diary essay example

Diary writing: Format, Topics, and Examples

Diary Writing has stood the test of time and remains valuable for students or individuals, appearing at the Exams, or seeking a personal and reflective outlet. 

In this article, we will explore the profound benefits of diary writing along with the art of diary writing, exploring its format, and various topics, and providing real-life examples.

What is Diary Writing?

Definition and purpose.

At its core, Diary writing  is a  short essay  that regularly records a writer’s own thoughts, experiences, emotions, observations, feelings, and attitudes of his or her daily activities on a book or pad containing pages.

The purpose of this practice varies from person to person, but common motivations include self-expression, emotional release, and self-discovery. 

Benefits of Diary Writing

Diary writing offers a multitude of benefits for the mind, heart, and soul. It provides a therapeutic outlet, enhances self-awareness, and fosters personal growth.

By putting emotions into words, individuals can gain clarity on their thoughts and feelings, leading to a greater understanding of themselves and their experiences.

Writing Techniques and Styles

Expressive writing.

Expressive writing involves pouring raw emotions onto the page without inhibition. It’s an opportunity to let go of pent-up feelings, which can be highly cathartic and healing.

Reflective Writing

Reflective writing encourages introspection and analysis. Writers can explore their experiences and reactions to gain deeper insights into their lives.

Creative Writing

For those with a flair for imagination, creative writing within the context of diary entries adds an artistic touch to

the process. Fictional diaries and storytelling can be a fascinating approach to diary writing.

Keeping Consistency in Diary Writing

Commitment and dedication.

Maintaining a diary requires commitment. Even on days when motivation is low, sticking to the routine can lead to long-term benefits.

Finding Motivation

To stay motivated, writers can remind themselves of the positive impact diary writing has on their well-being and personal growth.

General Guidelines for Diary Writing

Certainly! When it comes to diary writing, there are no strict rules as it is a personal form of expression. However, there are some general guidelines that you may find helpful to make your diary writing experience more enjoyable and meaningful:

Be Honest and Authentic: Your diary is a private space where you can be yourself without any judgment. Write honestly about your thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

Write Regularly: Try to write in your diary regularly, whether it’s daily, weekly, or at whatever frequency suits you best. Consistency will help you develop a habit and make it easier to express yourself.

Choose Your Style: Your diary is for your eyes only, so you can write in any style that feels comfortable to you. You can use complete sentences, bullet points, or even doodles and sketches if that helps convey your feelings.

Include Date and Time: Start each entry with the date and, optionally, the time. This helps you keep track of your thoughts chronologically.

Reflect on the Day: Reflect on your experiences, interactions, and feelings about the day. This helps you gain insights into yourself and your life.

Explore Emotions: Express both positive and negative emotions. Writing about your feelings can be therapeutic.

Describe Events: Include details about events, people, and places to create a vivid picture of your experiences.

Set Goals and Aspirations: Use your diary to jot down your goals, aspirations, and plans for the future.

Celebrate Achievements: It boosts your confidence and reminds you of your progress.

Use Prompts: If you’re unsure where to start, use writing prompts or topics to inspire your diary entries.

Be Patient with Yourself: It’s okay if you miss a day or two of writing. Be kind to yourself and pick up where you left off when you’re ready.

Read Old Entries: Occasionally, go back and read your past diary entries. It can be insightful to see how you’ve grown and changed over time.

Enjoy the Process: Most importantly, enjoy the process of diary writing. It’s a wonderful way to connect with yourself and your emotions.

Remember, there are no hard and fast rules in diary writing . The purpose is to create a personal space where you can freely express yourself and reflect on your experiences. Happy diary writing!

Diary Writing Format

Here’s a standard format for writing a diary entry in English:

Date: [ Today’s Date ]

Dear Diary,

[ Start your entry here. ]

[ Write about your thoughts , feelings, and experiences from the day. You can include the events that happened, the people you met, your reactions to certain situations, and anything else that made an impact on you.]

[ Share your emotions honestly , whether it’s happiness, sadness, excitement, frustration, or any other feelings you experienced during the day.]

[ Reflect on any significant moments or lessons you learned today.]

[ You can also write about your plans for the future or your goals and aspirations.]

[ Close your entry with a summary of your overall feelings about the day.]

Goodnight, Diary. See you tomorrow!

[ Your Name ]

Remember, a diary is a personal space for you to express yourself freely, so feel free to write as much or as little as you want. There’s no right or wrong way to keep a diary – it’s all about recording your thoughts and feelings honestly and authentically. Happy writing!

Look at the Sample Diary Writing:

Monday, 7th January 2022 (1) Day & Date

8:00 p.m. (2 ) Time

Dear Diary, (3) Greetings

It is the start of the week. I am so excited. I am going to spend the entire week with my cousin Alok. Today we went to the Flower Exhibition. It was very interesting, Alok had suggested the idea of going to the exhibition It was an annual exhibition for professionals in floriculture and landscape design. It was a comprehensive business platform covering all sectors of floriculture and flower business. The exhibition displayed a wide variety of exotic flowers. It also exhibited various flower species including hybrids. It was one of the country’s greatest flower shows including events like the Summer Garden Competition, Foliage Plants Show, Home Growing Competition, etc. The vibrant colors were totally out of this world. I look forward to attending more of such exhibitions ]—(4) Body

Soumi—– (5) Name of the Writer

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Diary Writing Topics

The topics for your diary entries are limitless. They can be based on your experiences, aspirations, emotions, and thoughts. Feel free to modify or combine these topics to suit your personal preferences and writing style. Here are some diary-writing topics that you can explore:

A Memorable Day: Write about a day that stood out to you, whether it was due to a special event, an unexpected encounter, or an achievement.

My Goals and Aspirations: Reflect on your short-term and long-term goals, and how you plan to achieve them.

Dear Future Me: Write a letter to your future self, discussing your hopes, dreams, and expectations.

A Place I Love: Describe a place that holds sentimental value to you, and explain why it’s significant in your life.

My Favorite Hobby: Share your passion for a hobby or activity that brings you joy and fulfillment.

A Book/Movie That Inspired Me: Write about a book or movie that had a profound impact on your thoughts or emotions.

My Proudest Moment: Describe a moment in your life when you felt exceptionally proud of yourself or someone else.

Overcoming Challenges: Discuss a difficult situation or challenge you faced and how you managed to overcome it.

Random Acts of Kindness: Write about an act of kindness you either received or witnessed and how it made you feel.

Things I’m Grateful For: List the things, people, or experiences you feel grateful for in your life.

Dreams and Fantasies: Share any dreams or fantasies you’ve had lately, no matter how extravagant or simple they may be.

A Letter to a Friend/Family Member: Write a letter to someone close to you, expressing your thoughts and emotions.

Favorite Quotes: Share some of your favorite quotes and explain why they resonate with you.

Life Lessons: Reflect on valuable lessons you’ve learned throughout your life.

An Adventure I Want to Experience: Describe an adventure or journey you wish to embark on in the future.

The Best Day with Friends: Write about a day spent with your closest friends and the fun and memorable moments you shared.

My Dream Vacation: Describe your dream vacation destination and everything you would like to do and see there.

A Time I Overcame Fear: Reflect on a time when you faced a fear or phobia and how you managed to conquer it.

My Role Model: Write about someone you look up to and admire, explaining what makes them your role model.

A New Skill I Want to Learn: Discuss a skill or talent you’ve been eager to develop and why it interests you.

The Power of Music: Share how music impacts your emotions and recount a song or piece that has significant meaning to you.

A Lesson from Nature: Write about a valuable lesson you learned from observing nature or spending time outdoors.

An Act of Generosity: Describe an act of generosity you carried out for someone else and how it made you feel.

Challenges of Growing Up: Reflect on the challenges and changes you’ve faced as you’ve grown older.

A Delicious Recipe: Share a recipe that you recently discovered or tried, and describe how it turned out.

The Most Unforgettable Dream: Write about a particularly vivid or memorable dream you had and its impact on you.

If I Could Time Travel: Imagine if you could travel to any period in history or the future; where would you go and why?

To Your Younger Self: Write a letter of advice and encouragement to your younger self.

The Joy of Giving: Describe the happiness you felt when giving a thoughtful gift to someone special.

A Day Without Technology: Imagine spending a day without any technology and write about how it affected your day.

Workout Diary Writing Examples for Practice:

(1) write a diary entry about how you helped an old woman who was traveling by herself on the bus..

Tuesday,8 th  January 2022

Since my cousin was hospitalized, I decided to visit him. I took a bus at 8 o’clock which was very crowded because of the office hours. People were standing close to each other, and some were also hanging from the exit door as there was no space inside the bus. Even the senior citizens were standing as their seats were occupied by youngsters. There was an old lady who seemed to be sick, because of the heat and suffocation. I asked a young boy to stand up to provide her the seat. After sitting she drank some water and felt comfortable. Then, I helped her to get down from the bus. She thanked me and blessed me. I felt very happy that I had done some good deed.

(2)Today, you witnessed some students littering the corridors and fields of your school. You were very disappointed at that sight. Make a diary entry about how you felt.

Tuesday, 31st March 2021

I am very sad today. During the recess time, I saw a group of students littering in the school premises. They littered the corridors with plastic bags, foils, wrappers, etc. It was a very disappointing sight. I told them repeatedly not to litter and use the dustbin, but they did not listen to me. Not just this, even the playing field behind the classrooms was not spared by them. It looked no less than a garbage dump. I fail to understand how anyone can be so ignorant about his actions and its consequences. Sometimes, I feel disgusted that our environment has to suffer because of our bad habits.

I wish I could do something about it but my plan is to drop a letter in the suggestion box for the appointment of prefects to keep a check and ensure a clean environment at school. I hope things will get better due to my suggestions.

(3)  Y ou recently participated in the ‘All India CBSE National Quiz Competition and reached the finals. The final round was telecast over the national channel where you and your team won the quiz Describe your feelings in 100-150 words through a diary entry.

Saturday, January 23 rd , 2022

Today was such an exciting day. You know what, my team won the first prize the in ‘All India CBSE National Quiz Competition’. Not only this, but the cherry on the cake was also  that the final round was telecast over the national channel. My parents were very happy and so were my teachers and friends. The quiz was on biodiversity. The preliminary rounds were not so easy. But I had very wise team members. We were the leading team in oral round as well. It was so much fun – with applause and praises. We had a cutthroat competition with two of the other schools but we came first which was unexpected, I was very elated. We received a trophy and a certificate. It was a very proud moment of my life.

(4)   Suppose recently you had to change your place of residence. Write a page in your diary about the experience of shifting from a familiar neighborhood to a new place.

Saturday, 10 th  September 2021

My father has bought a new flat in Jamshedpur. He sold the village house at Murshidabad for his job transfer. It was really disappointing when I heard that we would go to a new residence. I had to leave my village school, my teachers, my friends, my neighbours, and the happy moments spent in the nature’s lap. The sight of vast green fields and catching fishes in the pond kept flickering in my mind. I was then admitted to a new school in Jamshedpur. All the memories I left there made me sad all the time. Here the children are not so friendly with me as I have come from a rural area. I go to the rooftop to enjoy the cloudlets floating in the sky. Hence every time I recall my good old days and I sob silently.

(5)   Today while coming back from school, you saw a small child begging at the signal. You were heartbroken to see the future of the country in such a dismal state. Make a diary entry in not more than 150-200 words expressing your feelings.

Saturday, 16th February 2021

I am feeling heartbroken today. While I was coming back from school, our bus stopped at a traffic signal. There I saw a young boy who was hardly eight years old begging for food and money. He knocked at every car and pleaded for money but was chased away most of the times I felt very sad on seeing that the child who should have been going to school to study had to struggle every day to fill his empty stomach. Al the same time I realised the value of all the comforts that my parents have provided to me. I realised that some steps should be taken to improve the conditions of these child beggars. When ! grow up. I will definitely do something for them.

(6)   Make an entry in your diary in 100-150 words on your hesitation to speak in English and you wish to improve your English-speaking skills.

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

A person is known by his company, what type of friends he has and how he reacts before them. I am fortunate enough to have a good circle of friends. They are extremely helpful and good-natured people but sometimes I feel quite embarrassed because they all have a good command over English while I do not, I have done my schooling from a Telugu medium school. Therefore, I hesitate to speak in English before them. It is my heartfelt desire to improve my English-speaking skills but there is no good institute in my vicinity where I can improve my speaking skills. Therefore, my desire has not yet been fulfilled. Dear Diary! I promise you that I will improve my English-speaking skills very soon.

(7)   You feel that speaking in English is the need of the hour. As your parents are unable to do so, you feel a keen desire to teach them. Write in about 100-150 words a page in your diary expressing how you will execute it.

Monday, Dec 15, 2021

These days, speaking in English has become the need of the hour. Nobody can deny this fact. Even my parents also agree with it. But they are unable to do so. Though it is not their fault or any weakness for which they should feel shy in the modern world, yet I have a keen desire to teach them to speak in English. This language is a link with the outer world as it is an international language-a handy means of communication with the people around the world. I shall help them in this so that they will feel more confident. First, I’ll give them lessons in Grammar, then shall proceed to introductory dialogue speaking and will gradually move to small speeches on the topics of their interest. I am sure my parents will be at the earliest, able to talk and express in English independently.

(8)    Suppose You participated in a play at the National School of Drama. It was recorded and will be telecast next week. Make a diary entry using the following clues in 150-200 words sharing your experience.

 Wednesday, 12th April 2020

I am very happy to share this wonderful experience with you. I had been practising day in and day out for the play participated in. Today was the final show. By the grace of God, everything went on well, I felt content when everyone praised our acting. I felt very lucky to have learnt controlled acting from such great and senior actors. Although I was quite nervous working with such experienced artists, they made me feel comfortable. The rehearsals were of sheer fun as well as a great learning experience. My happiness knew no bounds when we came to know that it will be telecast on the National channel.

I feel so proud about it and I am short of words that would justify my joy. But in short, it was an amazing journey. I am very excited about the telecast and eagerly waiting for it to be shown on TV. Basically, I already feel like a superstar. I hope everyone likes it.

(9)    Suppose you are a member of the Eco Club of your school. A few weeks back, your school celebrated Earth Day, Various informative programs were showcased in the morning assembly. Write a diary entry in 150-200 words expressing what you learnt through those activities based on your own ideas.

Friday. Ist May, 2021

A few days ago, my school celebrated the Earth Day on 22nd April, 20XX. Being a member of the Eco Club of my school, I helped in organising the event and making learning experience for all the students at my school on this occasion a special morning assembly was held, and various informative programmes were showcased. We invited eminent speakers from all over the city to sensitise us towards environmental protection Important environmental issues such as global warming pollution, deforestation etc were discussed in detail. All the students pledged to save the environment and spread awareness amongst people about protecting Mother Earth. We also decided to adopt environment friendly activities in our day-to-day life and thus work towards saving the environment. Overall, it was an enriching experience and I hope that my school continues to celebrate more such events.

(10)    You have kept a pet at home. Your father brought the pet for you. Write a diary entry describing how you take care of your pet in about 100-120 words. Read the given clues to plan your diary entry:

Wednesday,15 May 2021

My joy knew no bounds when a few days ago I saw my father coming home from office with a white puppy in his hands. I immediately ran towards him and took hold of the puppy. He is a German Spitz, all covered with white and golden coat. I named him Piya. I had never known till now that a pet can be so warm and affectionate. He is very playful and likes to spend his time playing with a ball. I give him milk, curd, chapati and dog food to eat. I take him for a walk twice a day. That is the time which he loves the most the moment I say, ‘Let’s go for a walk’, he starts showing his excitement. These words seem to be magic words.

I sometimes carry him to my friend’s house as they also love to play with him. My father takes him regularly to a vet for his vaccination and routine check-up. I really love my pet. You should watch him dancing when I come back from school. Never have I received such a warm welcome from anyone, the way he welcomes me. I am so happy that I have him as a friend and good company.

Q. 1: Can Diary Writing Help Improve My Mental Health?

Ans: Yes, diary writing can have significant mental health benefits. It provides an outlet for self-expression, reduces stress, and promotes emotional well-being.

Q. 2: How Do I Start a Diary Writing Habit?

Ans: To start a diary writing habit, choose the right diary format, create a consistent writing routine, and write with honesty and authenticity.

Q. 3: What Should I Write About in My Diary?

Ans: You can write about daily activities, emotions, goals, challenges, dreams, and adventures. There are no strict rules – let your diary be a reflection of your life.

Q. 4: Can Diary Writing Spark Creativity?

Ans: Absolutely! Diary writing allows you to explore your creativity through art, sketches, and expressive writing techniques.

Q. 5: Are Digital Diary Writing Apps Secure?

Ans: Most reputable digital diary writing apps offer robust security features to protect your private entries.

Q. 6: How Can Diary Writing Facilitate Personal Development?

Ans: Diary writing helps with personal development by promoting self-reflection, goal setting, and tracking progress over time.

Q. 7. Is diary writing only for young people?

Ans: Diary writing is for everyone, regardless of age. People of all ages can benefit from the therapeutic and self-reflective aspects of journaling.

Q. 8. What if I miss a day of writing in my diary?

Ans: It’s normal to miss a day occasionally. The key is to get back on track and not let a single missed day derail your commitment to diary writing.

Q. 9. Can I include negative emotions in my diary entries?

Ans: Absolutely! Diary writing is a safe space for all emotions, including negative ones. Expressing these emotions can be cathartic and lead to emotional healing.

Q. 10. Should I use a physical diary or a digital one?

Ans: The choice between a physical diary and a digital one depends on personal preference. Both have their merits, so go with the one that feels most comfortable for you.

Q. 11. Can I use diary writing as a form of therapy?

Ans: Yes, diary writing can be therapeutic. It can help individuals cope with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges by providing an outlet for emotional expression and self-reflection.

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My Personal Diary (Essay Sample)

Table of Contents

Every one of us at some time in life has thought about keeping a diary to write about daily events and happenings.  Writing your personal diary is considered by most as one of the most healthy activities that result in physical and mental well-being. Writing a diary every day not only sharpens your mind but also helps you reflect upon all your daily activities. In this essay, I will explain why I love to write my personal diary and what it has taught me.

My Personal Diary Essay – 700 Word Long Essay

At some point in life, we all have thought about keeping a personal diary to record daily events. Many people believe that writing in your diary every day is a very good habit with many benefits. It’s a way to pen down our thoughts, memories, beliefs, worries, and dreams on paper. A diary is usually something very personal as it captures the highlights and lowlights of one’s existence. I also have a personal diary and since young, I have had a habit of writing down the highlights of my day. In this essay, I will discuss why keeping a personal diary is important and what benefits it provides.

I made the first entry in my dear diary when I was 8 years old. Since I started writing my personal diary it has changed my life for the better. It helps me become organized by knowing myself better. Recording thought, emotions, and feeling by writing them down in my diary help me have better control of myself. Writing a diary every day has improved my writing style, vocabulary, and creativity. The more I think of different worlds and ideas the more I learn. Writing everything in my diary has also taught me perseverance. Writing about my goals and ambitions every day and making effort to achieve them despite failures has helped build a winning attitude that never lets me give up. I keep moving from one milestone because I am able to record my steady progress towards my goal.

Writing a diary also relieves all my stress because it’s a silent companion who never gives an opinion about my life. My diary silently listens to all my problems and I also write down all my deep innermost thoughts in my diary. I don’t have to keep all the things to myself because I can brain-dump all my stress, frustrations, pains, and problems in my diary. Many people will not believe me but writing a diary has enabled me to remember more by boosting my memory. Research has shown that you are more likely to remember anything you record by writing it down with your own hands. I have also felt that my dear diary has helped me have a better memory function as I am able to remember more.

Here are two instances of what I write in my diary:

My Diary: 22nd May 2017

I have now entered college, it’s like starting a new life for me. I gave all my vacation time at our own store but now it’s time to focus on my studies again. I will strive to get the same success that I had in my school. America yesterday horizon welcomed a new space mission and I am very excited about the outcome. In my girlhood journey when I begin school and now at college I have been paying a lot of attention to studies but now I will also try to shine in extracurriculars and sports. The college has good quality furniture that was absent at school and also a great football ground. I made some new friends today and went to the mall with one of them. The mall had different clothing styles and I also got new clothes from that mall. My new friend David also helped me save much money with his bargaining skills. Among many friends, I think I will make him my best friend to spend my college days.

My Diary: 23rd May 2017

After returning from college I went to the shoe factory today with two children. I realized that buying things directly from factories saves money but there is limited variety there. I bought shoes for myself and the two children. I had a problem catching the first bus, therefore, I waited long hours for the next bus to arrive. I saw some children on the street asking for money and hoped everyone could receive free education. I also spent a good time in college, as I planned I joined our college football team and played as a defender. Teachers and fellow students are all very good but we all are still shy of each other. I am spending most of my time with David and hope to become best friends with him.

In conclusion , everyone needs to write a diary every day. I think the diary is a silent companion that listens to all your troubles, dreams, and ambitions and never argues with you. It is also very beneficial for multiple purposes as I mentioned above and should be a part of everyone’s life.

Short Quarantine Diary Essay – 200 Word Short Essay

We all have thought about keeping a personal diary to note down everyday events and happenings. Writing down a diary is very beneficial for both physical and mental health along with many other benefits. Most people believe that writing in your personal diary is a very healthy and productive habit. A diary is a silent companion that knows about all your feeling, troubles, emotions, and ambitions but still never argues with us. I have also been writing a diary since I was 8 years old. My diary has been my companion in these quarantine days. In this essay, I will explain why and how and why it’s beneficial to write your personal diary every day.

Writing my diary in this quarantine has helped me keep track of time. As a person, my diary has helped me self-reflect upon my actions, thoughts, and emotions. It has helped me stay on track by identifying and then describing negative thoughts in my diary. Other than that writing a diary every day has sparked creativity in me. I have been able to note down my wild thought and then take action to achieve the actionable ones. It has helped me stay focused in this long quarantine.

Here is a sample of what I usually wrote in my diary before sleeping

My Diary: November 2019

Our house has only two rooms and I live with my parents in a place called Ellis Island. My parents have their own bedroom and I share a room with my siblings. It was like a pure adventure when we moved to this Island but now I am bored because of this long pandemic forced quarantine. My parents decided to move into this small apartment. I have found American education system to be very good. I start school online and connect with all my school teachers and get as much education as I can from home. I am also eating more unusual foods than ever before because eating them keeps me busy. Despite all this, I am hating this quarantine and want it to end as soon as possible.

Do you like these sample essays about My Personal Diary? Reach out to Essay Basics to get a professionally written plagiarism-free and unique custom essay on any topic in less than 3 hours.

FAQ About My Personal Diary Essay

How to write a diary entry.

To write a diary entry recall everything you did in your day and start writing them down one by one. Remember to list everything one at a time so that you don’t mix all your thoughts.

What Is The Format Of A Diary Entry?

The formate mostly depends upon the writer. However, a good format of a diary entry is to address every thought from your day one at a time. Not mixing your ideas and mining a good flow is also considered good.

• https://linguistics.ucla.edu/people/hayes/Teaching/papers/MuellerAndOppenheimer2014OnTakingNotesByHand.pdf

JournalBuddies.com

Journal Buddies Jill | July 15, 2024 July 11, 2023 | Journal Prompts & Writing Ideas

38 Excellent Diary Entry Topics and Writing Ideas

Check out these diary entry topics for kids ranging from elementary to high school age. These diary writing prompts stimulate creative expression and help children think outside the box. All of these topics are kid-friendly and age-appropriate. Oh yeah, take a look and enjoy! Now…

In addition to being creative, these personal diary writing ideas encourage positive thinking. This is ideal for children who are struggling with their self-image and need a confidence booster.

