention with a hook or engaging statement.
• States the main point or purpose of the essay.
• Provides a roadmap for the reader, outlining what to expect.
• Presents the chronological or thematic unfolding of your personal experiences.
• Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect or phase of the experience.
• Includes vivid details, emotions, and reflections to enrich the narrative.
• Connects paragraphs smoothly, ensuring a coherent flow.
• Guides the reader through the different stages of the narrative.
• Highlights a pivotal moment or realization in the experience.
• Intensifies the emotional impact and adds depth to the narrative.
• Summarizes the key points made throughout the essay.
• Reflects on the significance of the experiences and their lasting impact.
• Leaves the reader with a final thought or takeaway.

This structure allows for a compelling and organized exploration of personal experiences, enabling the writer to share a cohesive and meaningful narrative with the audience.

The Process Of Writing About Personal Experiences

Here is a comprehensive guide outlining the steps for writing about personal experiences:

Before starting the drafting process of your personal experience essay, consider immersing yourself in the art of  narration  by studying a  well-crafted sample . Following this, select the event you wish to recount and start the gathering of ideas, forming a structured outline for your essay.

a. Reading a Sample Example:

• Choose a well-written personal experience essay to understand the narrative structure, style, and how the author weaves emotions into the story.

b. Selecting a Personal Experience:

• Choose a significant experience that has left a lasting impact or taught you valuable lessons.
• Ensure the experience is rich in details and emotions, making it compelling for readers.

c. Collecting Ideas and Making an Outline:

• Jot down key memories, emotions, and reflections associated with the chosen experience.
• Organize these elements into a rough outline, ensuring a logical flow of the narrative.

During the drafting stage, concentrate on translating your ideas into coherent words, sentences, and paragraphs while adhering to your initial outline. Avoid becoming overly concerned with precision at this point; instead, prioritize fluency in your writing.

Below is an example of an outline to guide you through this process:

a. Introduction:

• Begin with a captivating hook to grab the reader’s attention.
• Introduce the chosen personal experience and include a clear thesis statement.

b. Body Paragraphs:

• Develop each paragraph around a specific aspect or phase of the experience.
• Use descriptive language, sensory details, and emotions to enhance the narrative.
• Ensure a chronological or thematic order for a coherent progression.

c. Climax or Turning Point:

• Highlight a pivotal moment or realization within the experience.
• Build anticipation and intensify emotions to engage the reader.

d. Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points and restate the thesis in the context of the experience.
• Reflect on the broader significance or lessons learned.

3. Revising, Editing, And Final Draft:

The stages of revising, editing, and creating the final draft are crucial in shaping a relevant, accurate, and well-structured narrative of your personal experience. During the revision phase, prioritize assessing the relevance and coherence of your ideas. As you move to the editing stage, focus on refining your writing by rectifying any grammar, spelling, or punctuation mistakes.

Here is a guide to what you have to do at this stage:

a. Revising:

• Review the draft for coherence, ensuring a smooth flow between paragraphs.
• Check for clarity and consistency in the narrative.

b. Editing:

• Edit for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.
• Trim unnecessary details or repetitions to maintain conciseness.

c. Final Draft:

• Incorporate revisions and edits to produce a polished, final version.
• Ensure the narrative effectively conveys the intended emotions and reflections.

General Tips For Writing The Perfect Narrative Of Your Personal Experience

Crafting a captivating narrative essay revolves around key principles. These include prioritizing authenticity to deepen reader connections, enhancing the narrative’s impact by engaging the senses with vivid details, using descriptive storytelling, seeking external feedback, and adopting a revision strategy with breaks to ensure a fresh, objective perspective:

• Be genuine and honest in sharing your experience; readers connect with authenticity.
• Use vivid sensory details to make the narrative more immersive.
• Instead of merely stating facts, show the emotions and events through descriptive storytelling.
• Have someone else read your essay for fresh perspectives and constructive feedback.
• Take a break between drafting and revising to approach the essay with a fresh perspective.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a compelling personal experience essay that resonates with readers.

Note: Enhance Your Narrative with Detail

• Feelings:  Immerse your readers by recalling and expressing your emotions in vivid detail.
• Thoughts:  Share your inner reflections, thoughts, and the mental landscape of the moment.
• Objects Around You:  Paint a detailed picture by describing the shapes, colors, sizes, and characteristics of the objects in your surroundings.
• Smell:  Engage the olfactory senses by capturing and conveying distinctive scents associated with the moment.
• Taste:  Delve into the flavors present, whether they are connected to the environment or your emotional experience.
• Actions:  Chronicle the actions that unfolded, providing a dynamic portrayal of the scene.
• Setting:  Establish the context by specifying the place and time, offering readers a clear backdrop for your narrative.
• Chronological Order:  Structure your storytelling by presenting events in the order in which they occurred.
• Flashback Technique:  Employ the flashback technique to depict or recall a set of events that took place before the scenes immediately preceding the narrative.

Here are ten suggested topics for writing about a personal experience:

• Explore the transformative experiences, challenges, or insights gained during a significant journey.
• Share a personal story about confronting and overcoming a fear, whether it be public speaking, heights, or something else.
• Reflect on a milestone or significant achievement in your life, delving into the journey and lessons learned.
• Detail the process of making a tough decision and the impact it had on your life.
• Discuss the cultural immersion or exchange program that left a lasting impression on your perspectives and worldview.
• Narrate an experience where an unexpected act of kindness, or receiving/giving, had a profound impact on you.
• Share a story about overcoming a personal challenge, whether it be a physical obstacle or a mental hurdle.
• Explore the dynamics of a friendship that significantly influenced your personality, values, or life path.
• Reflect on a failure or setback, discussing the lessons learned and the personal growth that resulted.
• Detail a family tradition or ritual that holds special significance and has shaped your sense of identity and belonging.