Of course, for some….

Writing every day in a diary can be overwhelming. Young writers especially may feel they don’t have anything important to say. Or your diary keepers might get stuck writing the same thing for every entry.

Yet writing in a diary is highly beneficial for children of all ages. They are able to process their feelings and emotions, record their memories, and strengthen their writing skills.

If you have been searching for diary writing topics for kids, then welcome, and please use the following list of diary writing topics with your young writers. I think you’ll love what you see!

38 Diary Entry Topics and Journal Prompts

Here are some topics and diary entry topics writing ideas for students who want to make the most of their diary entries:

• One thing that always makes me smile is (fill in the blank).
• When I feel sad I like to (fill in the blank) to feel better about myself.
• Today the most interesting thing happened. Describe what occurred in exactly 200 words.
• If you could invent anything without any worry about cost or access to technology, what would it be?
• Who is your best friend? Tell me about when you decided they were your best friend.
• Give a summary of the last book you read.
• Who is your favorite author and what kind of books do they write?
• Describe your dream family vacation.
• What did you do for your last birthday?
• Describe your morning routine when you are getting ready for a school day.
• Who is your favorite teacher and why do you like them so much?
• Write your family history to include your parents, grandparents, and grandparents.
• If you could live in any state, where would you live?
• Where would you rather live? In the desert, at the beach, or in the mountains?
• Imagine your dream summer camp. Discuss a typical day at this camp.
• What is your favorite day of the week and why?
• Pretend your pet or your dream pet has stolen your diary and is writing an entry from their perspective.
• Write an entire page in your diary without using the letter “a.”
• Think of your earliest memory and write it as detailed as you remember.

• Write down your Christmas wish list, even if it is January or July. Then when Christmas comes back around, look at your list to see if you want the same things for your gifts.
• What scares you the most?
• If you could learn any language that you don’t already know, what is it and why?
• Talk about your favorite sport whether you like to participate or just watch.
• If you could open your own restaurant, what would your menu look like? What food would you serve, what are the prices, etc.?
• Go for a walk outside of your house. Then write a diary entry describing what you saw during the walk.
• The next time you go to a store, such as a grocery store or clothing shop, write down three things you see at the store for the first time. Describe these three things in detail.
• You are on a school bus and the driver forgets you are still there. They park the bus for the night. What do you do next?
• You are a giraffe and you live in the African desert. What is your life like?
• Draw a picture of your family and then describe each person in writing.
• What is your favorite holiday food? This can be any holiday, such as the Fourth of July, Easter, your birthday, etc.
• Do you do anything special for your birthday? Do you have an annual ritual, such as getting a birthday cake or having a party?
• What is your favorite book series?
• Do you read magazines? If so, list them and rank them in order from favorite to least favorite. Then summarize each magazine’s theme and discuss the typical kid who would like to read the magazine.
• Write a commercial for your favorite breakfast food.
• List three things you are grateful for today.
• Brainstorm different types of animals. Write down the first three animals that come to your mind. Then write a story in 100 words about these animals as the main characters.
• Imagine you are going to school with Laura  Ingalls  Wilder, the author of “The Little House on the Prairie.” If you don’t know who she is, you’ll need to do some research. Write about a typical day at school with Laura.

I hope you enjoyed this list of diary entry topics and journal prompts. This list of ideas is excellent for a variety of grades and classes. Yes!

Good Diary Composing

Dear diary, have you been feeling stuck when it comes to writing in your journal?

Well, take heart because…

Writing in a diary can be an incredible tool for self-reflection and personal growth that is easy to use for writers of all ages. It’s highly accessible, too!

Journaling doesn’t just help us remember the good times – it also gives us an opportunity to process our thoughts and personal feelings about experiences that may seem overwhelming, intense, or confusing.

A great place to start journaling is by reflecting on what you’re grateful for each day. Keeping a gratitude journal can help boost your mood and even increase resilience during difficult times. Even if there isn’t much to be thankful for, try choosing one small thing you appreciate from your day – this could be anything from the smell of freshly baked cookies in the kitchen or getting out into nature for a walk.

We have a list of 35 Great Gratitude Journal Prompts if you’d like even more inspiration.

Related Diary Writing Resources

• 27 Fun and 31 Fresh New Journal Writing Prompts and Topics
• 33 Great Diary Writing Ideas & Diary Entry Ideas
• 157 Writing Prompt a Day Ideas

Diary Writing Format Examples

There are no rules when it comes to keeping a diary or journal. Just in case you’d like some guidance on writing your next diary entry, check out these diary writing format suggestions (remember… they are just suggestion to guide you.)

“I started this journal to keep track of my life. I figure if I don’t document it, who will? Maybe it’ll be an interesting read for someone in the future?”

“I think this deserves its own paragraph:It’s been a tough year. Between school and work, and that chain of events that happened with my mom, I haven’t had much time to do anything else.”

For more inspiration, check out these writing examples.

Diary Writing Examples

“This week has been a roller coaster ride. Here’s where it all started…”

“I cannot describe how happy I am to have someone that loves me as much as my mom.”

“For the first time in about a year, my anxiety has gone away. It’s been great having so much time on my hands and being able to focus on myself again instead of always worrying about school and work.”

Closing Thoughts

No matter what diary entry format you choose, it’s important to remember that the purpose of writing is to capture your thoughts, feelings and experiences in an honest way. Writing a diary can be therapeutic and help you gain insight into yourself and how you are feeling about life.

Oh, and remember…

Diary entry topics and writing ideas can come from a variety of sources including your favorite thing, an event or experience that you had, or something that you are feeling or thinking about in the moment. Furthermore, the form of writing can vary from short paragraphs to long essays and everything in between.

Ok, that’s all for today.

Until next time, keep on writing!

If you enjoyed these Diary Entry Topics and Diary Writing Topics for Kids, please share them on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest. I appreciate it!

Sincerely, Jill journalbuddies.com creator and curator

PS – Get excited about journaling with these Diary Facts for Kids !

Tap to See Prompts 33 Great Diary Writing Ideas & Diary Entry Ideas How to Make a Video Diary + 15 Bonus Prompts 200+ Journal Prompt a Day Ideas for Endless Exploration Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7-8 Grade 9-12 All Ages ------------End of Om Added --------- Tags daily writing , Daily writing prompts , Diary Writing , diary writing prompts , Diary Writing Topics , Elementary , High School , kids , kids writing , list of prompts , Middle School , prompts , topics , Topics for Kids , writers , writing daily , writing ideas , writing in a diary , writing prompts , writing skills , writing topics , Writing Topics for Kids , Writing Topics Writing , young writers div#postbottom { margin-top: 12px; } Search Now Offering You 19,000+ Prompts!

Diary Writing

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Diary Writing is a personal endeavor where individuals record their thoughts, experiences, and observation . This practice serves as a reflective activity, allowing one to document daily events, explore emotions, and articulate goals. Diaries can be structured or free-form , providing a private space for self-expression and self-discovery. Popular among people of all ages, diary writing enhances mindfulness, improves writing skills, and can be a therapeutic tool for managing stress.

What is Dairy Writing?

Diary writing is a private method of documenting personal experiences, thoughts, and feelings. It serves as a reflective practice for individuals to express themselves freely, track daily events, and navigate emotions. This form of writing not only aids in stress management but also helps in enhancing one’s mindfulness and writing skills.

Purpose of Diary Writing

Diary writing serves multiple purposes, each contributing to the personal and emotional development of the writer. Here are the key reasons why people maintain diaries:

• Emotional Expression : Diaries provide a safe, private space for individuals to express their feelings and thoughts, helping them process emotions and experiences in a healthy way.
• Record Keeping : By documenting daily activities and significant events, diaries serve as a historical record of one’s life, capturing memories and moments that might otherwise be forgotten.
• Stress Relief : Writing about one’s day and its challenges can be a therapeutic activity, helping to relieve stress and anxiety.
• Self-Reflection : Regular diary entries encourage reflection on personal growth, decisions, and life changes. This introspection can lead to greater self-awareness and a better understanding of one’s needs and desires.
• Goal Setting : Diaries can be used to track goals and progress, providing a platform for setting objectives , planning future actions, and evaluating one’s development towards personal achievements.
• Creativity Boost : Engaging regularly in diary writing can enhance creativity by allowing the writer to explore ideas and thoughts without restrictions.
• Problem Solving : Writing about problems can help articulate them more clearly and sometimes lead to solutions, as the act of writing organizes thoughts and makes issues easier to understand.

How to start a Diary Writing?

Starting a diary can be a rewarding experience, allowing you to capture your thoughts and life events. Here’s a simple guide to help you begin your diary writing journey:

1. Choose Your Medium

Decide whether you prefer a traditional paper diary or a digital version. Paper diaries offer a tactile experience and privacy, while digital diaries are convenient and often come with features like password protection and easy organization.

2. Select a Comfortable Writing Space

Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can write without interruptions. This could be a cozy corner of your room, a favorite coffee shop, or a serene spot outdoors.

3. Set a Routine

Decide on a time that works best for you to write regularly. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, during lunch, or before bed, consistency is key to diary writing.

4. Start with Today

Begin your first entry by writing about your day . You don’t need to write a novel; just start with what happened today, how you felt about it, and any thoughts or reflections you had.

5. Be Honest and Open

Your diary is a private space. Be honest with your feelings and thoughts. The more open you are, the more beneficial your diary will be as a tool for personal reflection and growth.

6. Keep It Simple

Don’t worry about grammar , spelling, or style. The important thing is to get your thoughts down. Over time, you’ll develop your own diary-writing voice.

7. Include Details

Add details that will remind you of your daily experiences. This could include people you met, things you observed, or how specific experiences made you feel.

8. Personalize Your Entries

Feel free to make your diary your own. Include drawings, photos, or clippings if you feel like they add to your entries.

9. Reflect on Your Progress

Occasionally, look back on your past entries. This can help you see how you’ve changed over time, recognize patterns in your life, and reflect on your personal growth.

Diary Writing Ideas

Keeping a diary can sometimes feel repetitive or uninspiring if you’re unsure what to write about. Here are some engaging and varied diary writing ideas to keep your entries fresh and interesting:

1. Daily Reflections

Write about your day’s events, your reactions to them, and any thoughts or feelings they provoked. This can include simple descriptions of what you did, how you felt, and the people you interacted with.

2. Gratitude Journaling

Focus on the positive by writing about things you’re grateful for. This can range from significant life events to the simplest pleasures, helping foster a sense of appreciation and positivity.

3. Dream Diary

Keep a record of your dreams immediately after waking up. Not only can this help you interpret and understand your dreams better, but it also improves your ability to recall them.

4. Mood Tracker

Use your diary to track your mood and the factors influencing it. This can be useful for understanding patterns in your emotional well-being and triggers that affect your mood.

5. Creative Writing

Experiment with fiction, poetry, or any other form of creative writing in your diary. Use it as a space to explore new ideas or develop your writing style without judgment.

6. Inspirational Quotes

Collect quotes that inspire you and reflect on what they mean to you personally. This can also include reflections on books you are reading or movies you have watched.

7. Art Journal

Combine drawings, paintings, or other forms of art with your written entries. This is particularly effective if you’re visually inclined or want to express yourself beyond words.

8. Goal Setting and Review

Write down your goals, both long-term and short-term, and regularly review your progress towards them. This can help keep you accountable and motivated.

9. Letters to Yourself

Write letters to your future or past self, offering advice, wisdom, or encouragement. This can be a powerful way to reflect on your personal growth and aspirations.

10. Problem Solving

Whenever you face a challenge, use your diary to work through possible solutions. Writing down problems and brainstorming solutions can clarify your thoughts and make challenges more manageable.

11. Health and Fitness Journal

Keep track of your exercise routines, dietary habits, or any health-related goals. This helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep track of progress or setbacks.

12. Travel Diary

Document your travels, from day trips to long vacations. Describe the places you visit, the people you meet, and your experiences along the way.

13. Event Planner

Use your diary to plan and reflect on special events like birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays. It can serve as a place to brainstorm ideas and later, remember how those events unfolded.

14. Learning Journal

Whenever you learn something new, whether it’s a skill, a hobby, or academic knowledge, write about your learning process and progress.

Diary Writing Format

Diary writing is a personal and flexible activity, but following a basic format can help streamline your thoughts and make the practice more engaging. Here is a simple format to consider when you’re writing in your diary:

1. Date and Location

Start each entry with the date and, if relevant, the location. This helps to contextualize your entries and can be interesting when you look back at them later.

May 8, 2024 New York, NY

2. Salutation

Though not necessary, you can begin with a salutation to set a conversational tone. People often address their diary as if it were a friend.

Dear Diary,

The body of your diary entry is where you detail your thoughts, feelings, and the day’s events. Here’s how you can structure it:

Main Events

Start by writing about the key events of your day. You don’t need to include every detail, just the parts that were significant to you.

Today was the first day of my pottery class, and I felt both excited and nervous. It’s been a while since I tried something new like this.

Reflect on your experiences, what you learned, and how you felt about the events of the day.

I realized how much I’ve missed connecting with new people and learning a new skill. It was challenging but rewarding.

Emotional State

Discuss any strong emotions you experienced and why. This helps in understanding your emotional responses.

I was anxious about meeting new people but felt proud and happy after molding my first pot. It’s satisfying to create something with your own hands.

You might want to end your entry with a summary of your current thoughts or plans for the next day.

I’m looking forward to the next class. I plan to practice a bit more at home so I can improve my technique.

5. Signature

Some people like to sign off their entries with a signature or a simple closing remark.

Until tomorrow, Jane

Diary Writing Topics

If you’re looking for inspiration on what to write about in your diary, here are several topics that can stimulate your thoughts and help you maintain a diverse and engaging journal:

1. A Day to Remember

Write about a day that was especially memorable for you. It could be due to a significant event, an emotional breakthrough, or a simple moment of joy.

2. Overcoming Challenges

Discuss a challenge you recently faced and how you dealt with it. Reflect on what you learned from the experience and how it has impacted you.

3. Future Goals

Outline your aspirations and goals for the future. Describe what steps you need to take to achieve them and how you feel about the journey ahead.

4. Lessons Learned

Reflect on recent lessons you’ve learned, whether from personal experiences, advice from others, or books and articles.

5. Gratitude List

Create a list of things you are grateful for. This can be a regular entry that helps you maintain a positive mindset.

6. Book or Movie Review

Write a review of a book you’ve read or a movie you’ve watched recently. Discuss your thoughts on the storyline, characters, and any moments that stood out.

7. Travel Experiences

Document your experiences from a recent trip or an interesting place you visited in your hometown. Include your sensory experiences and any cultural insights you gained.

8. A Letter to a Friend

Compose a letter to a friend or family member that you haven’t sent. Express your thoughts and feelings that you might hesitate to share in person.

9. Dreams and Their Meanings

Keep a record of your dreams and your interpretations of them. Over time, you might find patterns or recurring themes that could be insightful.

10. Personal Growth

Reflect on your personal growth over the past year. Consider changes in your beliefs, behaviors, and relationships.

11. Creative Writing

Use your diary for creative expression through short stories, poems, or sketches. This can be a refreshing break from traditional diary entries.

12. Health and Wellness

Track your physical and mental health, including exercise routines, diet changes, and mood fluctuations. This can be useful for identifying what influences your well-being.

13. Quotes and Inspirations

Write about quotes that inspire you and explore why they resonate with you. Reflect on how you can apply their wisdom in your daily life.

14. An Unsent Letter

Compose an unsent letter to someone who has impacted your life—positively or negatively. This exercise can be cathartic and help you process your feelings.

15. A Day in the Life

Detail a typical day in your life from morning to night. Include mundane moments as well as highlights, giving a snapshot of your daily routine.

Benefits of Writing Diary

Diary writing is a deeply personal practice that offers a range of benefits for both mental and emotional health. Here are some of the key advantages of maintaining a diary:

1. Enhanced Self-Expression

Writing regularly in a diary provides a safe, private space to express your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This freedom can improve your ability to communicate and articulate your emotions more clearly.

2. Stress Reduction

Journaling about your day’s challenges can serve as an effective stress relief tool. It helps you to process emotions and events, reducing the impact of stressors on your mental health.

3. Improved Mental Health

Diary writing can be therapeutic, aiding in managing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. It provides an outlet for coping with everyday struggles and complex feelings.

4. Boosts Memory and Comprehension

Regularly recalling and recording daily events can enhance your memory and comprehension. Writing reinforces memory retention and detail recall.

5. Promotes Problem-Solving Skills

By writing about challenges and potential solutions, you engage the brain’s problem-solving capacities. Diaries often serve as a platform to clarify thoughts and come up with effective solutions.

6. Facilitates Personal Growth

A diary can document your personal growth and development over time. Reflecting on past entries allows you to see how much you have changed and grown, helping to identify patterns, progress, and areas needing attention.

7. Helps Achieve Goals

Writing down goals makes them more concrete and achievable. A diary can be used to track progress, maintain focus, and reflect on what strategies are effective or need adjustment.

8. Enhances Creativity

The unstructured nature of diary writing encourages creativity. It can be a breeding ground for new ideas, artistic expressions, and innovative thinking.

9. Improves Writing Skills

Regular writing helps improve your writing style, grammar, vocabulary, and overall communication skills. The more you write, the better you become at articulating your thoughts.

10. Acts as a Historical Record

Your diary entries serve as a personal history, capturing the details of your life events, experiences, and journeys. This can be valuable for future reflection or for sharing with loved ones.

11. Increases Mindfulness

Focusing on your thoughts and feelings daily increases mindfulness, which is the ability to be present and fully engaged with the moment without distraction or judgment.

Examples of Diary Writing for Students

Here are some diverse diary entry examples that students might write. These examples span different topics and emotional tones, demonstrating how diaries can capture a wide range of experiences and thoughts:

1. First Day at School

September 5, 2024 Dear Diary, Today was my first day of high school, and honestly, it was overwhelming but exciting. I met my new teachers and made a couple of friends during lunch. The school is huge, but I think I’ll get used to it soon. I’m looking forward to joining the soccer team!

2. Exam Preparation

October 10, 2024 Dear Diary, Exams start next week, and I’m feeling stressed. I spent three hours today revising math. It’s a lot to remember, but I’m determined to do well. Planning to study science tomorrow. Wish me luck!

3. Family Trip

July 15, 2024 Dear Diary, We went to Yellowstone National Park today! It was so beautiful. We saw geysers and lots of wildlife. My favorite was watching the bison roam freely. Can’t wait to show the photos to my friends.

4. A Disappointing Day

November 21, 2024 Dear Diary, I didn’t make the basketball team, and I’m really bummed out. I thought I played well during tryouts, but it wasn’t enough. Feeling pretty low, but maybe it’s a sign to try something different. Maybe track?

5. A Moment of Pride

March 3, 2024 Dear Diary, Today, I won the science fair with my project on renewable energy! I worked so hard on it, and seeing that hard work pay off is the best feeling ever. My parents are so proud, and so am I.

6. Overcoming a Fear

May 12, 2024 Dear Diary, I finally faced my fear of public speaking. I presented in front of the whole class today. I was nervous, but it went really well! I’m proud of myself for not letting my fear control me.

7. Holiday Celebrations

December 25, 2024 Dear Diary, Christmas was magical this year. We had a big family gathering, and I felt so happy seeing everyone after such a long time. The best part was Grandma’s stories and the delicious food. Such a perfect day!

8. Dreams for the Future

January 1, 2025 Dear Diary, It’s the new year, and I’ve been thinking about what I want my future to look like. I hope to travel the world and maybe study abroad in college. I’m excited about the possibilities that await!

9. Learning Something New

April 22, 2024 Dear Diary, I started learning guitar today. It’s harder than I thought, but I love it. My fingers hurt a bit, but I’m excited to learn more songs. It’s cool to create music.

10. Reflecting on a Friendship

June 10, 2024 Dear Diary, I had a long talk with my best friend today about how much we’ve grown together. It’s amazing to have someone who understands you so completely. I’m grateful for our friendship.

Children’s Diary Writing Examples

Children’s diary entries often capture their innocent perspectives, vivid imaginations, and daily adventures. Here are some examples of what diary entries from children might look like:

1. Exciting School Day

March 2, 2024 Dear Diary, Today at school we learned about dinosaurs! My favorite is the T-Rex because it’s so big and strong. I drew a picture of it in art class. I can’t wait to show Mom and Dad when I get home!

2. Birthday Party Fun

June 15, 2024 Dear Diary, Today was my birthday party! We had a clown and he made funny balloon animals. My friends and I ate lots of cake and played games. I got a superhero toy from my best friend. It was the best birthday ever!

3. A Visit to the Zoo

April 18, 2024 Dear Diary, We went to the zoo today! I saw lions, elephants, and monkeys. The monkeys were funny because they kept jumping around. I got a toy monkey from the gift shop. I’m going to name him George.

4. First Time Swimming

July 8, 2024 Dear Diary, I went swimming for the first time today. The water was cold at first, but then it was fun! I learned how to float. Dad says I did a great job. I want to go swimming again soon.

5. A Lost Tooth

September 21, 2024 Dear Diary, Today my tooth fell out! It was a little scary, but now there’s a gap when I smile. I put the tooth under my pillow. I hope the tooth fairy comes tonight and gives me a coin.

6. Making a New Friend

October 4, 2024 Dear Diary, I made a new friend at the park today. His name is Sammy. We played on the swings and had a race. He’s really fast! I hope I see him again next time I go to the park.

7. Holiday Anticipation

December 1, 2024 Dear Diary, It’s almost Christmas and I’m so excited! We put up our tree today and it’s so pretty with all the lights. I wrote my letter to Santa Claus. I hope he brings me a bike.

8. A Scary Dream

February 10, 2024 Dear Diary, Last night I had a dream that there was a monster under my bed. It was really scary. But when I woke up, Mom showed me that there was nothing there. I felt better after that.

9. Helping in the Garden

May 12, 2024 Dear Diary, Today I helped Dad in the garden. We planted flowers and tomatoes. I got to dig the holes and water the plants. Dad says I’m a great helper. I like watching the plants grow.

10. Learning to Ride a Bike

August 20, 2024 Dear Diary, Today I tried to ride a bike without training wheels. I fell a couple of times and it hurt, but I kept trying. By the end of the day, I could ride by myself! I felt so happy and proud.

Examples of Dairy Writing About Life

Diary entries about life can vary widely, reflecting the deep personal nature and diverse experiences of each individual. Here are some examples that show how people might write about their life in their diaries:

1. Contemplating Career Changes

April 14, 2024 Dear Diary, Today, I spent a lot of time thinking about whether I should change my job. I’m not as passionate about it as I used to be. I’m considering going back to school to pursue my interest in graphic design. It’s a big decision, but I think it might make me happier in the long run.

2. Relationship Reflections

June 22, 2024 Dear Diary, Lately, I’ve been reflecting on my relationship with Alex. We’ve had our ups and downs, but today was a good day. We talked openly about our future and it feels like we’re finally on the same page. It’s comforting to feel secure and understood.

3. Overcoming Personal Struggles

September 5, 2024 Dear Diary, Today marks one year since I started my journey to overcome anxiety. I’ve learned so much about myself and how to manage my fears. Attending therapy and reading self-help books have really made a difference. I feel proud of the progress I’ve made.

4. Mourning a Loss

November 11, 2024 Dear Diary, It’s been three months since Grandma passed away, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her. Today, I visited her grave and brought her favorite flowers. It was tough, but I felt a sense of peace being there, reminiscing about our times together.

5. Experiencing Parenthood

January 15, 2024 Dear Diary, Watching our little Sarah take her first steps today was breathtaking. Parenthood is exhausting, exhilarating, and everything in between. Each new milestone feels like a celebration of her growth as well as our growth as parents.

6. Rediscovering Old Passions

March 20, 2024 Dear Diary, I dug out my old guitar from the attic and spent the afternoon strumming and singing. I hadn’t realized how much I missed making music. It used to be such a big part of who I was. I’m determined to make it part of my life again.

7. Financial Worries

May 2, 2024 Dear Diary, Today was tough. I had to really stretch to make ends meet after some unexpected bills. It’s stressful not knowing if there will be enough for the month. I’m looking into some freelance work to help cover the gaps.

8. Spiritual Awakening

August 30, 2024 Dear Diary, I attended a meditation retreat this weekend, and it was a profound experience. I felt a sense of clarity and peace that I hadn’t felt in years. It’s opened up a new path for me spiritually, and I’m curious to explore this further.

9. A Moment of Joy

October 10, 2024 Dear Diary, Today was simply perfect. I spent the day at the beach, watching the waves and reading my book. There was a moment when I felt completely at peace with everything. It’s these little moments of joy that I cherish the most.

10. Reflecting on Aging

December 16, 2024 Dear Diary, As another birthday approaches, I find myself reflecting on aging. There’s a beauty in growing older, even though it’s also a bit scary. I see lines on my face that weren’t there before, but I also see a wiser person looking back at me in the mirror.

How Do You Write a Diary?

To write a diary, choose a comfortable format and location. Regularly record your thoughts, feelings, and daily events. Be honest and reflective. Personalize your entries with drawings or photos, and maintain consistency to capture the essence of your experiences.

What to Write in a Diary Everyday?

In your daily diary, jot down reflections, emotions, and events. Include goals, gratitude, and lessons learned. Capture moments of joy and challenges faced. Write freely, without judgment. Over time, your diary becomes a cherished record of growth and memories.

How to Write a School Diary?

To craft a school diary, start with a daily entry format. Record classes attended, assignments due, and important deadlines. Reflect on lessons learned, academic achievements, and challenges faced. Include extracurricular activities, social interactions, and personal growth experiences. Aim for consistency and honesty in your entries to track your academic journey effectively.

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10 Examples of Public speaking

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How to Write a Diary

Last Updated: July 11, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Hyungbum Kang, MA, MSW, LCSW, MAC and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain . Hyungbum Kang is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Honolulu, Hawaii. With over a decade of experience, Hyungbum specializes in using an integrated therapeutic approach to treat ADHD, anger management, depression, and other mental health and social work struggles. He received a Bachelor’s degree in English and Master’s degrees in Sociology and Social Work. Hyungbum earned an MBA from Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) and is working on his Doctor of Psychology from HPU. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, the International Honor Society in Psychology, the National Association of Social Workers, and the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,896,903 times.

Diaries are wonderful objects that allow you to discuss your emotions, record dreams or ideas, and reflect on daily life in a safe, private space. While there's no single, definitive way to write a diary, there are some basic tricks you can use to get the most out of your writing. If you aren't sure what to write about, using prompts like inspirational quotes can help get started on new entries.

Sample Diary Entries

Brainstorming Topics

• Feel free to veer off into any topic you want as you're writing about the day's events.
• For example, you could write about the English exam you took at school that day. Are you feeling good about the exam? Do you wish you had studied more? Are you nervous to receive your grade?

• For example, you could write about short-term goals like studying for your algebra exam or hitting the gym for a cardio session.
• Long-term goals would be stuff like choosing and applying to colleges or saving up money to buy a car.

• For example, if you're feeling sad, you can write a diary entry about why you feel that way and any events that may have contributed.
• You can add a line from the lyrics of a song you are often listening to in your entry to preserve the current mood.

• For example, you might write down a quote like, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started," which came from Mark Twain. Write a diary entry about what this means to you and what things you need to get started on to achieve certain goals.

• For example, if you love sports, write about why you love a certain sport, your favorite teams, and personal goals you have if you play any sports yourself.
• If you love painting, you could write about your favorite painters, the painting styles that speak to you the most, recent paintings you've made, and ideas for future paintings.

Creating Personal Entries

• If you like, you can also put the time, day of the week, and your location alongside the date.

• Once you start writing, you're free to veer off into any subject you like! But having something in mind when you start the entry can help kickstart the writing process.

• For example, you might write something like, "I'm worried about volleyball tryouts this week. I've practiced a lot and I feel ready, but I'm so nervous I can hardly eat."

• For example, you might write, "I feel jealous of Shaun's new car. I'm happy for him, but it seems really unfair that his parents bought him a brand new car. I'm working every day after school just to save up for a used car."
• If you're afraid someone will find and read your diary, there are things you can do to prevent this. Physical diaries with locks and password-protected digital diaries are two of the most popular ways to control privacy.
• Many people have epiphanies about themselves and their relationships through honest diary writing. Be open to learning about yourself as you write.

• For some people, it helps to take a few minutes at the beginning of each entry to simply free write.

• Detailed writing isn't for everyone, so don't feel like you have to write long, wordy sentences. If you find it easier to express your emotions in short bursts or even bullet points, feel free to do that.

Getting into a Routine

• For example, you might choose to write in your diary every night right before bed.
• Don't set an unrealistic schedule for yourself. If writing every day seems out of reach, plan on writing entry 3 times a week instead.

• For example, you could write a few key bullet points in your diary when you're pressed for time.
• Setting an intimidating schedule for yourself could be counterproductive. You want journaling to be an outlet, not a chore, so go easy on yourself.
• Pick a time to write when you don't have other obligations or time constraints.

• Quick drawings may also help you get down something that you want to remember but don't have time to write about.

Community Q&A

• Writing a diary should be a cathartic experience and not a chore. Allow yourself to enjoy your writing! Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 1
• To camouflage your diary, write "Algebra Notes" or "School Notebook" on the cover. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 8

Tips from our Readers

• Remember that your diary can be a fascinating time capsule of who you are and what you were thinking when you read through it in the future, so be yourself and don't try to tailor it to someone else.
• For the most privacy, avoid writing your name in the diary. That said, writing your name can help someone return it to you if you ever lose it. Think carefully!
• Feel free to give your diary a name other than "Diary," if it helps you approach it in a more friendly or intimate way.
• Try writing in your diary in a secondary language to help you build up fluency in a low-stakes activity.

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• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-use-journaling-to-set-goals
• ↑ https://positivepsychology.com/writing-therapy/
• ↑ https://penzu.com/how-to-start-and-write-a-diary
• ↑ https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/writing/articles/journal-writing
• ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1

About This Article

If you're not sure what to write about in your diary, try to take the pressure off by reminding yourself that your diary is for your eyes only. Start each entry with the date and remember to write in the first person using "I" statements. You can write about stuff that happened that day, a problem you're having, a recent dream, or anything else you want. Be honest, use plenty of detail, and don't worry too much about grammar and spelling. For tips on choosing the best diary for you, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• Diary Entry

Have you all heard of the famous book by a little Jewish girl called Anne Frank ? The book was an adaptation made out of a teenage deceased girl’s diary that was later published by her only surviving family member: her father. But why did she write a diary entry in the first place? In fact, why does anyone write a diary at all? Well, the answer is simple – to express oneself. Let us learn more about diary entry.

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Maintaining a diary is generally a very good habit. Moreover, one can always check facts looking back, remember events, find an outlet and effectively document one’s life this way. Also, some people even name their diaries and address them like an imaginary friend.

A personal journal is a private possession. In other words, this diary usually is just for you and it’s not for public reading, so one can write liberally. But for the benefit of the readers, we’d like to show you all how is a diary entry generally written. What we are laying down here are good practices that one can inculcate while writing their diary entry.

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Diary Entry: What to Expect?

A Diary is a journal organized by date where you express your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and plans. So, be as candid as you can. Because this journal is your safe place. If you don’t know where to start, then start by writing about your day, about yourself, and so on…

Tips on How to Write a Diary Entry

Always mention the date.

Pick a corner and keep it for mentioning the dates of your diary entry. You may not write every day. Some people are also specific about time and place as well. Again, it’s about personal preferences . Since one usually keeps a diary for a long period of time, it’s wiser to think out a general format for your diary entries and stick to it. You may iterate and change a few things depending on how you feel like, no one’s watching it. I personally choose the top left for mentioning the date.

Choose a subject

Just like a chapter, usually, there’s a reason why you reached out to make a diary entry. For example, sometimes it’s what happened that day or sometimes it is to write about something you want to do in the future or maybe to just mark an event that triggered a strong emotion in you like happiness, anger, excitement, etc. But whatever it is that you picked your journal for, your diary entry will have a topic that way.

Learn more about Story Writing here in detail.

Now, we always address our entries in the first person. If you want, you can give it a name. Usually, people address their diary entries as – “Dear Diary”

Be honest, it’s you who are talking to

The key thing about a diary entry is that it is always kept truthful, natural and free-flowing. So, trust your thought train and don’t stop or mince words for the fear of being watched or judged. As it is your space to let out all your feelings, so don’t hold back.

Make it a habit

Well, this one, I personally think, you only have to remind yourself as you begin to write. Eventually, it sort of becomes this friend you reach out to automatically. Most of the times you will find it very therapeutic to maintain a diary. It’s wonderful how when you let out all the emotions, sometimes the endings get quite conclusive and lead in a positive direction. Like you already knew the answer to your questions yourself. You just had to get all the foggy clouds of emotions out of your way to see it.

Diary Entry: A Sample

So what are you waiting for? Go get your favorite book or online diary and scribble away to glory. Have fun with English!

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Diary Writing Format, Topics, Examples and How to Write a Diary?

by Meenu Saini | Mar 31, 2022 | General | 0 comments

Diary Writing Format, Topics, Examples

What is diary writing.

• Diary Writing Topics
• Diary Writing Format
• Diary Writing Class 8
• Diary Writing Class 9
• Diary Writing Sample Questions

Diary Writing FAQs

Diary Writing –  A Diary is a personal record of events and happenings in a person’s life. A person can develop the habit of keeping a personal diary. The writer can record incidents, feelings, reactions, conversations and any other memorable thing that happens during the day. 

As we know that a diary is a personal record, diary writing can be done in any language. Diary writing is the writing down of events, conversations and observations in a personalized manner.

It is a creative writing topic.

Generally, the happenings of the day are mentioned and described in a diary.

It is written in first person, in past tense.

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Diary Writing Topics/ Diary Entry Topics

The following are popular topics on diary entry – 

• Summer vacation trip
• Holidays at grandparents’ house
• Meeting an old friend.
• Lost a precious thing.
• Visiting an old friend.
• Getting scolded by mother for breaking phone.
• Getting scolded for failing in examinations.
• First day of online classes during the COVID Pandemic.
• Experience of visiting the zoo with school.
• School farewell day event

Diary Writing Format – How to Write a Diary 

How to Write a Diary – A Diary entry can have different formats depending on a preson’s choice. In general, the person making a diary entry mentions the date, day and place on the top right corner of the page.

A good diary composing contains the spot, the date, the day and even the hour of composing. For example, a diary entry can start like this – 

28 March 2023

This is followed by the diary entry content wherein the incident, happening or event is written down. At the end, the writer can give a salutation like “Bye dear diary” and his / her signature. 

Below is a sample format of diary entry as is accepted in CBSE Questions on Diary writing.

Diary Writing for Class 8

Class 8 students can try to write small notes or paragraphs in the diary. They can express their feelings and plans for the future over there.

Diary Writing for Class 9

In Class 9 Term 2 exam of English, the question of diary entry will have the following specifications-

• Internal choice – there will be internal choice in the question. Students have to attempt one out of diary writing and story writing.
• The question of diary entry will carry 5 marks.
• The answer has to be written in a word limit of 100 – 150 words .
• The Format has to be followed.

A way of writing a diary is given with examples for Diary Writing Class 8 and Class 9 students.

Diary Entry Questions/ Diary Writing Sample Questions

Q.1- You went on a trip to Kerala. Write a diary entry describing the trip, how you went, itinerary, places visited and the overall experience.

Trip to Kerala

On the 11 th of march, I returned home from my vacation in Kerala. The trip was a memorable one and it was the second road trip that I had planned with my friends.

We started from Mumbai on the 4th. The route went along the western ghats and the scenic beauty left me spellbound. We crossed several rivers and rivulets and had a night stop at Goa too. We reached Kerala on the 6th of March. 

At Kerala, we stayed in the boats available on rent in the backwaters of the famous Malabar coast.

We also visited the tea and spice gardens. I took the famous Kerala massage also. It was such a relaxing experience.

The trip was a much needed respite from our hectic lives and we all made the most of it.

This is all for now.

Q.2- You attended a webinar hosted by your favourite writer. Write a diary entry describing the event and the speaker.

Date, day: ______

Place: _____

Webinar by Chetan Bhagat

Today I got a chance to attend a webinar. It was hosted by my favourite writer Chetan Bhagat and the topic was “How to establish World Peace”.

He is my favourite writer so I was very excited to attend the webinar. 

Mr. Bhagat told us about the impact of wars on the world economy and how the violence and bloodshed destroys families. 

He discussed the ongoing Russia Ukraine war and also made us aware of the role of the NATO countries and how important it is to avoid the onset of the third world war.

It was a great session and I am delighted on having made the best of this golden opportunity.

That’s all for today.

Q.3- You were a member of a team of students campaigning against the spread of smoking in your city. Make a diary entry describing your participation and success achieved in your mission.

Campaign against smoking

Today I got a chance to be a part of a volunteer group. We campaigned against smoke and spread awareness among the residents.

I had made two posters, one on “Smoking kills” and the other on “Trees are our saviour as they clean the air”. 

Today, air pollution is one of the biggest health hazard and the smoke from industries and vehicles is a major contributor in its increment. Thus we tried our best to reach the maximum number of people. 

We also distributed face masks to the pedestrians so that they breathe cleaner air. 

I hope our efforts will have a positive effect.

Q.4- You met your old friend in the market today after five years. Write a diary entry expressing your thoughts and emotions on the meeting.

Meeting with an old friend

Today, in the market I met Ridhima, a school friend after five years. It felt so good to see her. She has changed so much!! She has gained a lot of height and I could not recognize her at first.

It was only when I heard her voice that I found it familiar and called her.

Ridhima and I went by the same bus and studied together for ten years. Her brother and my brother were also in the same class. 

Now she is pursuing legal studies and is in the hostel. She was on her vacations and was in the mall when we bumped into each other.

I am still so excited because all my childhood memories were refreshed on seeing her. It was nice meeting her.

That’s all for now.

Q1. What is the purpose of diary writing? Ans. The purpose of diary writing is to record incidents, feelings, observations, reactions, conversations and any other memorable thing that happens during the day.

Q2. What should be included in a diary entry? Ans. A good diary entry contains the date, time and place of when the entry is being written. It also contains salutations like “Dear diary” and “Goodbye diary”.

Q3. How should a diary entry be structured? Ans. A diary entry should be structured in the following format: Date Day Time Place Salutation (Dear diary, Hello diary) Main content (Description of the day or incident and how you feel because of it) Closing (Bye diary) Your name (Signature can also be included)

Q4. What language and tone should be used in a diary entry? Ans. Diary writing is a creative writing topic. Also, a diary is a book in which you record your personal feelings. Therefore, the language should be informal. The tone should be friendly, but it will vary from question to question.

Q5. How should a diary entry be dated? Ans. In a diary entry, the date should be written at the beginning of the entry. It can be written in two ways: Date: 9th November 2023 9 November 2023 The complete name of the month should be written. Short form as ‘Nov’ or ‘9.11.23’ should be avoided.. Abbreviation and numerical representation of the months are not the correct way to write the date in a diary entry.

Q6. How should a diary entry be organised and formatted? Ans. A diary entry should be structured in the following format: Date Day Time Place Salutation (Dear diary, Hello diary) Main content (Description of the day or incident and how you feel because of it) Closing (Bye diary) Your name (Signature can also be included)

Q7. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a diary entry? Ans. The following are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a diary entry: Do not write abbreviations and sentence structure and language should be grammatically correct. The entry should be written in past tense as the day or the incident you are writing about has already happened. Do not misspell the word ‘diary’ as ‘dairy’. The content in the main body should be related to the incident or experience. Also keep the word limit in mind.

Q8. How can diary writing be used to reflect on personal experiences and emotions? Ans. Diary writing is an effective means of recording personal experiences. We also write about how the incident made us feel. After writing the entry and re-reading it, we get an opportunity to reflect on our experience and emotions. Hence, diary writing can be used to reflect on personal experiences and emotion. Q9. How can diary writing be used to document important events and observations?

Ans. Diary writing is used to record what all happened in the day of the writer and how the writer feels about the happening. These happenings can also be the important events happening around the world and the writer’s feelings can also be linked to how the country he/she lives in is being impacted. Therefore, diary writing can be used to document important events and observations.

Q10. How can diary writing be used to set goals and track progress?

Ans. Diary writing is used to record what all happened in the writer’s day. This can also include what all the writer had done, what all the writer had achieved, and what the writer needs to do to achieve the goals which need to be achieved. Therefore, diary writing can be used to set goals and track progress.

Class 9 Important Links – 

• 10 Examples of Diary Entry Class 9 | Sample Questions
• Diary Entry for Class 9 Format, Examples, Topics

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How to Write a Diary Guide

• How To Start and Write a Diary

A diary is a private place where you can keep your thoughts, feelings and opinions on everything from work to school and everywhere in between. There are all different types of diaries, like food diaries , health diaries or academic diaries . But your diary doesn’t have to be specific if you don’t want it to be, it can also just be a place where you write about whatever you want. If you’re just getting started, maybe you haven’t decided what you want to write about, and that’s fine. That is what we are here for – to help you with all those moments of writer’s block you may be having. Our tips can help guide you and inspire you. Let’s begin!

How to Start a Diary

To start a diary, all you need is a willingness to write. Start by figuring out what you want to write in your journal. If you aren’t sure, simply start writing and see where that leads. It can also be useful to set a time limit in your early writing sessions. Set an alarm for 10 to 20 minutes and start writing.

Keeping a diary is a great way to record your growth and personal development. More entries will allow you to look back and see what has changed over time. The earlier you start, the more grateful you will be later on.

8 Tips When Starting a Diary

Writing can be hard and getting started is usually the hardest part. If you feel like you don’t know how to write a diary entry, don’t stress over it. You can start writing about anything. You can even write about how you can’t think of anything to write. Once you start getting words out, they will start to flow naturally.

1. Decide to write

First, you need to decide you want to start a diary. Once you have decided you want to dedicate time to creating a diary, starting one will be easy.

2. Decide what to write

This is definitely the hardest part when writing a diary, but it is probably the most important. If you want your diary to be specific, decide what topic you would like to discuss during your entries. You can create multiple diaries for different topics, or just have one diary that has everything. Generally, diaries are personal and private thoughts, but they can also be a great way to keep track of personal musings on anything you would like:

These are just a few ideas to get you started, but if you would rather keep your diary more general, it is totally up to you!

3. Create a schedule

Starting a diary requires that you write in it frequently, but it is up to you to decide how frequently you want to write in it. Whether it be once a day or once a week, create a schedule that you can adhere to. The more you can make writing in your diary a part of your routine, the more comprehensive and helpful a practice it will become.

When you have decided what you want write in your diary, decide on a writing schedule that is appropriate for the topic. For example, if you want your diary to be general, maybe you want to decide to write in it at a certain time everyday, like right before you go to bed. If you want your writings to be more specific, like about food, maybe you will write in it every time you cook or find a new recipe. Make your schedule work for you and your topic.

4. Set a time limit

It is easy to get carried away and write too much when diary writing. A way to stay concise and on track is to set a time limit for your writing. Depending on how much you want to write, set a time limit that reflects that. Somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour is ideal. If you feel like you want to spend more time than that, feel free.

5. Date your entries

The great thing about a diary is that you are able to look back through it and see how you have progressed over time. It is important to date every entry you write. Luckily, Penzu dates your entries automatically.

6. Create an introductory entry

For your first diary entry, try to write an introduction to what your diary will be about. Introduce yourself, what things interest you, what you think it important and what you want this dairy to be about. Open up and be yourself.

7. Act like you’re writing to a trusted friend

Wondering how to write a diary entry? The best way to write is as if you’re talking to your best friend. This is your personal diary, for your eyes only, so you should feel comfortable writing as if you’re talking to a trusted companion. As cliché as “Dear Diary” may sound, it can really lead you in the write direction in terms of the tone you should be writing in. The goal of a diary is to discuss things honestly and candidly, as if you were talking through them with a best friend or family member.

8. Have fun!

Writing in your diary should never be a chore or a burden, so remember to have fun with it. It can be a place of solace, a place of creativity, a place of reflection, a place where your thoughts can roam free. When starting a diary, make sure you are writing about things you care about and are passionate about because. As long as you enjoy what you’re writing and the process of it, you will never miss an entry!

Writing Diary Entries

Diary entries can be long. They can be short. They can be specific. They can be broad. Whatever type of diary you decide to write should relate to the entries within it.

Your diary entries should be shorter narratives, and here are 8 tips to consider when writing entries:

1. Brainstorm what you’re going to write about

Take a few minutes before you begin writing to decide what you’re entry is going to be about. Hopefully you have already decided what your diary is about, so dig a bit deeper into the topic or topics you have decided to focus on and get specific.

2. Ask yourself questions

To get yourself writing, ask yourself questions:

• What did you learn today?
• What do you want to accomplish?
• What do you want to fix?
• How are you feeling?

These can relate to your general life, or specific parts of it, but turn inward and ask yourself things.

3. Write down your answers

Your diary entry can be your answers to the questions you have asked yourself. This is a great way to get writing when you don’t know what to write about.

4. Pick a format

Your entries can be in all different types of formats, depending on what you’re writing about. Maybe you are making a list of things you want to accomplish in your future. Maybe you’re writing about a conversation you had, or wish you had. Maybe your entry is just bullet points of thought you have had that day. Some people prefer writing in short notes, others like writing in detailed paragraphs. Decide what you enjoy most and go for it.

5. Make them different

Try and have a variety of different entries, so you don’t get bored. You may be writing about a certain type of topic, but you never want to write the same entry. Differentiating your entries will also highlight progresses you’ve made and things you have learned.

6. Don’t be hard on yourself while you’re writing

Your diary is a judgement-free zone, so don’t feel like they need to be perfect. Let the words flow.

7. Keep your thoughts in order

Your entries date themselves, so you know when you write what, but also try and keep your thoughts in order. Your diary will become a journey as you add more entries, try to keep the narrative something you can follow. For example, try to write about events in the sequence they happened. Avoid jumping around.

8. Get your creative juices flowing

Your entries don’t just have to be words, Penzu also let’s you add pictures. Adding some visuals to your entries will add some colourful and vibrant reminders.

To Write a Diary Entry with Penzu

Penzu offers easy-to-use diary software , so you can create a digital diary that can be accessed anywhere.

• Go to Penzu.com to create a free account.
• Create a login and password you will easily remember.
• Design your online diary to reflect your personality and your diary’s topic.
• Give your journal a meaningful name.
• Adjust your privacy setting to suit your preferences.
• Choose ‘New Entry’ and begin writing!