Here is a sample narrative of a personal experience:

“Embracing Life’s Fragility: A Journey Through Illness”

Life often unfolds in unexpected ways. This part of my life begins with a chapter marked by a grave illness that forever altered the fabric of my existence. It was a diagnosis that cast a dark shadow, yet within its ominous embrace, I discovered resilience, gratitude, and a profound shift in perspective.

The ominous clouds gathered when a routine checkup revealed an unexpected intruder in my body – cancer, a relentless adversary stealthily making its presence known. The sterile hospital walls echoed with the measured words of the doctors, their diagnosis cutting through the air like a surgeon’s scalpel. Shock and disbelief became my immediate companions, and the room seemed to contract, suffocating hope.

Receiving such news felt akin to standing on the precipice of an abyss. The world, once familiar, crumbled before my eyes like a fragile sandcastle washed away by the relentless tide. The enormity of the diagnosis wrapped around me, a suffocating cloak threatening to snuff out the light. The initial waves of fear and despair were overwhelming, an emotional tempest that threatened to drown me. In those vulnerable moments, with the stark reality of mortality hanging heavy, I found myself at a crossroads. It was a choice – succumb to the despair or summon the strength to fight.

In the quietude of uncertainty, a resolute spirit emerged. The decision to fight wasn’t born out of blind optimism but a deep-seated determination to defy the prognosis. I clung to the fragments of hope, remembering the faces of loved ones, the warmth of shared laughter, and the myriad experiences yet to unfold. The fight wasn’t just against a physical ailment; it was a battle for the very essence of life. With newfound determination, I embraced the journey ahead, armed with courage and a realization that even in the darkest moments, the human spirit possesses an indomitable light.

Amidst the trials, I unearthed an unyielding wellspring of resilience within. Each treatment, a battle won; each setback, a lesson learned. I became intimately acquainted with the fragility of life, realizing that strength is not the absence of vulnerability but the courage to persist in the face of it.

As the seasons changed, so did my perspective. Gratitude blossomed in the most unexpected places – in the warmth of sunlight streaming through a hospital window, in the laughter shared with fellow patients, and in the unwavering support of friends and family. Life’s transient nature became a poignant reminder to savor every fleeting moment, to find beauty in the ordinary, and to cherish the people who walked beside me on this unforeseen path.

The story is not one of despair but of transformation. The illness, once a dark antagonist, became a catalyst for self-discovery. It prompted a reevaluation of priorities, a shedding of superficial concerns, and a newfound appreciation for the sheer gift of being alive. The mundane became extraordinary, and every heartbeat became a melody of gratitude.

Today, as I stand on the other side of that harrowing chapter, I carry the scars of battle but also the profound wisdom that accompanies adversity. Life, once taken for granted, is now a cherished tapestry, each thread a reminder of the resilience found in the face of illness and the beauty inherent in embracing life’s fragility.

In summary, writing about personal experiences is a distinctive narrative form that invites readers into the intimate corridors of the author’s life. It involves the skillful blending of emotions, vivid details, and reflections to construct a compelling story. To try this literary essay, one must explore their memories, choosing experiences that resonate on a personal level. The process demands authenticity, encouraging writers to express their true selves and connect with readers through shared human experiences

Related Pages:

• Articles about writing
• Figures of speech

Quick Links

Awesome links you may like.

What are idioms? And how can idioms help you become a fluent speaker? Discover a list of the most widely used idiomatic expressions!

Phrasal verbs are generally used in spoken English and informal texts. Check out our list of hundreds of phrasal verbs classified in alphabetical order.

Do you want to provide emphasis, freshness of expression, or clarity to your writing? Check out this list of figures of speech!

Do you need to learn the irregular verbs in English? Here is a list of irregular verbs with definitions and examples!

Free English Grammar Lessons and Exercises

Study pages.

• Phrasal verbs
• Study Skills
• Global tests
• Business English
• Dictionaries
• Studying in the USA
• Visit the world
• Shared resources
• Teaching materials

Latest Blog Posts

Learn english the fun way, efl and esl community.

Subscribe and get the latest news and useful tips, advice and best offer.

Experience Essay

People love talking about their experiences with their family, friends, and loved ones. You can use your love for that to practice and enhance your essay writing skills. Yes, you have read it right. It is like hitting two birds with one stone. Tell your story by composing an experience essay.

10+ Experience Essay Examples

1. research experience essay.

Size: 732 KB

2. Formal Experience Essay

Size: 209 KB

3. Experience of Life Essay

Size: 197 KB

4. Academic Personal Experience Essay

Size: 188 KB

5. COVID-19 Experience Essay

Size: 76 KB

6. Work Experience Essay

Size: 75 KB

7. Post Graduation Experience Essay

Size: 41 KB

8. Previous Research Experience Essay

Size: 28 KB

9. Sample Experience Essay

Size: 44 KB

10. Coaching Experience Essay

Size: 19 KB

11. College Experience Essay

Size: 31 KB

What Is an Experience Essay?

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

How to Compose a Riveting Experience Essay

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

1. Choose an Unforgettable Memory

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

2. Arrange the Sequence of Events  

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

3. Devise an Engrossing Introductory Paragraph

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

4. Craft a Rousing Statement for Your Conclusion

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

How should you describe an experience in your essay?

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

What are good topics for an experience essay?

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

What makes an experience essay different from a narrative essay?

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

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

Experience Essay Generator

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write an Experience Essay on your first day at school

Discuss a travel experience that changed your perspective in an Experience Essay