Tips for New Journal Writers

Is this your first time keeping a diary? Don’t worry. There is a first time for everything. Here are some things to help you get the ball rolling:

Get excited

Look forward to starting a diary. It is both a fun and productive habit.

Reflect on yourself, the people around you and what you believe is most important. Once you look back, then you can move forward.

Unstructured writing is probably the best way to start writing. Once you get into the habit of keeping a diary, you will then feel more comfortable with structure.

Keys To Successfully Writing a Diary

A diary is a personal journey and should not be compared to any other writings, but here are a few way you can get the most out of your experience.

Your diary is for your eyes only, so be honest with yourself. Don’t hide anything or hold back.

Be frequent

The more often you write, the better.

Don’t try to write a certain way, just be yourself.

Like we said in the beginning, the earlier you start keeping a diary, the more grateful you will be later on, so sign-up with Penzu today!

There's no time like the present - start your free online journal today!

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Unlike printed diaries, which we agree are pretty “bleh”, electronic school diaries are much more customizable and some have multiple categories pre-set for you.

Food diaries are an excellent way to track what you're eating.

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Diary Entry - Free Essay Examples and Topic Ideas

A diary entry is a personal account of one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences written daily or periodically. It can be used as a way to reflect and unwind, document significant events or moments, express emotions, or simply track daily routines. Diary entries are often written in a private and intimate tone, allowing the writer to be honest and vulnerable in their writing. The act of writing in a diary can also provide a sense of clarity and insight into one’s own life.

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Examples of Reflective Writing

Types of reflective writing assignments.

A journal  requires you to write weekly entries throughout a semester. May require you to base your reflection on course content.

A learning diary is similar to a journal, but may require group participation. The diary then becomes a place for you to communicate in writing with other group members.

A logbook is often used in disciplines based on experimental work, such as science. You note down or 'log' what you have done. A log gives you an accurate record of a process and helps you reflect on past actions and make better decisions for future actions.

A reflective note is often used in law. A reflective note encourages you to think about your personal reaction to a legal issue raised in a course.

An essay diary  can take the form of an annotated bibliography (where you examine sources of evidence you might include in your essay) and a critique (where you reflect on your own writing and research processes).

a peer review  usually involves students showing their work to their peers for feedback.

A self-assessment task  requires you to comment on your own work.

Some examples of reflective writing

Social science fieldwork report (methods section).

Engineering Design Report

Learning Journal (weekly reflection)

Brookfield, S 1987, Developing critical thinkers: challenging adults to explore alternative ways of thinking and acting , Open University Press, Milton Keynes.

Mezirow, J 1990, Fostering critical reflection in adulthood: a guide to transformative and emancipatory learning , Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

Schön, DA 1987, Educating the reflective practitioner , Jossey-Bass. San Francisco.

We thank the students who permitted us to feature examples of their writing.

Prepared by Academic Skills, UNSW. This guide may be distributed or adapted for educational purposes. Full and proper acknowledgement is required. 

Essay and assignment writing guide

• Essay writing basics
• Essay and assignment planning
• Answering assignment questions
• Editing checklist
• Writing a critical review
• Annotated bibliography
• How do I write reflectively?
• Examples of reflective writing
• ^ More support

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Daily Diary Writing Examples

Diary writing is the act of regularly recording personal thoughts, feelings, experiences, and events in a private journal or diary. It can be a written record of daily activities, reflections on personal experiences, or a way to process emotions and thoughts. Diary writing is a form of self-expression and can be used as a tool for self-reflection, self-awareness, and personal growth. It allows individuals to explore their innermost thoughts and feelings in a safe and private space.

Format of Daily Diary Writing

The format of diary writing can vary depending on personal preference, but there are some common elements that most diary entries include:

Date: Every diary entry should include the date.

Salutation: The entry may begin with a greeting, such as "Dear diary" or "Hello there."

Body: This is where the main content of the entry is written. It can include personal experiences, reflections, emotions, and thoughts.

Closing: The entry may end with a closing statement or reflection, such as "That's all for now" or "I'll write more tomorrow."

Signature: The entry may be signed with the author's name, initials, or a nickname.

Daily Diary Writing Example-1

2 March, 2023

Dear Diary,

Today was a bit of a roller coaster. I woke up feeling a bit groggy, but I managed to get ready for school on time. In my first class, English, we started a new novel that I'm really excited about. It's called "To Kill a Mockingbird" and we had a great discussion about the themes and characters. I'm looking forward to reading more of it.

Next up was science class, and we had a test on the material we've been studying for the past few weeks. I think I did pretty well on it, but I'm always a little nervous waiting for the results. During lunch, I sat with my friends and we chatted about our plans for the weekend. We're thinking of going to the mall and maybe catching a movie.

After lunch was math class, and we had a quiz on algebraic expressions. I've been struggling a bit with this topic, but I think I did okay. I'll have to wait and see what my grade is. Finally, it was time for basketball practice. It was tough, but I always feel so much better after exercising. I'm working on improving my shooting and dribbling skills, and I can already see some progress.

For dinner, my family had tacos. They're one of my favourite meals, so I was pretty happy. After dinner, I watched an episode of my favourite show on Netflix before settling down to study for tomorrow's history test. I stayed up later than I should have, but I wanted to make sure I was fully prepared.

Overall, it was a busy day with its ups and downs, but I'm glad I made it through. I'm looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings.

Yours truly,

Also Check: Write a Letter to The Editor

Daily Diary Writing Example-2

5 March, 2023

Today was such a fun day. Our class had a picnic at the park, and it was the perfect way to spend a sunny day. We all met up at school in the morning and took a bus to the park. It was about a 30-minute ride, but we passed the time by chatting and listening to music.

Once we arrived at the park, we set up our blankets and started playing games. Some of us played frisbee, while others played soccer or threw a football around. I mostly hung out with my friends and we talked and ate snacks. I brought some chips and dip, and a few other people brought sandwiches and fruit.

After a while, we had a group game of capture the flag. It was so much fun, even though my team lost. We all got pretty competitive, but it was all in good fun. By then, it was almost time to leave, but we managed to squeeze in a game of kickball before we had to go.

On the bus ride back to school, we were all pretty tired. Some people took naps, while others chatted about the day. I was just grateful for the fresh air and exercise. It was such a nice break from the usual routine of classes and homework.

I'm so glad our class decided to do a picnic, and I'm already looking forward to our next outing. It's moments like these that make school feel a little more bearable.

Until next time,

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Diary Entry Format: Examples and Questions

Diary Entry Format: Diary writing format includes a well-organised type of writing skill that covers a schedule and section on the pages. It is essential for students to learn the skill of how to write a diary entry. The entries that are made to the diary mainly consist of personal information but writers can write anything that they probably want to.

Furthermore, from a scholastic standpoint, diary writing necessitates several essential components to receive passing grades. Read this article or bookmark this page to get more details about diary writing such as diary writing format, how to write entries, and diary entry topics along with the latest examples.

Diary Writing Format

The diary format in English follows a date with the respective writing alongside. Since diary entry is personal writing, there are no strict rules that need to be followed. The following format of diary entry is applicable for CBSE , ICSE Board , and other state education boards in India.

Diary Entry Format in English

The standard diary format in English is given below:

• Date, Day, and Time : Diary writing is a memory. Before writing an entry, mention the date, day, and time so that you know when that particular incident/event took place if you read it later in the future. Usually, the date, day, and time should be mentioned in the top left corner.
• Heading/Title : Giving a title to an entry is completely optional. Your heading indicates what your piece of writing consists of. If you want, give a suitable heading; else, ignore this.
• Content : Make an entry about your experience, event, or feelings. The style and tone can be informal. Express anything and everything which you would like to tell to your diary.
• Signature : Diary entry is already a personal thing. So, it is optional. If you would like to give a signature after an entry, you can; else, you can ignore this section.
• Tone and Format : Because a diary entry is frequently written to oneself and contains personal information, it is always preferable to be accurate when writing. And the writing format should be the same as if you were writing to a friend or a close one.

This diary writing format is applicable for Class 6 to Class 12 students. So, students who are in search of a diary entry format for Class 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6 can rely on the above format.

Diary Entry Marking Scheme In CBSE

Usually, in CBSE, students will be tested via diary writing in 100 to 200 words. Diary Entry Questions will come under Section – B. The diary writing question will be asked for 4 marks The diary entry format CBSE Class 9 marking scheme is given below:

• Objective: To use a style and format appropriate for a report
• Content: 2 marks
• Expression: 2 marks
• Suitable format
• Suitable content

Diary Entry Format in English and Examples

Personal diary writing samples will help students to understand how they can approach a question that will be asked in the examination. Students can find the different sets of diary entry format questions with answers below:

Diary Entry Format in English Question 1

Write a diary entry on one of the luxurious weddings that you have attended. Write your opinions on the wastage of resources at the wedding.

15th February 2022, Monday 10:00 PM Dear Diary , Last night, I attended a luxurious wedding of Rohan. Right from the wedding invitations to decorations, catering, return gifts, everything was very expensive. What bothered me was the wastage of resources over there. The light arrangements at the wedding consumed so much electricity which was releasing undesirable pollutants into the air. Apart from that, people were wasting so much food. The disposal of food was improper because of which flies and insects were seen everywhere. So much water was consumed by the people over there. The wastage of resources might lead to water starvation, global warming, pollution, etc. I wish people would understand the effects of this expensive wedding. {Signature}

Diary Entry Format in English Question 2

You recently visited an ‘Old Age Home’ in Bangalore with your friends. Using the hints given below together with your own ideas, make a diary writing entry of what you saw and experienced there. Hints: • Old home • Mostly senior citizens above 60 • Peaceful surroundings • Spacious • Clean rooms and baths • Regular medical check-ups • A good library • Means of recreation • A home away from home.

18th February 2022, Thursday 9:30 PM Dear Diary, Today I visited an old home in Bangalore with my friends to celebrate my birthday. Nearly 90 people stayed in that old-aged home. Most senior citizens above 60 years stay there. The old age home is settled in peaceful surroundings and is enriched with magnificent paintings, trees, a good library, yoga, meditation auditorium, etc. The home was very big and spacious. All the rooms and bathrooms were clean and hygienic. The authorities of old age homes collect funds to organise regular medical checkups for the senior citizens. We contributed some money for the same. The people there seemed to be very happy and comfortable. Overall I felt that people were in a home away from home. {Signature}

Diary Entry Format in English Question 3

It was the first day of your new school. Make a diary entry describing your first-day experience in your new school.

3rd June 2019, Thursday 8:30 AM Dear Diary, Today was my first day of school. I was very excited, but at the same time, a bit nervous to go to school. The school was very big and my classroom was very spacious. Since it was the first day of my school, I wanted to create a good impression on teachers. So, I sat on the first bench. I was asked to give a self-introduction to my classmates in the classroom. I was embarrassed, but somehow gave a short introduction about myself. Then one girl named Tina approached me and asked me a few things like where I stayed, and from which place I was. The conversation with Tina seemed to be interrogative but comfortable. Tina gave me a tour of the school and I enjoyed it. For now, I consider Tina as my best friend in school. Overall, the first-day experience in my new school was interesting. Anyway, a new day tomorrow. Wishing myself good luck! Good Night my dear diary 🙂 {Signature}

FAQs on Diary Entry Format

Q1. What is the ideal diary writing format in English? Ans. The diary writing format in English is very simple. Just write the date, day, and time and start off with the content. Since diary writing is a personal thing, you can use formal or informal language. Finally, you can enclose it with a signature which is optional too.

Q2. In CBSE, what is the diary format in English? Ans. The diary format in English for CBSE is the same as the format that is provided on this page.

Q3. How do you start writing a diary entry? Ans. Diary entry writing is nothing but sharing an experience or feeling in your diary. Just write what you want to express to yourself or your friend regarding the activity in your diary.

Q4. Is a diary entry written in a box? Ans. A few schools ask students to write Diary Entry in box format. But according to the CBSE marking scheme, there are no marks awarded for writing an entry in a box form. So, it completely depends on you how you want to make your entry.

Q5. How do you end a diary entry? Ans. Depending upon the content, you can end the diary writing. You can say bye, good night, all the best will share more of my experiences tomorrow, etc. Overall you can end your writing like how you end your conversation with a person.

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Diary Writing | Diary Writing Format, Samples, Examples, Topics and How To Write a Diary?

February 15, 2023 by Prasanna

Diary Writing: Diary writing is a personal form of writing where a person maintains a diary to write about his/her personal life or a situation. Writing a diary is quite possibly the closest to home and casual classes of composing. It can be written in any language as per the comfort of the writer, whether English or Hindi. A journal composing can be founded on an encounter, a scene, a portrayal or portrayal of a certain occasion, or some other thing or movement that the author thinks about worth writing in his own journal.

Diary Writing is a decent action both, for the individuals who have abstract abilities and in any event, for the individuals who need to simply vent out their feelings while they are feeling alone or discouraged. It is additionally a decent movement to glance back at life and dissect yourself based on your past. The nature of Diary composing relies upon the innovativeness, creative mind, and articulation of the person. Journal composing abilities can be upgraded by envisioning a circumstance.

Despite the fact that there are no set standards or guidelines for composing a journal there are a few highlights of Diary Writing that should have been followed to make Diary Writing more coordinated, imaginative, complete and intriguing. Moreover, Diary Writing from the scholastic perspective likewise requires some fundamental components to get passing marks. These very highlights become should in the event that we are hoping to distribute our Diary later on as they make the work fascinating and adequate to the bigger crowd.

Diary Writing Format

Definition of Diary Writing: To write a diary, all you require is an eagerness to compose. Start by sorting out what you need to write in your diary. In the event that you don’t know, essentially begin composing and see where that leads. It can likewise be valuable to set a period limit in your initial composing meetings. Set an alert for 10 to 20 minutes and begin composing.

Keeping a journal is an incredible method to record your development and self-improvement. More passages will permit you to think back and see what has changed over the long run. The previous you start, the more thankful you will be later on.

• 16th July 2020
• Saturday, 8:00 p.m.
• A diary needn’t bother with any conventional heading. Notwithstanding, it is discretionary. In the event that you need it, you can give an appropriate heading.
• The style and tone are for the most part casual and individual. Nonetheless, it relies upon the subject. Now and then the tone can be philosophical and intelligent as well. You can uninhibitedly communicate your perspectives and sentiments.
• As the diary is the author’s very own archive, the journal passage needn’t bother with any signature. It is absolutely discretionary.
• You can advance your own appropriate style contingent upon the subject of your composition.

Diary Writing Examples/Topics

Here is an example of writing a diary based on some situation. The writing is done in the English language here. You can also try to write in your own language referring to this example.

Personal Diary Writing Sample: You went to receive your uncle and aunts from the Bangalore railway station. Write a diary where you share your experience of the journey from home to the railway station.

Diary Writing for Class 8

Class 8 students can try to write small notes or paragraphs in the diary. They can express their feelings and plans for the future over there.

Diary Writing for Class 9

A way of writing a diary is given with examples for Class 8 and Class 9 students.

Diary Writing for Kids Topics

A person can write a diary based on many topics:

Write about your favourite sports, favourite day.

• Favourite time of day
• First day in school/college
• A visit to a friend’s place or grandma’s place
• Seeing a fight of people on your way home
• The happiest day of my life
• Visit Old age home or Orphanage
• Attended a marriage

FAQ’s on Diary Writing

Question 1. What is diary writing?

Answer: Diary writing is a personal form of writing where a person maintains a diary to write about his/her personal life or a situation. It is a way to express your feelings and emotions in writing to yourself.

Question 2. What is the proper format of writing a diary?

Answer: One should always mention the place, date and time before starting to write the diary. Then you can address the diary as “Dear Diary” or “Hi Dear” or “Hello my Diary”, etc. Write everything you want to express to the diary. At the end mention your name.

Question 3. What are the benefits of writing a diary?

Answer: Diary writing will improve your vocabulary, your language, your way of expressing things in the right tone.  You become more expressive and feel good. You get the habit of sharing your feelings with diary. It makes you more confident.

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• Diary Writing

What is Diary Writing?

Have a bad day and you want to record something eventful happened to you? Well, a diary entry is one effective way of expression or just a mere recording of events of your life. Diary writing has been a way of recording, recollecting and expressing events or emotions. Maintaining a diary is cathartic and it renders the mind some freshness from the busy life. 

Diary Writing Format

Getting Started with Diary Writing 

Getting started with diary writing can be difficult, especially when you are not habitual of writing. Before you start writing, you should know what is the right format for diary writing. Here are some steps for how you can start writing in your diary: 

Decide What You Want to Write

You can use a diary to write several things, be it an experience or your feelings. But if you want your diary entries to be specific, you should decide what you want to write in them. Usually, diaries are for personal thoughts and experiences but they can be an excellent way to keep a track of your daily events.   

Design a Schedule

When you start a diary, you will have to write more frequently in it, although it is entirely up to you to decide how often you will write in your diary. Making a schedule will help you get used to writing in your journal. You can pick up a specific day or time to write in your diary. Moreover, you should also set a time limit for your diary. You can decide how much you want to write and the time you want to spend while writing. 

The date is an important part of every diary entry. If you keep a track of the date of every diary entry, you can look back at your progress and see how much you have written. 

Give It a Name

Some people like to give names to their diaries, which makes them feel as if they are talking to a friend. Since it is your diary, you can give it any name you like. If you don’t want to give it a name you can start with “Dear Diary” and move in the right direction. Moreover, the primary aim of the diary is to share your thoughts and feelings honestly and open up as if it is your friend. 

Be Comfortable While Writing

It is normal if you do not feel like writing in your diary every day. You will only be able to focus on writing when you are comfortable. As long as you are enjoying the writing process, it will be much easier for you to write in your diary every day.  

Why Write a Diary?

Effective Catharsis 

Sometimes we can’t find a friend or anyone to confide our deepest feelings. Diary serves as a friend in need where we can express anything and in any way without any fear of any judgment or miscommunication because it is you who has access to it. 

Recapture Memories

Diary lets you recall the good or bad memories you had and lets you realize how much you have grown or what mistakes you did in the past. Sometimes reading a diary just makes you laugh or live memories which you had nearly forgotten.

Recording Events

Some people write a diary as maintaining a journal where they record all the events chronologically to revisit them for any purpose. This helps in not missing out on important details in daily life. 

Problem-Solving

We tend to overthink everything and make our problems bigger than they seem to be. By writing them down we realize that it is not as big a problem as we cooked it in our head. Sometimes while writing a diary we tend to find a solution as we reflect upon ourselves while writing the problem down.

Tips on Diary Entry

Include a Date

Writing a diary with a date helps one remember the event and the time of the event. It also helps to keep a track of events and when they happened. In our busy lives, we hardly remember how the time slips. Dating the entries will give you a clear picture of the time during that event. Including a date just on the corner of the page is enough. The format of the date should be similar to avoid confusion.

Mention a Subject

Sometimes diary entries can be very descriptive, just mentioning a dominant emotion or any particular event in a few words can help in knowing what is a whole entry is about. For example, If you were unhappy about the way your brother talked to you and you were sad. You can just mention- feeling sad.

Express Yourself Freely

The whole idea of writing a diary is to exhibit your emotions, where it is private and no one can access them. Diary entry has to be made with an open heart without any fear of anyone reading it. It is one place where you can be yourself as it stays with you. 

Write More Often

Writing regularly is not a task which just happens automatically. In starting you might have to set a reminder to write and then eventually you start gravitating towards your diary to write anything you feel. Diary becomes your friend and it’s very therapeutic to express oneself now and then. 

       5. Be Honest

If you are writing the diary under an umbrella of fear of getting public, then it is pointless. You should be honest to yourself as it is your diary and your safe place to express anything you wish to. Being honest is the only key to catharsis while writing a diary. You should not manipulate your writing, thinking of someone else reading it. The honest expression will always make you reflect on the situation with a bigger outlook.

       6.  Aligning Your Thoughts is Important

Brainstorming before writing will help you align your thoughts to record everything as you want to write. Sometimes our emotions make our brain foggier and a little thought before writing would help us express ourselves clearly.

Benefits of Diary Writing- How to Write, Format, Tips and Examples 

Diary writing come with a lot of benefits for you. Before you start your diary, you should go through these tips and examples to understand how to begin your journal entries. Here are some advantages of diary writing - how to write, format, tips and examples: 

By using diary writing - how to write, format, tips and examples, you can understand the various elements of a diary. 

It will help you get started with your journal and take you in the right direction. 

You can learn the format and rules of diary writing through this.

With diary writing - how to write, format, tips and examples, you will get an idea of what you can write in your diary. 

FAQs on Diary Writing

1. Is it Beneficial to Write Every Day and Diary Writing Well For Mental Health?

Yes, it is! Because you can reflect on your thoughts without any bias and most importantly it becomes a medium where you can write without any fears! Thus, it is beneficial to your mental health. Also, writing your thoughts and feeling every day in your diary will relieve you from the stress and help you control your emotions. Although writing frequently is beneficial, but it is not compulsory to do so. It depends on you whether you want to write daily, weekly or even monthly but writing daily has its benefits.

2. Does Writing a Diary have Any Other Benefits?

Yes, writing continuously over time will improve the clarity of your writing as well as the clarity of your speech, and you will learn how to express your thoughts more freely with time. Writing a diary will help you keep your thoughts organized and make them apprehensible. You can record your thoughts, feelings, daily events, past experiences, or anything you want in a diary. Moreover, diary writing will improve your writing skills and make you more fluent in the language.

3. Can I Write Anything in a Diary and is it Better to Write in Any Specific Format?

Yes! Although it is beneficial to keep separate diaries for separate things. For example, a personal diary is best for writing your thoughts and feelings, and a bedside diary or a notebook for writing ideas which you get at night. This is highly personalized and depends on person to person.

Although it is not mandatory in writing in an ordered and coherent manner, connecting dots becomes easier, which in turn make introspection easier.  So, you can start writing in your diary any way you feel comfortable.

4. How will the Diary Writing - How to Write, Format, Tips and Examples help me?

Diary Writing - how to write, format, tips and examples will help you in so many ways. It gives you a clear understanding of how to start writing in your diary. You can learn the format of diary writing and start your journal in an organized manner.

With Diary Writing - how to write, format, tips and examples, you can understand the different ways of starting your journal. Moreover, it will help you work on your writing skills and improve yourself.

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The Ultimate Guide to Diary Writing Formats with Examples

Quick overview, diary example format #1, diary example format #2, diary example format #3, diary example format #4, diary example format #5, how it benefits when you follow a diary writing format, final thoughts, explore more.

Diary writing is a wonderful way to reflect on your thoughts , feelings , and experiences . Whether you’re looking to process emotions , track progress towards a goal, or simply record daily happenings, a diary can be a valuable tool for self-reflection and self-discovery . When it comes to writing a diary entry, there are a few key elements to consider.

The format you choose will depend on your personal style and preferences, but typically, a diary entry will include a brief introduction, a detailed account of your experiences, reflections on those experiences, and a conclusion or takeaway message.

Let’s see some of the example diary ideas or formats for diary writing that you can follow…

Date: (Insert date here)

Dear Diary,

(Begin your entry with a brief introduction or greeting. This can be as simple as “Today was a busy day” or “I can’t believe it’s already (insert day of the week)”.)

(Next, write about your day in detail. Describe what you did, who you talked to, and how you felt. You can also write about any significant events or moments that stood out to you.)

(After describing your day, you may want to reflect on your experiences. This is a chance to share your thoughts and feelings about what you experienced, and how you might want to approach similar situations in the future.)

(Finally, you can end your diary entry with a conclusion. This can be a summary of your day, a note about how you’re feeling now, or a goal or intention for tomorrow.)

Title: (Optional, but you can use a title to summarize the main theme or event of your entry)

(Begin your entry with a brief introduction. This can be a sentence or two about your overall mood or state of mind.)

(Next, write about the events of your day in chronological order. You can include details such as where you went, who you talked to, what you ate, and any significant thoughts or emotions you experienced. Try to be as specific as possible, using sensory details to make the scene come alive.)

(After describing your day, reflect on your experiences. What did you learn, or what insights did you gain? How did your experiences make you feel, and why? This is also a good place to write about any goals or aspirations you have.)

(Finally, conclude your entry with a summary or closing thought. This can be a sentence or two that wraps up the main themes or emotions of your entry.)

(Sign your name or use a pseudonym if you prefer)

Location: (Optional, but you can include the location where you’re writing your entry)

Weather: (Optional, but you can include the weather conditions to set the scene)

Emotional State: (Optional, but you can write a brief note on your overall mood or emotions)

(Begin your entry with a sentence or two about what you’ve been up to recently or any significant events happening in your life)

(Next, write about your thoughts and feelings in response to these events. You can include any reflections, insights, or questions that come up for you.)

(After reflecting on your experiences, you may want to write about any challenges or obstacles you’re facing. This is an opportunity to be honest and vulnerable about your struggles, and to brainstorm possible solutions or coping strategies.)

(Finally, conclude your entry with a message of self- compassion and support. This can be a reminder to yourself that you’re doing the best you can or an affirmation of your resilience and strength.)

Time: (Optional, but you can include the time you’re writing your entry)

Mood: (Optional, but you can write a brief note on your overall mood or emotions)

(Begin your entry with a sentence or two about your day or any significant events happening in your life)

(Next, write about any thoughts, feelings, or experiences that stood out to you. You can include details about who you talked to, what you did, and any observations or insights you had.)

(After describing your experiences, you may want to reflect on what you’ve learned or what you’re grateful for. This is a chance to practice mindfulness and cultivate a sense of gratitude and appreciation.)

(Finally, conclude your entry with a message of self-care or intention for the future. This can be a reminder to take care of yourself, or a goal or aspiration for the coming days.)

Focus : (Optional, but you can write a brief note on the main focus of your entry)

(Begin your entry with a sentence or two about what’s been on your mind lately or any significant events happening in your life)

(Next, write about the main focus of your entry. This can be a particular emotion, situation, or challenge you’re facing, or a goal or aspiration you’re working towards.)

(After describing the main focus of your entry, you may want to reflect on your thoughts and feelings in response to it. This is a chance to explore your emotions, beliefs, and perceptions, and to gain insight into what’s driving your thoughts and actions.)

(Finally, conclude your entry with a message of encouragement or support. This can be a reminder to yourself that you’re doing the best you can or an affirmation of your worth and value.)

When you follow a diary format or template, it provides a structured and organized way to record your thoughts and experiences. Here’s a detailed explanation of how it helps –

• Gives Consistency – Using a diary format encourages you to write regularly. Having a set template or format can create a routine, making it easier to maintain the habit of journaling daily.
• Time Efficiency – With a predefined format, you don’t have to spend time deciding what to write about each day. The template prompts you to focus on specific aspects, streamlining the writing process.
• Comprehensive Records – A diary format often includes various sections, such as date, location, emotions, events, and reflections. This helps create comprehensive records of your life, capturing different dimensions of your experiences.
• Easy Retrieval of Info – When you have a consistent format, it becomes easier to locate specific entries later on. You can quickly find information about particular events or feelings by referring to the corresponding sections.
• Promotes Introspection – A diary format may include sections for self-reflection, prompting you to think deeply about your actions and emotions. This fosters introspection and self-awareness .
• Track Your Progress – Some diary formats include space for tracking progress on goals or habits. This allows you to monitor your development over time, providing motivation and accountability.
• Identify New Patterns – Using a template can reveal patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You might notice recurring themes or triggers that influence your experiences.
• Encourages Honesty – A structured format can make it easier to be honest with yourself. You may find it less intimidating to express your true feelings and thoughts when guided by specific prompts.
• Visualization of Your Growth – When you follow a diary template, you can visually see your growth and progress over time. This visualization can be empowering and inspire further self-improvement .
• Reduce Writer’s Block – Having a template can reduce writer’s block since it provides a starting point for your writing. You can simply follow the format and let your thoughts flow from there.
• Capture Important Details – The format may include sections to capture specific details, such as people you interacted with, places you visited, or notable occurrences. This helps preserve meaningful moments and memories .
• Enhances Your Focus – By following a structured diary format, you can concentrate on particular aspects of your life each day. This can prevent your writing from becoming too scattered or disorganized.

Using a diary format or template can be a valuable tool for effective journaling. It streamlines your writing process, facilitates introspection, and helps you create a meaningful and insightful record of your life. Remember that you can customize the format to suit your preferences and needs while still enjoying the benefits of a structured approach in life.

In conclusion, there are many different formats and styles of diary writing that you can choose from, depending on your personal preferences and needs – it’s purely a personal choice.

Whether you prefer a structured or free-form approach, you must focus on particular topics or themes, the most important thing is to find a format that works for you and stick with it. By developing a consistent diary writing practice, you can reap the many benefits of self-reflection, including greater self-awareness , clarity, and emotional regulation.

Having a well-formatted diary can make it easier to review your entries and track your progress over time esp when you rewind it back some other day. So, take your own time to experiment with different diary writing formats and find the one that feels most comfortable and effective for you.

The more you write and reflect, the more you will discover about yourself and your journey in life.

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21 Stellar Common App Essay Examples to Inspire Your College Essay

What’s covered:, what makes a good common app essay, is your common app essay strong enough.

When you begin writing your Common App essay, having an example to look at can help you understand how to effectively write your college essay so that it stands apart from others. 

These Common App essay examples demonstrate a strong writing ability and answer the prompt in a way that shows admissions officers something unique about the student. Once you’ve read some examples and are ready to get started, read our step-by-step guide for how to write a strong Common App essay.  

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

Read our Common App essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

It’s Personal

The point of the Common App essay is to humanize yourself to a college admissions committee. The ultimate goal is to get them to choose you over someone else! You will have a better chance of achieving this goal if the admissions committee feels personally connected to you or invested in your story. When writing your Common App essay, you should explore your feelings, worldview, values, desires, and anything else that makes you uniquely you.

It’s Not Cliché

It is pretty easy to resort to clichés in college essays. This should be actively avoided! CollegeVine has identified the immigrant’s journey, sports injuries, and overcoming a challenging course as cliché topics . If you write about one of these topics, you have to work harder to stand out, so working with a more nuanced topic is often safer and easier.

It’s Well-Done

Colleges want good writers. They want students who can articulate their thoughts clearly and concisely (and creatively!). You should be writing and rewriting your essays, perfecting them as you go. Of course, make sure that your grammar and spelling are impeccable, but also put in time crafting your tone and finding your voice. This will also make your essay more personal and will make your reader feel more connected to you!

It’s Cohesive

Compelling Common App essays tell a cohesive story. Cohesion is primarily achieved through effective introductions and conclusions , which often contribute to the establishment of a clear theme or topic. Make sure that it is clear what you are getting at, but also don’t explicitly state what you are getting at—a successful essay speaks for itself.

Common App Essay Examples

Here are the current Common App prompts. Click the links to jump to the examples for a specific prompt, or keep reading to review the examples for all the prompts.

Prompt #1 :  Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Prompt #2 :  The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Prompt #3 :  Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Prompt #4 : Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? (NOTE: We only have an example for the old prompt #4 about solving a problem, not this current one)

Prompt #5 :  Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Prompt #6 :  Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Prompt #7 :  Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Note: Names have been changed to protect the identity of the author and subjects.

Prompt #1: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

Prompt #1, example #1.

The room was silent except for the thoughts racing through my head. I led a spade from my hand and my opponent paused for a second, then played a heart. The numbers ran through my mind as I tried to consider every combination, calculating my next move. Finally, I played the ace of spades from the dummy and the rest of my clubs, securing the contract and 620 points when my partner ruffed at trick five. Next board.

It was the final of the 2015 United States Bridge Federation Under-26 Women’s Championship. The winning team would be selected to represent the United States in the world championship and my team was still in the running.

Contract bridge is a strategic and stochastic card game. Players from around the world gather at local clubs, regional events, and, in this case, national tournaments.

Going into the tournament, my team was excited; all the hours we had put into the game, from the lengthy midnight Skype sessions spent discussing boards to the coffee shop meetings spent memorizing conventions together, were about to pay off.

Halfway through, our spirits were still high, as we were only down by fourteen international match points which, out of the final total of about four hundred points, was virtually nothing and it was very feasible to catch up. Our excitement was short-lived, however, as sixty boards later, we found that we had lost the match and would not be chosen as the national team.

Initially, we were devastated. We had come so close and it seemed as if all the hours we had devoted to training had been utterly wasted. Yet as our team spent some time together reflecting upon the results, we gradually realized that the true value that we had gained wasn’t only the prospect of winning the national title, but also the time we had spent together exploring our shared passion. I chatted with the winning team and even befriended a few of them who offered us encouragement and advice.

Throughout my bridge career, although I’ve gained a respectable amount of masterpoints and awards, I’ve realized that the real reward comes from the extraordinary people I have met. I don’t need to travel cross-country to learn; every time I sit down at a table whether it be during a simple club game, a regional tournament or a national event, I find I’m always learning. 

I nod at the pair that’s always yelling at each other. They teach me the importance of sportsmanship and forgiveness.

I greet the legally blind man who can defeat most of the seeing players. He reminds me not to make excuses.

I chat with the friendly, elderly couple who, at ages ninety and ninety-two, have just gotten married two weeks ago. They teach me that it’s never too late to start anything.

I talk to the boy who’s attending Harvard and the girl who forewent college to start her own company. They show me that there is more than one path to success.

I congratulate the little kid running to his dad, excited to have won his very first masterpoints. He reminds me of the thrill of every first time and to never stop trying new things.

Just as much as I have benefitted from these life lessons, I aspire to give back to my bridge community as much as it has given me. I aspire to teach people how to play this complicated yet equally as exciting game. I aspire to never stop improving myself, both at and away from the bridge table.

Bridge has given me my roots and dared me to dream. What started as merely a hobby has become a community, a passion, a part of my identity. I aspire to live selflessly and help others reach their goals. I seek to take risks, embrace all results, even failure, and live unfettered from my own doubt.

This student draws readers in with a strong introduction. The essay starts ambiguous—“I led with a spade”—then intrigues readers by gradually revealing more information and details. This makes the reader want to keep reading (which is super important!) As the writer continues, there is a rather abrupt tone shift from suspenseful to explanatory with statements like “It was the final of the 2015 United States Bridge Federation Under-26 Women’s Championship” and “Contract bridge is a strategic and stochastic card game.” If you plan to start with an imagery-heavy, emotional, suspenseful, or dramatic introduction, you will need to transition to the content of your essay in a way that does not feel abrupt. 

You will often hear that essays need to “show, not tell.” This essay actually does both. First, the student tells readers the importance of bridge, saying “we gradually realized that the true value that we had gained wasn’t only the prospect of winning the national title, but also the time we had spent together exploring our shared passion” and “I’ve realized that the real reward comes from the extraordinary people I have met.” Then, the student shows the lessons they have learned from bridge through a series of parallel sentences: “I nod… sportsmanship and forgiveness” “I greet… not to make excuses” “I chat… it’s never too late to start anything” and so on. This latter strategy is much more effective than the former and is watered down because the student has already told us what we are supposed to get out of these sentences. Remember that your readers are intelligent and can draw their own conclusions. Avoid summarizing the moral of your story for them!

Overall, this essay is interesting and answers the prompt. We learn the importance of bridge to this student. The student has a solid grasp of language, a high-level vocabulary, and a valuable message, though they would be better off if they avoided summarizing their point and created more seamless transitions. 

Prompt #1, Example #2

Growing up, I always wanted to eat, play, visit, watch, and be it all: sloppy joes and spaetzle, Beanie Babies and Steiff, Cape Cod and the Baltic Sea, football and fussball, American and German.

My American parents relocated our young family to Berlin when I was three years old. My exposure to America was limited to holidays spent stateside and awfully dubbed Disney Channel broadcasts. As the few memories I had of living in the US faded, my affinity for Germany grew. I began to identify as “Germerican,” an ideal marriage of the two cultures. As a child, I viewed my biculturalism as a blessing. I possessed a native fluency in “Denglisch” and my family’s Halloween parties were legendary at a time when the holiday was just starting to gain popularity outside of the American Sector.

Insidiously, the magic I once felt in loving two homes was replaced by a deep-­rooted sense of rootlessness. I stopped feeling American when, while discussing World War II with my grandmother, I said “the US won.” She corrected me, insisting I use “we” when referring to the US’s actions. Before then, I hadn’t realized how directly people associated themselves with their countries. I stopped feeling German during the World Cup when my friends labeled me a “bandwagon fan” for rooting for Germany. Until that moment, my cheers had felt sincere. I wasn’t part of the “we” who won World Wars or World Cups. Caught in a twilight of foreign and familiar, I felt emotionally and psychologically disconnected from the two cultures most familiar to me.

After moving from Berlin to New York at age fifteen, my feelings of cultural homelessness thrived in my new environment. Looking and sounding American furthered my feelings of dislocation. Border patrol agents, teachers, classmates, neighbors, and relatives all “welcomed me home” to a land they could not understand was foreign to me. Americans confused me as I relied on Urban Dictionary to understand my peers, the Pledge of Allegiance seemed nationalistic, and the only thing familiar about Fahrenheit was the German after whom it was named. Too German for America and too American for Germany, I felt alienated from both. I wanted desperately to be a member of one, if not both, cultures.

During my first weeks in Scarsdale, I spent my free time googling “Berlin Family Seeks Teen” and “New Americans in Scarsdale.” The latter search proved most fruitful: I discovered Horizons, a nonprofit that empowers resettled refugees, or “New Americans,” to thrive. I started volunteering with Horizon’s children’s programs, playing with and tutoring young refugees.

It was there that I met Emily, a twelve­-year-­old Iraqi girl who lived next to Horizons. In between games and snacks, Emily would ask me questions about American life, touching on everything from Halloween to President Obama. Gradually, my confidence in my American identity grew as I recognized my ability to answer most of her questions. American culture was no longer completely foreign to me. I found myself especially qualified to work with young refugees; my experience growing up in a country other than that of my parents’ was similar enough to that of the refugee children Horizons served that I could empathize with them and offer advice. Together, we worked through conflicting allegiances, homesickness, and stretched belonging.

Forging a special, personal bond with young refugees proved a cathartic outlet for my insecurities as it taught me to value my past. My transculturalism allowed me to help young refugees integrate into American life, and, in doing so, I was able to adjust myself. Now, I have an appreciation of myself that I never felt before. “Home” isn’t the digits in a passport or ZIP code but a sense of contentedness. By helping a young refugee find comfort, happiness, and home in America, I was finally able to find those same things for myself.

Due to their endearing (and creative) use of language—with early phrases like “sloppy joes and spaetzle” as well as  “Germerican” and “Denglisch”—readers are inclined to like this writer from the get-go. Though the essay shifts from this lighthearted introduction to more serious subject matter around the third paragraph, the shift is not abrupt or jarring. This is because the student invites readers to feel the transition with them through their inclusion of various anecdotes that inspired their “feelings of cultural homelessness.” And our journey does not end there—we go back to America with the student and see how their former struggles become strengths.

Ultimately, this essay is successful due to its satisfying ending. Because readers experience the student’s struggles with them, we also feel the resolution. The conclusion of this essay is a prime example of the “Same, but Different” technique described in our article on How to End Your College Essay . As the student describes how, in the end, their complicated cultural identity still exists but transitions to a source of strength, readers are left feeling happy for the student. This means that they have formed a connection with the student, which is the ultimate goal!

Prompt #1, Example #3

“1…2…3…4 pirouettes ! New record!” My friends cheered as I landed my turns. Pleased with my progress, I gazed down at my worn-out pointe shoes. The sweltering blisters, numbing ice-baths, and draining late-night practices did not seem so bad after all. Next goal: five turns.

For as long as I can remember, ballet, in all its finesse and glamor, had kept me driven day to day. As a child, the lithe ballerinas, donning ethereal costumes as they floated across the stage, were my motivation. While others admired Messi and Adele, I idolized Carlos Acosta, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet. 

As I devoted more time and energy towards my craft, I became obsessed with improving my technique. I would stretch for hours after class, forcing my leg one inch higher in an effort to mirror the Dance Magazine cover girls . I injured my feet and ruined pair after pair of pointe shoes, turning on wood, cement, and even grass to improve my balance as I spun. At competitions, the dancers with the 180-degree leg extensions, endless turns, and soaring leaps—the ones who received “Bravos!” from the roaring audience—further pushed me to refine my skills and perfect my form. I believed that, with enough determination, I would one day attain their level of perfection. Reaching the quadruple- pirouette milestone only intensified my desire to accomplish even more. 

My efforts seemed to have come to fruition two summers ago when I was accepted to dance with Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet at their renowned New York City summer intensive. I walked into my first session eager to learn from distinguished ballet masters and worldly dancers, already anticipating my improvement. Yet, as I danced alongside the accomplished ballerinas, I felt out of place. Despite their clean technique and professional training, they did not aim for glorious leg extensions or prodigious leaps. When they performed their turn combinations, most of them only executed two turns as I attempted four. 

“Dancers, double- pirouettes only.” 

Taken aback and confused, I wondered why our teacher expected so little from us. The other ballerinas seemed content, gracing the studio with their simple movements. 

As I grew closer with my Moscow roommates, I gradually learned that their training emphasized the history of the art form instead of stylistic tricks. Rather than show off their physical ability, their performances aimed to convey a story, one that embodied the rich culture of ballet and captured both the legacy of the dancers before them and their own artistry. As I observed my friends more intently in repertoire class, I felt the pain of the grief-stricken white swan from Swan Lake , the sass of the flirtatious Kitri from Don Quijote, and I gradually saw what I had overlooked before. My definition of talent had been molded by crowd-pleasing elements—whirring pirouettes , gravity-defying leaps, and mind-blowing leg extensions. This mindset slowly stripped me from the roots of my passion and my personal connection with ballet. 

With the Bolshoi, I learned to step back and explore the meaning behind each step and the people behind the scenes. Ballet carries history in its movements, from the societal values of the era to each choreographer’s unique flair. As I uncovered the messages behind each pirouette, kick, and jump, my appreciation for ballet grew beyond my obsession with raw athleticism and developed into a love for the art form’s emotive abilities in bridging the dancers with the audience. My journey as an artist has allowed me to see how technical execution is only the means to a greater understanding between dancer and spectator, between storyteller and listener. The elegance and complexity of ballet does not revolve around astonishing stunts but rather the evocative strength and artistry manifested in the dancer, in me. It is the combination of sentiments, history, tradition, and passion that has allowed ballet and its lessons of human connection to become my lifestyle both on and off stage.

The primary strength of this essay is the honesty and authenticity of the student’s writing. It is purposefully reflective. Intentional language creates a clear character arc that begins with an eager young ballerina and ends with the student reflecting on their past. 

Readers are easily able to picture the passion and intensity of the young dancer through the writer’s engagement with words like “obsessed,” “forcing,” and “ruined” in the second paragraph. Then, we see how intensity becomes pride as they “wondered why our teacher expected so little from us.” And ultimately, we see the writer humbled as they are exposed to the deeper meaning behind what they have worked so hard for. This arc is outstanding, and the student’s musings about ballet in the concl usion position them as vulnerable and reflective (and thus, appealing to admissions officers!)

The main weakness of this essay (though this is a stellar essay) is its formulaic beginning. While dialogue can be an effective tool for starting your essay, this student’s introduction feels a bit stilted as the dialogue does not match the overall reflective tone of the essay. Perhaps, in place of “Next goal: five turns,” the student could have posed a question or foreshadowed the growth they ultimately describe.

Prompt #1, Example #4

My paintbrush dragged a flurry of acrylic, the rich colors attaching to each groove in my canvas’s texture. The feeling was euphoric.

From a young age, painting has been my solace. Between the stress of my packed high school days filled with classes and extracurriculars, the glide of my paintbrush was my emotional outlet.

I opened a fresh canvas and began. The amalgamation of assorted colors in my palette melded harmoniously: dark and light, cool and warm, brilliant and dull. They conjoined, forming shades and surfaces sharp, smooth, and ridged. The textures of my paint strokes — powdery, glossy, jagged — gave my painting a tone, as if it had a voice of its own, sometimes shrieking, sometimes whispering.

Rough indigo blue. The repetitive upward pulls of my brush formed layers on my canvas. Staring into the deep blue, I felt transported to the bottom of the pool I swim in daily. I looked upward to see a layer of dense water between myself and the person I aspire to be, an ideal blurred by filmy ripples. Rough blue encapsulates my amorphous, conflicting identity, catalyzed by words spewed by my peers about my “oily hair” and “smelly food”. They caused my ever present disdain toward cultural assemblies; the lehenga I wore felt burdensome. My identity quivers like the indigo storm I painted — a duel between my self-deprecating, validation-seeking self, and the proud self I desire to be. My haphazard paint strokes released my internal turbulence.

Smooth orange-hued green. I laid the color in melodious strokes, forming my figure. The warmer green transitions from the rough blue — while they share elements, they also diverge. My firm brushstrokes felt like the way I felt on my first day as a media intern at KBOO, my local volunteer-driven radio station, committed to the voices of the marginalized. As a naturally introverted speaker, I was forced out of my comfort zone when tasked with documenting a KBOO art exhibition for social media, speaking with hosts to share their diverse, underrepresented backgrounds and inspirations. A rhythmic green strength soon shoved me past internal blue turbulence. My communication skills which were built by two years of Speech and Debate unleashed — I recognized that making a social change through media required amplifying unique voices and perspectives, both my own and others. The powerful green strokes that fill my canvas entrench my growth.

Bright, voluminous coral, hinted with magenta and yellow. I dabbed the color over my figure, giving my painting dimension. The paint, speckled, added depth on every inch it coated. As I moved the color in random but purposeful movements, the vitality ushered into my painting brought a smile across my face. It reminded me of the encounters I had with my cubicle-mate in my sophomore year academic autism research internship, seemingly insignificant moments in my lifelong journey that, in retrospect, wove unique threads into my tapestry. The kindness she brought into work inspired my compassion, while her stories of struggling with ADHD in the workplace bolstered my empathy towards different experiences. Our conversations added blobs of a nonuniform bright color in my painting, binding a new perspective in me.

I added in my final strokes, each contributing an element to my piece. As I scanned my canvas, I observed these elements. Detail added nuance into smaller pictures; they embodied complexities within color, texture, and hue, each individually delivering a narrative. But together, they formed a piece of art— art that could be interpreted as a whole or broken apart but still delivering as a means of communication.

I find beauty in media because of this. I can adapt a complex narrative to be deliverable, each component telling a story. Appreciating these nuances — the light, dark, smooth, and rough — has cultivated my growth mindset. My life-long painting never finishes. It is ever-expanding, absorbing the novel textures and colors I encounter daily.

This essay is distinct from others due to its melodic, lyrical form. This is primarily achieved because the student’s form follows the movements of the paintbrush that they use to scaffold their essay. As readers, we simply flow through the essay, occasionally picking up bits of information about its creator. Without even realizing it, by the end of the essay, admissions officers will know that this student is a swimmer, was in Speech and Debate, is Indian, and has had multiple internships.

A major strength of this essay is the command of language that the student demonstrates. This essay was not simply written, it was crafted. Universities are, of course, interested in the talents, goals, and interests of applicants, but an essay being well-written can be equally important. Writing skills are important because your reader will not learn about your talents, goals, and interests if they aren’t engaged in your essay, but they are also important because admissions officers know that being able to articulate your thoughts is important for success in all future careers.

While this essay is well-written, there are a few moments where it falls out of the flow and feels more like a student advertising their successes. For example, the phrases “media intern at KBOO” and “autism research internship” work better on a resume than they do in this essay. Admissions officers have a copy of your resume and can check your internship experiences after reading your essay! If you are going to use a unique writing style or narrative form, lean into it; don’t try to hybridize it with the standard college essay form. Your boldness will be attractive to admissions officers.

Readers are easily able to picture the passion and intensity of the young dancer through the writer’s engagement with words like “obsessed,” “forcing,” and “ruined” in the second paragraph. Then, we see how intensity becomes pride as they “wondered why our teacher expected so little from us.” And ultimately, we see the writer humbled as they are exposed to the deeper meaning behind what they have worked so hard for. This arc is outstanding, and the student’s musings about ballet in the conclusion position them as vulnerable and reflective (and thus, appealing to admissions officers!)

Prompt #2: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Prompt #2, example #1.

“You ruined my life!” After months of quiet anger, my brother finally confronted me. To my shame, I had been appallingly ignorant of his pain.

Despite being twins, Max and I are profoundly different. Having intellectual interests from a young age that, well, interested very few of my peers, I often felt out of step in comparison with my highly-social brother. Everything appeared to come effortlessly for Max and, while we share an extremely tight bond, his frequent time away with friends left me feeling more and more alone as we grew older.

When my parents learned about The Green Academy, we hoped it would be an opportunity for me to find not only an academically challenging environment, but also – perhaps more importantly – a community. This meant transferring the family from Drumfield to Kingston. And while there was concern about Max, we all believed that given his sociable nature, moving would be far less impactful on him than staying put might be on me.

As it turned out, Green Academy was everything I’d hoped for. I was ecstatic to discover a group of students with whom I shared interests and could truly engage. Preoccupied with new friends and a rigorous course load, I failed to notice that the tables had turned. Max, lost in the fray and grappling with how to make connections in his enormous new high school, had become withdrawn and lonely. It took me until Christmas time – and a massive argument – to recognize how difficult the transition had been for my brother, let alone that he blamed me for it.

Through my own journey of searching for academic peers, in addition to coming out as gay when I was 12, I had developed deep empathy for those who had trouble fitting in. It was a pain I knew well and could easily relate to. Yet after Max’s outburst, my first response was to protest that our parents – not I – had chosen to move us here. In my heart, though, I knew that regardless of who had made the decision, we ended up in Kingston for my benefit. I was ashamed that, while I saw myself as genuinely compassionate, I had been oblivious to the heartache of the person closest to me. I could no longer ignore it – and I didn’t want to.

We stayed up half the night talking, and the conversation took an unexpected turn. Max opened up and shared that it wasn’t just about the move. He told me how challenging school had always been for him, due to his dyslexia, and that the ever-present comparison to me had only deepened his pain.

We had been in parallel battles the whole time and, yet, I only saw that Max was in distress once he experienced problems with which I directly identified. I’d long thought Max had it so easy – all because he had friends. The truth was, he didn’t need to experience my personal brand of sorrow in order for me to relate – he had felt plenty of his own.

My failure to recognize Max’s suffering brought home for me the profound universality and diversity of personal struggle; everyone has insecurities, everyone has woes, and everyone – most certainly – has pain. I am acutely grateful for the conversations he and I shared around all of this, because I believe our relationship has been fundamentally strengthened by a deeper understanding of one another. Further, this experience has reinforced the value of constantly striving for deeper sensitivity to the hidden struggles of those around me. I won’t make the mistake again of assuming that the surface of someone’s life reflects their underlying story.

Here is a prime example that you don’t have to have fabulous imagery or flowery prose to write a successful Common App essay. You just have to be clear and say something that matters. This essay is simple and beautiful. It almost feels like having a conversation with a friend and learning that they are an even better person than you already thought they were.

Through this narrative, readers learn a lot about the writer—where they’re from, what their family life is like, what their challenges were as a kid, and even their sexuality. We also learn a lot about their values—notably, the value they place on awareness, improvement, and consideration of others. Though they never explicitly state it (which is great because it is still crystal clear!), this student’s ending of “I won’t make the mistake again of assuming that the surface of someone’s life reflects their underlying story” shows that they are constantly striving for improvement and finding lessons anywhere they can get them in life.

The only part of this essay that could use a bit of work is the introduction. A short introduction can be effective, but this short first paragraph feels thrown in at the last minute and like it is missing its second half. If you are keeping your introduction short, make it matter.

Prompt #2, Example #2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Common App essay is well-written. The student is showing the admissions officers their ability to articulate their points beautifully and creatively. It starts with vivid images like that of the “rustic princess, a cradler of spiders and centipedes, who was serenaded by mourning doves and chickadees, who could glide through tick-infested meadows and emerge Lyme-free.” And because the prose is flowery, the writer can get away with metaphors like “I knew the cracks of the earth like the scars on my own rough palms” that might sound cheesy without the clear command of the English language that the writer quickly establishes.

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

While dialogue often comes off as cliche or trite, this student effectively incorporates their family members saying “Where’s the fire, Princess Clara?” This is achieved through the apt use of the verb “taunted” to characterize the questioning and through the question’s thematic connection to the earlier image of the student as a rustic princess. Similarly, rhetorical questions can feel randomly placed in essays, but this student’s inclusion of the questions “Was I so dainty?” and “Was I that incapable?” feels perfectly justified after they establish that they were pondering their failure.

Quite simply, this essay shows how quality writing can make a simple story outstandingly compelling.

Prompt #2, Example #3

The muffled voices behind thin walls heralded trouble.

They were fighting about money.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened and it wasn’t going to be the last. It was one of those countless nights I had to spend curled up under the blanket while pretending to be asleep. My father had been unemployed for five years now, and my mother, a local kindergarten teacher, was struggling to support the family alone. Our situation was bleak: Savings had run out and my parents could no longer hide our lack of money from me. To make matters worse, I was a few weeks away from starting high school, which would inevitably lead to college, yet another financial stressor for my family.

The argument didn’t sound like it would end soon.

“Why did you spend money on that?” my mother said, with an elongated sigh.

“I had to,” my father said, decidedly.

Every fight over the years had left me in despair and the idea of going through another fight daunted me. I had looked forward to my teen years all my life, an age that allows, for the first time, more responsibility. Indeed, after this fateful night, after my fourteenth birthday, I felt a mounting responsibility to help my family, and started brainstorming.

Always being fascinated by computers, I spent my childhood burying myself under computer cabinets, experimenting with computer parts. Naturally, I wondered if my skills in this area might be marketable.

The next morning, my friend, Naba, mentioned that her computer wasn’t working. A tuk-tuk ride later, and I was at her doorstep, and her mother was leading me to her room. I was off to work: I began examining her computer, like a surgeon carefully manages his scalpels and tools. A proper diagnosis was not far from reach, as I realized a broken pin in her computer’s SATA slot. After an hour of work, and a short trip to the hardware store, I successfully fixed the computer. To my pleasant surprise, Naba’s mother drew out two fresh 500 Rupee notes. One covered the cost of the parts I bought and the other was a token of appreciation. Bidding her goodbye, I went straight back home and put one of the 500 Rupee notes inside my family’s “savings-jar.”

Later that day, I devised a plan. I told my friends to spread the word that I was available to fix computers. At first, I got only one or two calls per week. I would pick up the computer from my client’s home, fix it quickly, and return it, thus earning myself a commission. While I couldn’t market my services at a competitive price, because I wasn’t able to buy the parts wholesale, I compensated by providing convenience. All my clients had to do was call me once and the rest was taken care of. Thus, my business had the best customer service in town.

At the beginning of my junior year, after two years of expanding my business through various avenues, I started buying computer parts from hardware suppliers in bulk at a cheaper rate. My business grew exponentially after that. 

Before long, I was my town’s go-to tech person. In this journey throughout high school, I started realizing that I had to create my own opportunities and not just curl up under a blanket, seeking only comfort, as I used to. Interacting with people from all walks of life became my forte and a sense of work ethic developed in me. My business required me to be an all-rounder– have the technical skills, be an easily approachable person, and manage cash flow. Slowly becoming better at this, I even managed to sway admins of a local institution to outsource their computer hardware purchases and repairs through me. As my business upsized throughout the years, I went from being helpless to autonomous – the teenager I always aspired to be.

This essay truly feels like a story—almost making you forget you are reading a college essay. The student’s voice is strong throughout the entire essay and they are able to give us insight into their thoughts, feelings, and motivations at every step of the story. Letting the reader into personal challenges like financial struggles can be daunting in a college essay, but the way this student used that setback to establish an emotional ethos to their narrative was well done.

Because the essay is essentially just telling a story, there’s a very natural flow that makes it enjoyable and easy to read. The student establishes the conflict at the beginning, then describes their solution and how they implemented it, and finally concludes with the lessons they took away from this experience. Transitions at the beginning of paragraphs effortlessly show the passage of time and how the student has progressed through the story.

Another reason this essay is so successful is because of the abundance of details. The reader truly feels like they are hiding in the room with the student as their parents yell because of the inclusion of quotes from the argument. We understand the precision and care they have for fixing computers because of the allusion to a surgeon with their scalpel. Not only does this imagery make the story more enticing, it also helps the reader gain a deeper appreciation for the type of person this student is and the adversity they have overcome.

If there were one thing this essay could do to improve, it would be to include a resolution to the conflict from the beginning. The student tells us how this business helped them grow as a person, but we don’t ever get to find out if they were able to lessen the financial burden on their parents or if they continued to struggle despite the student working hard. It doesn’t have to be a happy ending, but it would be nice to return to the conflict and acknowledge the effect they had on it, especially since this prompt is all about facing challenges.

Prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Prompt #3, example #1.

When I was younger, I was adamant that no two foods on my plate touch. As a result, I often used a second plate to prevent such an atrocity. In many ways, I learned to separate different things this way from my older brothers, Nate and Rob. Growing up, I idolized both of them. Nate was a performer, and I insisted on arriving early to his shows to secure front row seats, refusing to budge during intermission for fear of missing anything. Rob was a three-sport athlete, and I attended his games religiously, waving worn-out foam cougar paws and cheering until my voice was hoarse. My brothers were my role models. However, while each was talented, neither was interested in the other’s passion. To me, they represented two contrasting ideals of what I could become: artist or athlete. I believed I had to choose.

And for a long time, I chose athlete. I played soccer, basketball, and lacrosse and viewed myself exclusively as an athlete, believing the arts were not for me. I conveniently overlooked that since the age of five, I had been composing stories for my family for Christmas, gifts that were as much for me as them, as I loved writing. So when in tenth grade, I had the option of taking a creative writing class, I was faced with a question: could I be an athlete and a writer? After much debate, I enrolled in the class, feeling both apprehensive and excited. When I arrived on the first day of school, my teacher, Ms. Jenkins, asked us to write down our expectations for the class. After a few minutes, eraser shavings stubbornly sunbathing on my now-smudged paper, I finally wrote, “I do not expect to become a published writer from this class. I just want this to be a place where I can write freely.”

Although the purpose of the class never changed for me, on the third “submission day,” – our time to submit writing to upcoming contests and literary magazines – I faced a predicament. For the first two submission days, I had passed the time editing earlier pieces, eventually (pretty quickly) resorting to screen snake when hopelessness made the words look like hieroglyphics. I must not have been as subtle as I thought, as on the third of these days, Ms. Jenkins approached me. After shifting from excuse to excuse as to why I did not submit my writing, I finally recognized the real reason I had withheld my work: I was scared. I did not want to be different, and I did not want to challenge not only others’ perceptions of me, but also my own. I yielded to Ms. Jenkin’s pleas and sent one of my pieces to an upcoming contest.

By the time the letter came, I had already forgotten about the contest. When the flimsy white envelope arrived in the mail, I was shocked and ecstatic to learn that I had received 2nd place in a nationwide writing competition. The next morning, however, I discovered Ms. Jenkins would make an announcement to the whole school exposing me as a poet. I decided to own this identity and embrace my friends’ jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me. I have since seen more boys at my school identifying themselves as writers or artists.

I no longer see myself as an athlete and a poet independently, but rather I see these two aspects forming a single inseparable identity – me. Despite their apparent differences, these two disciplines are quite similar, as each requires creativity and devotion. I am still a poet when I am lacing up my cleats for soccer practice and still an athlete when I am building metaphors in the back of my mind – and I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.

This essay is cohesive as it centers around the theme of identity and the ability for two identities to coexist simultaneously (an interesting theme!). It uses the Full Circle ending strategy as it starts with a metaphor about food touching and ends with “I have realized ice cream and gummy bears taste pretty good together.”

The main issue with this essay is that it could come off as cliché, which could be irritating for admissions officers. The story described is notably similar to High School Musical (“I decided to own this identity and embrace my friends’ jokes and playful digs, and over time, they have learned to accept and respect this part of me”) and feels slightly overstated. 

At times, this essay is also confusing. In the first paragraph, it feels like the narrative is actually going to be about separating your food (and is somehow going to relate to the older brothers?). It is not entirely clear that this is a metaphor. Also, when the writer references the third submission day and then works backward to explain what a submission day is and that there are multiple throughout the semester, the timeline gets unnecessarily confusing. Reworking the way this paragraph unfolded would have been more compelling and less distracting.

Overall, this essay was interesting but could have been more polished to be more effective.

Prompt #3, Example #2

I walked into my middle school English class, and noticed a stranger behind my teacher’s desk. “Hello,” she said. “Today I will be your substitute teacher.” I groaned internally. “Let me start off by calling roll. Ally?” “Here!” exclaimed Ally. “Jack?” “Here.” “Rachel?” “Here.” “Freddie?” “Present.” And then– “…?” The awkward pause was my cue. “It’s Jasina,” I started. “You can just call me Jas. Here.” “Oh, Jasina. That’s unique.” The word “unique” made me cringe. I slumped back in my seat. The substitute continued calling roll, and class continued as if nothing had happened. Nothing had happened. Just a typical moment in a middle school, but I hated every second of it.

My name is not impossible to pronounce. It appears challenging initially, but once you hear it, “Jas-een-a”, then you can manage it. My nickname, Jas (pronounced “Jazz”), is what most people call me anyway, so I don’t have to deal with mispronunciation often. I am thankful that my parents named me Jasina (a Hebrew name), but whenever someone hears my name for the first time, they comment, and I assume they’re making assumptions about me. “Wow, Jas is a cool name.” She must be pretty cool.“I’ve never heard the name Jasina before.” She must be from somewhere exotic. “Jas, like Jazz?” She must be musical and artsy. None of these assumptions are bad, but they all add up to the same thing: She must be unique. 

When I was little, these sentiments felt more like commands than assumptions. I thought I had to be the most unique child of all time, which was a daunting task, but I tried. I was the only kid in the second grade to color the sun red. I knew it was really yellow, but you could always tell which drawings were mine. During snack time, we could choose between apple juice and grape juice. I liked apple juice more, but if everyone else was choosing apple, then I had to choose grape. This was how I lived my life, and it was exhausting. I tried to continue this habit into middle school, but it backfired. When everyone became obsessed with things like skinny jeans and Justin Bieber and blue mascara (that was a weird trend), my resistance of the norm made me socially awkward. I couldn’t talk to people about anything because we had nothing in common. I was too different. 

After 8th grade, I moved to Georgia, and I was dreading being the odd one out among kids who had grown up together. Then I discovered that my freshman year would be Cambridge High School’s inaugural year. Since there were students coming in from 5 different schools, there was no real sense of “normal”. I panicked. If there was no normal, then how could I be unique? That’s when I realized that I had spent so much energy going against the grain that I had no idea what my true interests were or what I really cared about. 

It was time to find out. I stopped concentrating on what everyone else was doing and started to focus on myself. I joined the basketball team, I performed in the school musical, and I enrolled in Chorus, all of which were firsts for me. I took art classes, joined clubs, and did whatever I thought would make me happy. And it paid off. I was no longer socially awkward. In fact, because I was involved in so many unrelated activities, I was socially flexible. My friends and I had things in common, but there was no one who could say that I was exactly like anyone else. I had finally become my own person.

My father named me Jasina because he wanted my nickname to be “Jazz.” According to Webster, “jazz” is “music characterized by syncopated rhythms, improvisation, and deliberate distortions of pitch.” Basically, jazz is music that is off-beat and unpredictable. It cannot be strictly defined. 

That sounds about right. 

Right off the bat, this essay starts extremely strong. The description of attendance in a class with ample quotes, awkward pauses, and the student’s internal dialogue immediately puts us in the middle of the action and establishes a lot of sympathy for this student before we’ve learned anything else. 

The strength of this essay continues into the second paragraph where the use of quotes, italics, and interjections from the student continues. All of these literary tools help the student express her voice and allow the reader to understand what this student goes through on a daily basis. Rather than just telling the reader people make assumptions about her name, she shows us what these assumptions look and sound like, and exactly how they make her feel.

The essay further shows us how the student approached her name by providing concrete examples of times she’s been intentionally unique throughout her life. Describing her drawing red suns and choosing grape juice bring her personality to life and allow her to express her deviance from the “norm” in a much more engaging and visual way than simply telling the reader she would go against the grain to be different on purpose.

One part of the essay that was a bit weaker than the others was the paragraph about her in high school. Although it was still well written and did a nice job of demonstrating how she got involved in multiple groups to find her new identity, it lacked the same level of showing employed in previous paragraphs. It would have been nice to see what “socially flexible” means either through a conversation she had with her friends or an example of a time she combined her interests from different groups in a way that was uniquely her.

The essay finishes off how it started: extremely strong. Taking a step back to fully explain the origin of her name neatly brings together everything mentioned in this essay. This ending is especially successful because she never explicitly states that her personality aligns with the definition of jazz. Instead, she relies on the points she has made throughout the essay to stick in the reader’s memory so they are able to draw the connection themselves, making for a much more satisfying ending for the reader.

Prompt #4 (OLD PROMPT; NOT THE CURRENT PROMPT): Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Prompt #4, example #1.

“Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” 

Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This essay is great because it has a strong introduction and a strong conclusion. The introduction is notably suspenseful and draws readers into the story. Because we know it is a college essay, we can assume that the student is one of the competitors, but at the same time, this introduction feels intentionally ambiguous as if the writer could be a competitor, a coach, a sibling of a competitor, or anyone else in the situation.

As we continue reading the essay, we learn that the writer is, in fact, the competitor. Readers also learn a lot about the student’s values as we hear their thoughts: “I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was.” Ultimately, the conflict and inner and outer turmoil is resolved through the “Same, but Different” ending technique as the student places themself in the same environment that we saw in the intro, but experiencing it differently due to their actions throughout the narrative. This is a very compelling strategy!

The main weakness of this essay is that it is slightly confusing at times—how the other students found coaches feels unintentionally under-explained (a simple phrase like “through pleading and attracting sympathy” in the fourth paragraph could have served the writer well) and a dojang is never defined. Additionally, the turn of the essay or “volta” could’ve packed a bigger punch. It is put quite simply with “I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.” A more suspenseful reveal could’ve served the author well because more drama did come later.

Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Prompt #5, example #1.

Tears streamed down my face and my mind was paralyzed with fear. Sirens blared, but the silent panic in my own head was deafening. I was muted by shock. A few hours earlier, I had anticipated a vacation in Washington, D.C., but unexpectedly, I was rushing to the hospital behind an ambulance carrying my mother. As a fourteen-year-old from a single mother household, without a driver’s license, and seven hours from home, I was distraught over the prospect of losing the only parent I had. My fear turned into action as I made some of the bravest decisions of my life. 

Three blood transfusions later, my mother’s condition was stable, but we were still states away from home, so I coordinated with my mother’s doctors in North Carolina to schedule the emergency operation that would save her life. Throughout her surgery, I anxiously awaited any word from her surgeon, but each time I asked, I was told that there had been another complication or delay. Relying on my faith and positive attitude, I remained optimistic that my mother would survive and that I could embrace new responsibilities.

My mother had been a source of strength for me, and now I would be strong for her through her long recovery ahead. As I started high school, everyone thought the crisis was over, but it had really just started to impact my life. My mother was often fatigued, so I assumed more responsibility, juggling family duties, school, athletics, and work. I made countless trips to the neighborhood pharmacy, cooked dinner, biked to the grocery store, supported my concerned sister, and provided the loving care my mother needed to recover. I didn’t know I was capable of such maturity and resourcefulness until it was called upon. Each day was a stage in my gradual transformation from dependence to relative independence.

Throughout my mother’s health crisis, I matured by learning to put others’ needs before my own. As I worried about my mother’s health, I took nothing for granted, cherished what I had, and used my daily activities as motivation to move forward. I now take ownership over small decisions such as scheduling daily appointments and managing my time but also over major decisions involving my future, including the college admissions process. Although I have become more independent, my mother and I are inseparably close, and the realization that I almost lost her affects me daily. Each morning, I wake up ten minutes early simply to eat breakfast with my mother and spend time with her before our busy days begin. I am aware of how quickly life can change. My mother remains a guiding force in my life, but the feeling of empowerment I discovered within myself is the ultimate form of my independence. Though I thought the summer before my freshman year would be a transition from middle school to high school, it was a transformation from childhood to adulthood.

This essay feels real and tells readers a lot about the writer. To start at the beginning, the intro is 10/10. It has drama, it has emotions, and it has the reader wanting more.

And, when you keep going, you get to learn a lot about a very resilient and mature student. Through sentences like “I made countless trips to the neighborhood pharmacy, cooked dinner, biked to the grocery store, supported my concerned sister, and provided the loving care my mother needed to recover” and “Relying on my faith and positive attitude, I remained optimistic that my mother would survive and that I could embrace new responsibilities,” the reader shows us that they are aware of their resilience and maturity, but are not arrogant about it. It is simply a fact that they have proven!

Sometimes writing about adversity can feel exploitative or oddly braggy. This student backs up everything they say with anecdotes that prove and show their strength and resilience, rather than just claiming their strengths. When I read this essay, I want to cheer for its writer! And I want to be able to continue cheering for them (perhaps, if I were an admissions officer, that would make me want them at my school!).

Prompt #5, Example #2

Armed with a red pen, I slowly walked across the room to a small, isolated table with pink stools. Swinging her legs, my young student beamed and giggled at me, slamming her pencil bag on the table and bending over to pick up one of her toys. Natalie always brought some new toy with her to lessons—toys which I would sternly take away from her and place under the table until she finished her work. At the tutoring center where I work, a strict emphasis on discipline leaves no room for paper crowns or rubber chickens. 

Today, she had with her a large stuffed eagle from a museum. As she pulled out her papers, I slid the eagle to the other side of the table. She looked eagerly around, attempting to chat with other students as I impatiently called her attention to her papers. “I should name my eagle,” she chimed, waving her pencil in the air. I cringed—there was no wondering why Natalie always had to sit by herself. She was the antithesis of my academic values, and undoubtedly the greatest adversary of my teaching style.  

As the lesson progressed, Natalie became more fitful; she refused to release her feathered friend, and kept addressing the bird for help with difficult problems. We both grew increasingly more frustrated. Determined to tame this wryly, wiggling student, I stood my ground, set on converting this disobedient child to my calm, measured ways of study.  

As time slowly crept by, I noticed that despite Natalie’s cheerful tone and bright smile, the stuffed eagle was troublesomely quiet and stern-faced. Much like myself. Both the eagle and I were getting nowhere in this lesson—so we hatched a quick plan. Lifting the eagle up in the air, I started reading in my best impersonation of an eagle, squawking my way through a spelling packet. The result provided a sense of instant gratification I never knew I needed. She sang out every letter, clapped her hands at every page, and followed along with the eagle, stopping at every few letters to declare that “E is for eagle” and pet her teacher fondly on the beak.  

Despite my ostensibly dissatisfied attitude toward my students, I did not join the tutoring center simply to earn money. I had always aspired to help others achieve their fullest potential. As a young adult, I felt that it was time for me to step out of the role of a pupil and into the influential role of a teacher, naively believing that I had the maturity and skill to adapt to any situation and help these students reach their highest achievements academically. For the most part, the role of a stern-faced, strict instructor helped me get by in the workplace, and while my students never truly looked happy, I felt that it was part of the process of conditioning a child to learn. 

Ironically, my transition to adulthood was the result of a stuffed animal. It was indisputable that I always had the skill to instruct others; the only thing needed to instruct someone is knowledge of the subject. However, it was only upon being introduced to a stuffed bird in which I realized that students receive the most help not from instructors, but teachers. While almost anyone can learn material and spit it back out for someone, it takes the maturity and passion of a teacher not only to help students improve in their students, but also to motivate them and develop them into better citizens. From my young pupil and her little bird, I have undergone a change in attitude which reflects a growth in maturity and ability to improve the lives of others that I hope to implement in my future role as a student, activist, and physician. My newfound maturity taught me that the letter “e” stands for many things: empathy, experience, enthusiasm, and eagle.

In this essay, the student effectively explores their values (and how they learned them!) then identifies these values through a reflective conclusion. While the writer humbly recognizes the initial faults in their teaching style, they do not position their initial discipline or rigidity as mean or poorly intentioned—simply ineffective. This is important because, when you are discussing a transition like this, you don’t want admissions officers to think of you as having been a bad person. 

My favorite part about this essay is its subtlety. The major shift in the essay comes through the simple sentence “The result provided a sense of instant gratification I never knew I needed.” The facts of this narrative are not too complicated. Simply put, the writer was strict then learned that it’s sometimes more effective not to be strict. The complexity of this narrative comes through reflection. Notably, through the ending, the student identifies their values (which they hadn’t given a name to before): “it takes the maturity and passion of a teacher not only to help students improve in their students, but also to motivate them and develop them into better citizens.” 

The final sentence of this essay ties things up very nicely. Readers are left satisfied with the essay and convinced that its writer is a kind human with a large capacity for reflection and consideration. That is a great image to paint of yourself!

Prompt #5, Example #3

When it’s quiet, I can still hear the Friday night gossip and giggles of my friends. It’s a stark contrast from the environment I’ve known all my life, my home. My family has always been one to keep to themselves; introverts with a hard-working mentality—my father especially. He spent most of his time at work and growing up without him around, I came to be at peace with the fact that I’d probably never really get to know him. The thought didn’t bother me at the time because I felt that we were very different. He was stoic and traditional; I was trying to figure out who I was and explore my interests. His disapproval of the American music I listened to and my penchant for wearing hand-me-downs made me see him as someone who wanted to restrain my individuality. That explains why I relied heavily on my friends throughout middle and high school; they liked me for who I was. I figured I would get lonely without my friends during quarantine, but these last few months stuck at home gave me the time to make a new friend: my father. 

It was June. I had the habit of sleeping with my windows open so I wouldn’t need to set an alarm; the warmth of the sun and the sounds of the neighborhood children playing outside would wake me. One morning, however, it was not the chirping of birds or the laughter of children I awoke to, but the shrill of a saw. Through the window screen, on the grass below, my father stood cutting planks of wood. I was confused but didn’t question him—what he did with his time was none of my business. It was not until the next day, when I was attempting to work on a sculpture for an art class, that the sounds of hammering and drills became too much to ignore. Seeking answers, I trudged across my backyard towards the corner he was in. On that day, all there was to see was the foundation of what he was building; a shed. My intrigue was replaced with awe; I was impressed by the precision of his craft. Sharp corners, leveled and sturdy, I could imagine what it would look like when the walls were up and the inside filled with the tools he had spread around the yard. 

Throughout the week, when I was trying to finish my sculpture for art class—thinking about its shape and composition—I could not help but think of my father. Art has always been a creative outlet for me, an opportunity to express myself at home. For my dad, his craftsmanship was his art. I realized we were not as different as I had thought; he was an artist like me. My glue and paper were his wood and nails.

That summer, I tried to spend more time with my dad than I have in all my 18 years of life. Waking up earlier than usual so we could have our morning coffees together and pretending to like his favorite band so he’d talk to me about it, I took advantage of every opportunity I had to speak with him. In getting to know him, I’ve recognized that I get my artistry from him. 

Reflecting on past relationships, I feel I am now more open to reconnecting with people I’ve perhaps misjudged. In reconciling, I’ve realized I held some bitterness towards him all these years, and in letting that go, my heart is lighter. Our reunion has changed my perspective; instead of vilifying him for spending so much time at work, I can appreciate how hard he works to provide for our family. When I hear him tinkering away at another home project, I can smile and look forward to asking him about it later.

This is an outstanding example of the great things that can be articulated through a reflective essay. As we read the essay, we are simply thinking alongside its author—thinking about their past relationship with their father, about their time in quarantine, about aspects of themselves they think could use attention and growth. 

While we reflect, we are also centered by the student’s anecdote about the sculpture and the shed during quarantine. By centering us in real-time, the student keeps us engaged in the reflection.

The main strength here is the maturity we see on the part of its writer. The student doesn’t say “and I realized my father was the best dad in the world;” they say “and I realized my father didn’t have to be the best dad in the world for me to give him a chance.” Lots of students show themselves as motivated, curious, or compassionate in their college essays, but a reflective essay that ends with a discussion of resentment and forgiveness shows true maturity.

Prompt #5, Example #4

As a wide-eyed, naive seven-year-old, I watched my grandmother’s rough, wrinkled hands pull and knead mercilessly at white dough until the countertop was dusted in flour. She steamed small buns in bamboo baskets, and a light sweetness lingered in the air. Although the mantou looked delicious, their papery, flat taste was always an unpleasant surprise. My grandmother scolded me for failing to finish even one, and when I complained about the lack of flavor she would simply say that I would find it as I grew older. How did my adult relatives seem to enjoy this Taiwanese culinary delight while I found it so plain?

During my journey to discover the essence of mantou, I began to see myself the same way I saw the steamed bun. I believed that my writing would never evolve beyond a hobby and that my quiet nature crippled my ambitions. Ultimately, I thought I had little to offer the world. In middle school, it was easy for me to hide behind the large personalities of my friends, blending into the background and keeping my thoughts company. Although writing had become my emotional outlet, no matter how well I wrote essays, poetry, or fiction, I could not stand out in a sea of talented students. When I finally gained the confidence to submit my poetry to literary journals but was promptly rejected, I stepped back from my work to begin reading from Whitman to Dickinson, Li-Young Lee to Ocean Vuong. It was then that I realized I had been holding back a crucial ingredient–my distinct voice. 

Over time, my taste buds began to mature, as did I. Mantou can be flavored with pork and eggplant, sweetened in condensed milk, and moistened or dried by the steam’s temperature. After I ate the mantou with each of these factors in mind, I noticed its environment enhanced a delicately woven strand of sweetness beneath the taste of side dishes: the sugar I had often watched my grandmother sift into the flour. The taste was nearly untraceable, but once I grasped it I could truly begin to cherish mantou. In the same way the taste had been lost to me for years, my writer’s voice had struggled to shine through because of my self-doubt and fear of vulnerability.

As I acquired a taste for mantou, I also began to strengthen my voice through my surrounding environment. With the support of my parents, peer poets, and the guidance of Amy Tan and the Brontё sisters, I worked tirelessly to uncover my voice: a subtle strand of sweetness. Once I stopped trying to fit into a publishing material mold and infused my uninhibited passion for my Taiwanese heritage into my writing, my poem was published in a literary journal. I wrote about the blatant racism Asians endured during coronavirus, and the editor of Skipping Stones Magazine was touched by both my poem and my heartfelt letter. I opened up about being ridiculed for bringing Asian food to school at Youth Leadership Forum, providing support to younger Asian-American students who reached out with the relief of finding someone they could relate to. I embraced writing as a way to convey my struggle with cultural identity. I joined the school’s creative writing club and read my pieces in front of an audience, honing my voice into one that flourishes out loud as well.

Now, I write and speak unapologetically, falling in love with a voice that I never knew I had. It inspires passion within my communities and imparts tenacity to Asian-American youth, rooting itself deeply into everything I write. Today, my grandmother would say that I have finally unearthed the taste of mantou as I savor every bite with a newfound appreciation. I can imagine her hands shaping the dough that has become my voice, and I am eager to share it with the world.

This essay is structurally-sound, with the student’s journey learning to savor mantou and their journey trying to find their voice serving as outstanding parallels. Additionally, as they describe the journey to find a voice in their writing, they definitely show off their voice! The clear introduction provides a great image and draws us in with an intriguing question. Additionally, their little inserts like “a strand of sweetness” and “falling in love with a voice that I never knew I had” work very well.

When the student describes their first published poem, however, their writing gets a little more stilted. This is a common error students make when writing about their achievements. If this student is writing about the craft that goes into writing, we should hear the details of the craft that went into the poem, instead of simply learning that they “opened up about being ridiculed for bringing Asian food to school at Youth Leadership Forum.” This is interesting information but would be stronger if it were supplemented by descriptions of the voice they created, comparisons to the styles of other poets, and analysis of their stylistic choices. This would make the essay feel more cohesive, centering entirely around concepts of voice and style.

Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Note: We don’t have a stellar example for this prompt, so instead, we’re sharing a couple examples that need improvement, and what can be done to make the essays more engaging. 

Prompt #6, Example #1

What factors shape the depth and allure of a literary character? This is the exact question I asked myself as my eyes riveted on the white pages covered with little black letters.

I was reading my old novels. I’ve written three novels and many short stories. Each of them repetitively portrayed the hero as intelligent and funny, and the antagonists as cold and manipulative. I came to the appalling realization that my characters were flat, neither exciting nor original. They just didn’t stand out! 

As Oscar Wilde said, ‘Vice and virtue are to the artist material to an art.’ Their mixing makes a novel addictive because its plot is rich with turnarounds and its characters more engaging. In his famous work The Picture of Dorian Gray , Wilde deconstructs the psyche of his characters. He brilliantly plays with the protagonist’s youthful appearance and the decaying portrait to build a truly unique idiosyncratic identity. The persona of Dorian Gray is so complicated a psychologist could analyze it for hours on end!

Inspired by this character, It was my turn to explore good and evil into characters to make my stories more enthralling. I skillfully played with vice and virtue, separating, merging them… My latest novel is the fruit of this exercise. I chose to set it in 20th century London. Its opium dens and exclusive salons; middle-class workers, peasants and politicians breathed the same newly industrialized air; modernity in Blackfriars bridge and tradition in St Paul’s Cathedral; all of these contrasts set the perfect environment for my characters to grow. Following Laclos’ Valmont, Maupassant’s Georges Duroy and Duffy’s Myra Hindley, I played with those contrasts to present an intricate character, truly creative – unlike my previous ones. Insanity, religion, depravity and love are merged into each character, reflecting Edwardian London. As I reflected on my work, I realized vice and virtue altogether made them more human and credible. These characters stood out, they were interesting, I even wanted to know more about them! 

After rewriting, erasing, typing, and thinking countless times, I realized writing is a unique exercise. Nothing is definite when you are holding a fountain pen, hearing its screeching sound on the white paper and watching the ebony ink forming letters. When I wasn’t too happy about a change I made in my story, I simply erased and rewrote it. Everything I imagined could happen: white pages are the only place the mouse eats the cat or the world is taken by a zombie attack! 

This exact exercise of diversifying my characters satisfied my relentless curiosity. Asking myself ‘how could this character be if she had lost her parents in a maritime tragedy?’ allowed me to view the world from different perspectives (some very dissimilar to my own) and considering how each character would react to different situations brought them to life. As I was writing, I was aiming to change the usual narratives I had previously traversed. I loved experimenting with countless personality traits in my characters – minutes flowing, my hand dancing on the paper as my mind was singing words coming alive….

There were times where my hand just stopped writing and my mind stopped raging. I tried thinking differently, changing a character’s background, the story, the setting. I was inspired by Zola, A.Carter, Fitzgerald, the Brontë sisters… I could observe the different reactions of their characters, and reflect on mine theoretically. But it was only part one of the work: I then had to write, sometimes aimlessly, sometimes frantically, always leading to fresh ideas – I was exploring the practical, trying, erasing and rewriting. Both theory and practice are required to gain intellectual independence and experience, in writing and more globally: before I can change a character, I have to understand it. Before we can change the world, we have to understand it.

The main strength of this essay is the authenticity of the topic the student chose. They aren’t making anything up or stretching the truth. Writing is something that captivates them, and that captivation shines through—particularly through their fourth paragraph (where they geek out over specific plots and characters) and their fifth paragraph (where they joyfully describe how writing has no limitations). Admissions officers want to see this passion and intensity in applicants! The fact that this student has already written three novels also shows dedication and is impressive.

The main weakness of this essay is its structure. Ironically, it is not super captivating. The essay would have been more compelling if the student utilized a “anecdote – answer – reflection” structure. This student’s current introduction involves a reflective question, citations about their past writing experience, then their thoughts on Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray. Instead, this student could’ve provided one cohesive (and powerful!) image of them being frustrated with their own writing then being inspired by Dorian Gray. This would look something like:

“I stayed up three nights in a row studying my own writing—bored by my own writing. The only thing more painful than seeing failure in the fruits of your labor is not seeing a path for improvement. I had written three novels and numerous short stories, and all I could come up with was funny and intelligent heroes going up against cold and manipulative villains. What kind of writer was so consistently cliche? On the third night, I wandered over to my bookshelf. Mrs. Dalloway caught my eye (it has such a beautiful cover). I flipped through. Then, I grabbed Giovanni’s Room . I was so obsessed with my shortcomings that I couldn’t even focus long enough to see what these authors were doing right. I picked up The Picture of Dorian Gray and decided to just start reading. By the end of the night, I was captivated.”

An introduction like this would flow nicely into the student describing their experience with Dorian Gray then, because of that experience, describing how they have altered their approach to writing. The conclusion of this essay would then be this student’s time for reflection. Instead of repeating content about their passion—“I then had to write, sometimes aimlessly, sometimes frantically” and “I was exploring the practical, trying, erasing and rewriting”—, the student could dedicate their conclusion to reflecting on the reasons that writing is so captivating or the ways that (until the day they die) writers will always be perfecting their craft.

This essay is a great example of how important it is to pick a topic that truly excites you. It also illustrates how important it is to effectively structure that excitement.

Prompt #6, Example #2

Astonished by the crashing sound of waves in my ear, I was convinced this magical shell actually held the sound of the big blue sea — my six-year-old self was heartbroken when I couldn’t take the thirty-dollar artificial shell from SeaWorld’s gift shop . It distinctly reminded me of the awestruck feeling I had when I witnessed the churning waves of a windy night by the ocean the previous weekend; I lost track of time gazing at the distant moonlit border dividing our world from the ever-growing black void. Turning to my mom, I inquired curiously, “Can we go to the place where the water ends one day?”

She explained to me I could never reach the end of the ocean because the harsh line I had seen was actually an illusion called the horizon —  there was no material end to the ocean. For a mind as young as mine was, the idea of infinity was incomprehensible. As my infatuation with the ocean continued to grow, I finally understood that regardless of how far I travel, the horizon is unattainable because it’s not a physical limit. This idea is why the ocean captivates me — no matter how much you discover, there is always more to explore. 

Learning about and exploring the ocean provided an escape from one reality into another; though we are on the same planet, it’s an entirely separate world. Through elementary and middle school, I devoted vast amounts of my free time to learning about simpler concepts like a dolphin’s ability to echolocate and coral reef ecosystems. I rented countless documentaries and constantly checked out books from my local library — my all-time favorite was an episode of the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey titled “The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth.” This episode remained memorable because it was centered around the impacts of fossil fuels on marine animals; it was the first time I’d learned about the impending crisis we are faced with due to the human mistreatment of our planet.

Prior to viewing that episode, I relied on the ocean as an outlet — I fueled all of my emotions into studying marine organisms. Once I learned of its grave future, I delved into the world of environmental activism. This path was much more disheartening than studying echolocation — inevitable death due to climate change took a toll on my mental health. I attended two climate strikes in November of my sophomore year. Following the strikes, I joined Sunrise Movement Sacramento, a youth-led climate justice organization advocating for the Green New Deal. While analyzing legislation and organizing protests were significant takeaways from my experience with climate activism, they were not the most important. I became an organizer because of my love for the ocean and I remain an organizer because of my passion for dissolving the disproportionalities marginalized groups face due to the sacrificing of people’s livelihood for the sake of profit. The more I learned about our modern society, the more hopeless I grew that I could see any significant change within my lifetime.

However, this hopelessness comes in waves; every day, I remind myself of the moment I discovered the horizon. Or the moment I first dove into the beautiful waters of the Hawaiian coast and immediately was surrounded by breathtaking seas of magnificent creatures and coral gardens — life felt ethereal and beautiful. I remind myself that like the ocean, the vast majority of the universe has yet to be discovered; that distant border holds infinite opportunity to learn. In a universe as vast as ours, and life as rare as ours, individuals still choose to prioritize avarice over our planet. Despite this grave individualism, the ocean reminds me every day there is hope in the fight for a better world. Though I will never discover every inch of the ocean’s floor, I will forever envision and reach for new horizons.

Sometimes the path to a great essay is taking something normal and using it to show admissions officers who you are and what you value—that is precisely this student’s approach! Finding the ocean fascinating is not unique to this student. Tons of kids (and adults, too!) are obsessed with the ocean. What this student does is take things a step further as they explain their curiosity about the ocean in relation to their pain about the destruction of the environment. This capacity for reflection is great!

This student shows a good control of language through their thematic centering on ocean and horizons that carries through their essay—with ”this hopelessness comes in waves” and “I will forever envision and reach for new horizons.” The details provided throughout are also effective at keeping readers engaged—things like “ my six-year-old self was heartbroken when I couldn’t take the thirty-dollar artificial shell from SeaWorld’s gift shop” and “ my all-time favorite was an episode of the television series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey titled “The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth.”

The main weakness of this essay is the lack of reflection when the student discusses environmental activism. There’s reflection on the student’s connection to the ocean and horizons at the beginning and at the end, but when the student discusses activism, the tone shifts from focusing on their internal thoughts to their external actions. Remember, a lot of students write about environmental activism, but not a lot of students write about an emotional connection to the ocean as an impetus for environmental activism. This student would stand out more to admissions officers if they had dug into questions of what the ocean means to them (and says about them) in the paragraphs beginning “Learning about and exploring the ocean…” and “Prior to viewing that episode.”

Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Prompt #7, example #1.

Scalding hot water cascades over me, crashing to the ground in a familiar, soothing rhythm. Steam rises to the ceiling as dried sweat and soap suds swirl down the drain. The water hisses as it hits my skin, far above the safe temperature for a shower. The pressure is perfect on my tired muscles, easing the aches and bruises from a rough bout of sparring and the tension from a long, stressful day. The noise from my overactive mind dies away, fading into music, lyrics floating through my head. Black streaks stripe the inside of my left arm, remnants of the penned reminders of homework, money owed and forms due. 

It lacks the same dynamism and controlled intensity of sparring on the mat at taekwondo or the warm tenderness of a tight hug from my father, but it’s still a cocoon of safety as the water washes away the day’s burdens. As long as the hot water is running, the rest of the world ceases to exist, shrinking to me, myself and I. The shower curtain closes me off from the hectic world spinning around me. 

Much like the baths of Blanche DuBois, my hot showers are a means of cleansing and purifying (though I’m mostly just ridding myself of the germs from children at work sneezing on me). In the midst of a hot shower, there is no impending exam to study for, no newspaper deadline to meet, no paycheck to deposit. It is simply complete and utter peace, a safe haven. The steam clears my mind even as it clouds my mirror. 

Creativity thrives in the tub, breathing life into tales of dragons and warrior princesses that evolve only in my head, never making their way to paper but appeasing the childlike dreamer and wannabe author in me all the same. That one calculus problem that has seemed unsolvable since second period clicks into place as I realize the obvious solution. The perfect concluding sentence to my literary analysis essay writes itself (causing me to abruptly end my shower in a mad dash to the computer before I forget it entirely).  

Ever since I was old enough to start taking showers unaided, I began hogging all the hot water in the house, a source of great frustration to my parents. Many of my early showers were rudely cut short by an unholy banging on the bathroom door and an order to “stop wasting water and come eat dinner before it gets cold.” After a decade of trudging up the stairs every evening to put an end to my water-wasting, my parents finally gave in, leaving me to my (expensive) showers. I imagine someday, when paying the water bill is in my hands, my showers will be shorter, but today is not that day (nor, hopefully, will the next four years be that day). 

Showers are better than any ibuprofen, the perfect panacea for life’s daily ailments. Headaches magically disappear as long as the water runs, though they typically return in full force afterward. The runny nose and itchy eyes courtesy of summertime allergies recede. Showers alleviate even the stomachache from a guacamole-induced lack of self-control. 

Honestly though, the best part about a hot shower is neither its medicinal abilities nor its blissful temporary isolation or even the heavenly warmth seeped deep into my bones. The best part is that these little moments of pure, uninhibited contentedness are a daily occurrence. No matter how stressful the day, showers ensure I always have something to look forward to. They are small moments, true, but important nonetheless, because it is the little things in life that matter; the big moments are too rare, too fleeting to make anyone truly happy. Wherever I am in the world, whatever fate chooses to throw at me, I know I can always find my peace at the end of the day behind the shower curtain.

This essay is relatable yet personal! The writer makes themself supremely human through discussing the universal subject of showering. That being said, an essay about showering could easily turn boring while still being relatable. This writer keeps its relatable moments interesting and fun through vivid descriptions of common feelings including “causing me to abruptly end my shower in a mad dash to the computer before I forget it entirely” and “the stomachache from a guacamole-induced lack of self-control.”

While describing a universal feeling, this student also cleverly and intentionally mentions small facts about their life through simple phrases like “I’m mostly just ridding myself of the germs from children at work sneezing on me” and “the childlike dreamer and wannabe author in me.” To put it simply, though we are talking about a shower, we learn about so much more!

And, at the end, the student lets us know that that is exactly why they love showers. Showers are more than meets the eye! With this insightful and reflective ending (“the big moments are too rare, too fleeting to make anyone truly happy”), readers learn about this student’s capacity for reflection, which is an important capacity as you enter college.

The one major error that this writer commits is that of using a trite transition. The inclusion of “Honestly though” at the beginning of this student’s ending detracts from what they are trying to say and sticks out in their writing.

Prompt #7, Example #2

Steam whooshed from the pot as I unveiled my newest creation: duck-peppercorn-chestnut dumplings. The spicy, hearty aroma swirled into the kitchen, mingling with the smell of fresh dough. Grinning, I grabbed a plump dumpling with chopsticks, blew carefully, and fed it into the waiting mouth of my little sister. Her eyes widening, she vigorously nodded and held up five stubby fingers. I did a little happy dance in celebration and pulled my notebook out of my apron pocket. Duck-peppercorn-chestnut: five stars.

In my household, dumplings are a far cry from the classic pork and cabbage. Our menu boasts everything from the savory lamb-bamboo shoot-watercress to the sweet and crispy apple-cinnamon-date. A few years ago, my sister claimed she was sick of eating the same flavors over and over. Refusing to let her disavow our family staple, I took her complaint as a challenge to make the tastiest and most unconventional dumplings to satisfy her. With her as my taste tester and Mum in charge of dough, I spent months experimenting with dozens of odd ingredient combinations. 

During those days spent covered in flour, my dumplings often reminded me of myself—a hybrid of ingredients that don’t usually go together. I am the product of three distinct worlds: the suburbs of Boston, the rural Chinese village of [location removed], and the coastal city of [location removed]. At school, I am both the STEM nerd with lightning-fast mental math and the artistic plant mom obsessed with funky earrings. I love all that is elegant, from Chinese calligraphy to the rolling notes of the Gourd flute, yet I can be very not elegant, like when my sister and I make homemade slime. When I’m on the streets, marching for women’s rights and climate action, I’m loud, bellowing from the bottom of my gut. In the painting studio, though, I don’t speak unless spoken to, and hours can slip by like minutes. I’m loud and quiet. Elegant and messy. Nerdy and artistic. Suburban, rustic, and metropolitan.

While I’m full of odd combinations, they are only seemingly contradictory. Just as barbeque pork and pineapple can combine beautifully in a dumpling wrapper, different facets of my identity also converge. After my tenth-grade summer, when I spent six weeks studying design at art school and another three researching the brain at Harvard Med, I began asking myself: What if I mixed art and neuroscience together? That fall, I collaborated with my school’s art museum for an independent research project, exploring two questions: How are aesthetic experiences processed in the brain? And how can neuroscience help museums design exhibits that maximize visitor engagement? I combed through studies with results from tightly controlled experiments, and I spent days gathering my own qualitative data by observing museum visitors and asking them questions. With the help of my artistic skills, I could identify the visual and spatial elements of the exhibits that best held visitors’ attention. 

By synergizing two of the ingredients that make me who I am—art and neuroscience—I realized I shouldn’t see the different sides of myself as separate. I learned to instead seek the intersections between aspects of my identity. Since then, I have mixed art with activism to voice my opinions nonverbally, created Spotify playlists with both Chinese and western pop, and written flute compositions using music theory and math. In the future, by continuing to combine my interests, I want to find my niche in the world. I can make a positive impact on society without having to choose just one passion. As of now, my dream is to be a neuroscientist who designs art therapy treatments for mental health patients. Who knows though? Maybe my calling is to be a dim sum chef who teaches pottery on the side. I don’t know where I’ll go, but one thing’s for sure—being a standard pork and cabbage dumpling is definitely not my style.

This essay is outstanding because the student seems likable and authentic. With the first image of the student’s little sister vigorously nodding and holding up “five stubby fingers,” we find ourselves intrigued by the student’s daily life. They additionally show the importance of family, culture, and creativity in their life—these are great things to highlight in your essay!

After the introduction, the student uses their weird dumpling anecdote to transition to a discussion of their unique intersections. This is achieved smoothly because weirdness/uniqueness is the focus of both of these topics. Additionally, the comparison is not awkward because dumplings are used as more than just a transition, but rather are the through-line of the essay—the student weaves in little phrases like “Just as barbeque pork and pineapple can combine beautifully in a dumpling wrapper,” “By synergizing two of the ingredients that make me who I am,” and “being a standard pork and cabbage dumpling is definitely not my style.” This gives the essay its cohesive feel.

Authenticity comes through in this essay as the student recognizes that they don’t know what the future holds. They just know what kind of a person they are—a passionate one! 

One change that would improve this student’s essay would be focusing on fewer intersections in their third and last paragraph. The student mentions STEM, music, family activities, activism, and painting, which makes it feel like a distraction in middle of the essay. Focus on the most important things you want to show admissions officers—you can sit at intersections, but you can’t be interested in everything.

Prompt #7, Example #3

“Everyone follow me!” I smiled at five wide-eyed skaters before pushing off into a spiral. I glanced behind me hopefully, only to see my students standing frozen like statues, the fear in their eyes as clear as the ice they swayed on. “Come on!” I said encouragingly, but the only response I elicited was the slow shake of their heads. My first day as a Learn-to-Skate coach was not going as planned. 

But amid my frustration, I was struck by how much my students reminded me of myself as a young skater. At seven, I had been fascinated by Olympic performers who executed thrilling high jumps and dizzying spins with apparent ease, and I dreamed to one day do the same. My first few months on skates, however, sent these hopes crashing down: my attempts at slaloms and toe-loops were shadowed by a stubborn fear of falling, which even the helmet, elbow pads, and two pairs of mittens I had armed myself with couldn’t mitigate. Nonetheless, my coach remained unfailingly optimistic, motivating me through my worst spills and teaching me to find opportunities in failures. With his encouragement, I learned to push aside my fears and attack each jump with calm and confidence; it’s the hope that I can help others do the same that now inspires me to coach. 

I remember the day a frustrated staff member directed Oliver, a particularly hesitant young skater, toward me, hoping that my patience and steady encouragement might help him improve. Having stood in Oliver’s skates not much earlier myself, I completely empathized with his worries but also saw within him the potential to overcome his fears and succeed. 

To alleviate his anxiety, I held Oliver’s hand as we inched around the rink, cheering him on at every turn. I soon found though, that this only increased his fear of gliding on his own, so I changed my approach, making lessons as exciting as possible in hopes that he would catch the skating bug and take off. In the weeks that followed, we held relay races, played “freeze-skate” and “ice-potato”, and raced through obstacle courses; gradually, with each slip and subsequent success, his fear began to abate. I watched Oliver’s eyes widen in excitement with every skill he learned, and not long after, he earned his first skating badge. Together we celebrated this milestone, his ecstasy fueling my excitement and his pride mirroring my own. At that moment, I was both teacher and student, his progress instilling in me the importance of patience and a positive attitude. 

It’s been more than ten years since I bundled up and stepped onto the ice for the first time. Since then, my tolerance for the cold has remained stubbornly low, but the rest of me has certainly changed. In sharing my passion for skating, I have found a wonderful community of eager athletes, loving parents, and dedicated coaches from whom I have learned invaluable lessons and wisdom. My fellow staffers have been with me, both as friends and colleagues, and the relationships I’ve formed have given me far more poise, confidence, and appreciation for others. Likewise, my relationships with parents have given me an even greater gratitude for the role they play: no one goes to the rink without a parent behind the wheel! 

Since that first lesson, I have mentored dozens of children, and over the years, witnessed tentative steps transform into powerful glides and tears give way to delighted grins. What I have shared with my students has been among the greatest joys of my life, something I will cherish forever. It’s funny: when I began skating, what pushed me through the early morning practices was the prospect of winning an Olympic medal. Now, what excites me is the chance to work with my students, to help them grow, and to give back to the sport that has brought me so much happiness. 

A major strength of this essay comes in its narrative organization. When reading this first paragraph, we feel for the young skaters and understand their fear—skating sounds scary! Then, because the writer sets us up to feel this empathy, the transition to the second paragraph where the student describes their empathy for the young skaters is particularly powerful. It’s like we are all in it together! The student’s empathy for the young skaters also serves as an outstanding, seamless transition to the applicant discussing their personal journey with skating: “I was struck by how much my students reminded me of myself as a young skater.”

This essay positions the applicant as a grounded and caring individual. They are caring towards the young skaters—changing their teaching style to try to help the young skaters and feeling the young skaters’ emotions with them—but they are also appreciative to those who helped them as they reference their fellow staffers and parents. This shows great maturity—a favorable quality in the eyes of an admissions officer.

At the end of the essay, we know a lot about this student and are convinced that they would be a good addition to a college campus!

Prompt #7, Example #4

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

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

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

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

“I wish I had infinite sunsets” – July 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prompt #7, Example #5

“We’re ready for take-off!” 

The tires hit the tarmac and began to accelerate, and I just realized what I had signed up for. For 24 hours straight, I strapped myself into a broken-down SUV whereas others chose the luxury of soaring through the skies for a mere two hours. Especially with my motion sickness and driving anxiety, I would call myself crazy too.

To say I have always remained in my comfort zone is an understatement. Did I always order chicken fingers and fries at a restaurant? Yup! Sounds like me. Did I always create a color-coded itinerary just for a day trip? Guilty as charged. Did I always carry a first-aid kit at all times? Of course! I would make even an ambulance look unprepared. And yet here I was, choosing 1,000 miles of misery from Las Vegas to Seattle despite every bone in my body telling me not to.

The sunlight blinded my eyes and a wave of nausea swept over me. Was it too late to say I forgot my calculator? It was only ten minutes in, and I was certain that the trip was going to be a disaster. I simply hoped that our pre-drive prayer was not stuck in God’s voicemail box. 

All of a sudden, I noticed brightly colored rocks in the distance, ones I had been dying to see for years. Their fluorescence popped amongst the magnificent winding hills as the sunset became romantic in hue. The desert glistened with mirages of deep blue water unlike anything I had ever seen. Nevada was home, but home always seemed to be just desert and casinos. For once, I looked forward to endless desert outside my window rather than a sea of clouds.

I never realized how little I discovered of the world beyond home. For years I complained about how there was nothing to do or discover outside. Not once did I set out to prove myself wrong. Instead, I chose a daily routine of homework at the kitchen table and late-night TV. However, as summer vacation ended, I decided to set my stubbornness aside and finally give this drive back home a chance. Little did I know that it would turn out to be my favorite trip of all time. 

As we drove along, the world chose to prove me wrong when I discovered Heaven on Earth along Shasta Lake. I stood out of the sunroof, surrounded by lush green mountains and fog. I extended my arms out and felt a sense of flight that no plane could ever take me on. As the water vapor kissed my face, I floated into a dreamland I never wanted to leave. I didn’t have to go to great lengths to discover the beauty of the world; it was right in front of me.  From this moment on, comfort and convenience would no longer be my best friends. Rather than only looking for famous travel destinations or following carefully mapped-out routes, I would let curiosity lead the way. 

Since then, my daily life has been anything but routine. I’m proud to boast of my family’s homemade kombucha attempts, of flights purchased and taken in one day, and of a home flooded with knick-knacks from thrifting trips. Every day I set out to try something new, see a different perspective, and go beyond normal. Whether it is by trying a new recipe using taro, making a risky fashion choice with wide-legged pants, or listening to a new music genre in Spanish, I always act with curiosity first.

Over the years, I have devoted my time towards learning Swedish, building computers, and swimming. Although my accent is horrid, some computers almost broke, and even a starfish would outswim me, I continue to enjoy activities I once criticized. For me, there is no enjoyment without some risk. Nobody I know is a kazoo-playing, boogie-board loving, boba connoisseur like me.

This essay is an Overcoming Challenges story that centers around a single anecdote. The structure works nicely as the student describes what they were like before their road trip, what happened on the road trip, and what they were like after. 

The most major improvement that this essay needs is better-communicated authenticity. At the beginning, it feels a bit gimmicky. The student describes their preparedness, particularly the fact that they always carry a first aid kit, and it’s not super believable. Then, when they write “Was it too late to say I forgot my calculator?” it feels like we are in a sitcom and the student is that funny obsessive kid. Sitcom characters don’t feel real and you want to make yourself appear profoundly real.

On a similar note, the narrative arc of this essay isn’t entirely believable. The student describes a large personality and value shift but doesn’t describe any struggles that accompany the shift. A quick shift like that is far from easy. On the other hand, if the immediacy of the shift was easy, they could write about moments after their shift in mindset when they have felt troubled by residual desires to stay in their comfort zone, instead of writing “I always act with curiosity first.”

The greatest strength of this essay is the paragraphs beginning “I never realized how little…” and “As we drove along…” The fixation on comfort seems much more believable when it involves “homework at the kitchen table and late-night TV.” The descriptions of the drive provide beautiful, evocative imagery. And it’s topped off with some nice reflection! Digging into this great portion of the essay would make this an even stronger essay!

Want to see more examples? Check out this post with 16 strong essay examples from top schools , including common supplemental essay questions.

At selective schools, your essays account for around 25% of your admissions decision. That’s more than grades (20%) and test scores (15%), and almost as much as extracurriculars (30%). Why is this? Most students applying to top schools will have stellar academics and extracurriculars. Your essays are your chance to stand out and humanize your application.

That’s why it’s vital that your essays are engaging, and present you as someone who would enrich the campus community.

Before submitting your application, you should have someone else review your essays. It’s even better if that person doesn’t know you personally, as they can best tell whether your personality shines through your essay. 

That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

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

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English that goes straight to the heart

Daily Diary Writing Examples

Writing a daily diary can be a helpful and therapeutic activity for many reasons.

Writing a daily diary improves communication skills, boosts creativity, and helps to create the document in your life.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #1

Monday, January 1st

Dear Diary,

Today was a beautiful day. I had a good night’s sleep and was ready to start the day. I went to work and had a productive morning. I even managed to finish a project I’d been working on for weeks. After work, I ran to clear my head. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect for it. I came home and cooked dinner with my partner. We had a nice conversation over dinner and then spent the evening watching a movie. Overall, it was a pretty relaxing and enjoyable day.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #2

Tuesday, January 2nd

Daily Test - Attempt Now

Today was a hard day. I woke up feeling anxious and stressed about a meeting I had at work. The meeting did not go as I had hoped and I left disappointed. I tried to focus on other things and stay positive, but it was hard. I spent most of the evening starving and eating junk food. Not the best way to deal with my emotions, but it’s something I’m working on. Hope tomorrow will be a better day.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #3

Wednesday, January 3rd

Today was a mix of highs and lows. I had a great time at lunch with my friends, but then I had a disagreement with my boss at work. It was frustrating and made me feel insecure about my job. On the bright side, I was able to fix the problem and we got through it. After work, I met some friends for a yoga class and it was my way to relax and de-stress from earlier. Overall, it was an up-and-down day, but I’m thankful for the good moments and look forward to a fresh start tomorrow.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #4

Thursday, January 4th

Today was a really exciting day! I felt energized and ready to take on the day when I got up. This morning I had a job interview, and it went pretty well. I felt like I connected with the interviewer and I really hope I get the job. After the interview, I went for a walk to clear my head. The weather was perfect for it and it was so nice to just relax and enjoy the scenery. Later, I met some friends at happy hour and had a great time catching up with them. Overall, it was a really good day and I feel optimistic about the future.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #5

Friday, January 5th

Today was a little rough. I had a hard time waking up and going feeling really tired. My mood wasn’t good either and I had a hard time shutting it down. I had a lot of work and didn’t really want to deal with it. I was procrastinating and then feeling overwhelmed with everything I had to do. I finally managed to complete everything, but it was not easy. On the bright side, I have the weekend to look forward to and hope to relax and recharge a bit.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #6

Saturday, January 6th

Today was a really great day. I had a good night’s sleep and was ready to start the day. I spent the morning doing some work and then met some friends for an afternoon trip. The weather was perfect and the trip was a lot of fun. We stopped for lunch at a nice outdoor cafe and had a great time. After the hike, I came home and relaxed on the couch for a restful evening. It was a really beautiful day and I feel grateful for the good moments.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #7

Sunday, January 7th

Today was a bit of a mixed bag. I woke up feeling really rested and had a great start to the day. I spent the morning reading and relaxing, which was nice. However, in the afternoon, I had a bit of a disagreement with my partner and that put a damper on the day. We ended up working through it and it wasn’t a huge deal, but it was still a bit annoying. On the bright side, I spent the evening cooking a nice dinner and watching a movie, which was enjoyable. Overall, it was an up-and-down day, but I’m trying to focus on the positive.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #8

Monday, January 8th

Today was a really hard day. I woke up feeling really depressed and had a hard time getting out of bed. I had a lot of work and felt really overwhelmed by everything. I finished work late and was feeling really stressed. By the time I got home and collapsed on the couch I had no energy to do anything else. I’m hoping tomorrow will be a good day.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #9

Tuesday, January 9th

Today was much better than yesterday. I wake up feeling more rested and ready to tackle the day. I had a productive day at work and even managed to finish a project I was struggling with. After work, I met some friends for a yoga class and it was just what I needed to relax and unwind. We went out for dinner afterwards and had a really nice time. Overall, it was a much better day than yesterday and I feel more positive about things.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #10

Wednesday, January 10th

Today was a really busy day. I woke up in a bit of a hurry and had to get out the door for an early meeting. I had repeated meetings all day and had no chance to catch my breath. I managed to squeeze in a quick lunch with a friend, which was nice. After work, I had plans to meet some other friends but cancelled at the last minute because I was too tired. I came home and crashed on the couch instead. It’s been a long and tiring day, but I’m looking forward to a good night’s sleep.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #11

Thursday, January 11th

Today was a very relaxed day. I felt refreshed and ready to take on the day when I got up. I had a productive day at work and even managed a quick workout at lunch. After work, I met a friend for dinner and had a great time. We went to see a movie afterwards and it was the perfect way to wind down after a busy week. Overall, it was a really enjoyable day and I feel grateful for the good moments.

Daily Diary Writing Examples #12

Friday, January 12th

Today was a bit of a mixed bag. I had a hard time waking up and going feeling really tired. However, I managed to get to work and have a productive day. I even managed to finish a project I was struggling with. On the negative side, I had a bit of a disagreement with a friend the other day and it left me a little disappointed. However, I’m trying to focus on the positive and look forward to a relaxing weekend.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Books — The Diary of Anne Frank

Essays on The Diary of Anne Frank

Prompt examples for "the diary of anne frank" essays, anne frank's diary as a literary work.

Examine Anne Frank's diary as a literary work. Analyze its writing style, structure, and narrative voice. Discuss how Anne's writing reflects her experiences, emotions, and growth during her time in hiding.

The Impact of the Holocaust on Anne's Life

Discuss how the Holocaust profoundly affected Anne Frank's life and her perspective. Analyze how her diary reflects the fear, hope, and resilience of Jewish people living in hiding during World War II.

Anne's Personal Growth and Coming of Age

Explore Anne Frank's personal growth and coming of age throughout the diary. Discuss the challenges she faced in confinement and how these experiences shaped her as a person. Analyze the lessons she learned and the wisdom she gained.

The Significance of Anne's Relationship with Others

Examine Anne's relationships with the other inhabitants of the hiding place, including her family and the van Daans. Analyze how these relationships evolved over time and how they contributed to Anne's emotional well-being.

The Universal Themes in Anne's Diary

Discuss the universal themes addressed in Anne Frank's diary, such as the importance of hope, the resilience of the human spirit, and the consequences of discrimination. Analyze how these themes continue to resonate with readers today.

The Diary's Impact on Holocaust Education

Examine the diary's role in Holocaust education and remembrance. Discuss how Anne's story has influenced awareness of the Holocaust and the importance of preserving history. Analyze the diary's enduring legacy.

Hook Examples for "The Diary of Anne Frank" Essays

"a voice amidst darkness" hook.

"Anne Frank's diary is a poignant testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable adversity. Journey into Anne's world and explore her enduring legacy."

"The Power of Words" Hook

"Anne Frank's diary was more than a journal; it was a lifeline, a confidant, and an act of defiance against oppression. Delve into the power of Anne's words and their impact on the world."

"The Unseen Heroine" Hook

"Anne Frank's story is one of courage, hope, and the indomitable strength of youth. Uncover the untold stories of individuals who risked their lives to protect Anne and her family during the Holocaust."

"Resonating Themes: Prejudice and Perseverance" Hook

"Anne's diary continues to resonate because of its exploration of universal themes. Analyze the themes of prejudice, isolation, and resilience within 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and their relevance today."

"From Diary to Stage and Screen" Hook

"Anne's diary has been adapted into various forms of media, from stage plays to films. Explore the impact of these adaptations and how they've kept Anne's story alive for new generations."

"The Anne Frank House: A Place of Remembrance" Hook

"The Anne Frank House in Amsterdam stands as a solemn memorial to Anne and her family. Discover the history of this iconic museum and its role in preserving Anne's legacy."

"Teaching Tolerance through Anne's Story" Hook

"Anne's diary is a vital educational tool for teaching tolerance and human rights. Explore how educators use Anne's story to foster understanding, empathy, and a commitment to social justice."

Anne Frank: Reflecting Historical Events in "The Diary of Anne Frank"

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The Constant Feeling of Fear in The Diary of Anne Frank

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Growing Up in a Wartime Environment: The Diary of Anne Frank, Night, and Farewell

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The Diary of Anne Frank and Its Influence on The World

A review of the performance of the diary of anne frank, review of the anne frank’s diary, the story of the anne frank family, how diaries have influenced the way we view the holocaust today, anti-semitism in the novel and movie of anne frank: the diary of a young girl, anne frank: the core of peace and optimism despite extremely difficult and dark situation, anne frank's diary: difficult fate of the 13th girl, legacy of anne frank: courage, optimism, persistence, main themes of the diary of a young girl by anne frank, the holocaust: facts and statements, testimonies, evidence, time of savagery: churchill's speech, diary of anne frank and history of shmuel and bruno, diary of anne frank: book review.

June 25, 1947, Anne Frank

Autobiography

World War II, Nazi Occupation: of the Netherlands

In her final entry, Frank wrote of how others perceive her, describing herself as “a bundle of contradictions.” She wrote: “As I've told you many times, I'm split in two. One side contains my exuberant cheerfulness, my flippancy, my joy in life and, above all, my ability to appreciate the lighter side of things.

1. Gilman, S. L. (1988). The Dead Child Speaks: Reading" The Diary of Anne Frank". Studies in American Jewish Literature (1981-), 7(1), 9-25. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/41205671) 2. Busby, G., & Devereux, H. (2015). Dark tourism in context: The diary of Anne Frank. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274890410_Busby_G_Devereux_H_2015_Dark_tourism_in_context_The_Diary_of_Anne_Frank_European_Journal_of_Tourism_Hospitality_and_Recreation_6_1_27-38  European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 6(1), 27-38. 3. Dalsimer, K. (1982). Female adolescent development: A study of The Diary of Anne Frank. The psychoanalytic study of the child, 37(1), 487-522. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00797308.1982.11823377?journalCode=upsc20) 4. Waaldijk, B. (1993, July). Reading Anne Frank as a woman. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0277539593900222 In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 327-335). Pergamon. 5. Doneson, J. E. (1987). The American history of Anne Frank's diary. Holocaust and Genocide Studies, 2(1), 149-160. (https://academic.oup.com/hgs/article-abstract/2/1/149/759903) 6. Haviland, J. M., & Kramer, D. A. (1991). Affect-cognition relationships in adolescent diaries: The case of Anne Frank. Human Development, 34(3), 143-159. (https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/277044) 7. Caplan, N. A. (2004). Revisiting the Diary: Rereading Anne Frank's Rewriting. The Lion and the Unicorn, 28(1), 77-95. (https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/51357/summary) 8. Scarlett, G. (1971). Adolescent thinking and the diary of Anne Frank. Psychoanalytic review, 58(2), 265. (https://www.proquest.com/docview/1310158953?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true)

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Home / Essay Samples / Life / About Myself / Dear Diary – Examples of Personal Writing

Dear Diary - Examples of Personal Writing

• Category: Life , Sociology
• Topic: About Myself , Life Changing Experience , Personal Life

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