significant life events essay

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, how should i describe a life event in my essay that prepared me for college.

So I'm drafting my college essay and I've got this life event that really impacted me and I think it shows I'm ready for college. But how do I describe it in a way that's compelling and not just telling a story? Any advice from those who tackled something similar?

When you're describing a life event in your college essay, it's important to focus on reflection, rather than merely recounting the event. Think about how this experience has shaped your perspective, influenced your goals, or contributed to your character development.

Start by setting the scene to engage the reader, then swiftly move to express how this event was pivotal in your personal growth. Show rather than tell; for example, if you're writing about how you overcame a challenge, detail the steps you took and the resourcefulness or resilience you displayed with active descriptions and action rather than a passive explanation. You want to make it clear why this event makes you a strong candidate for college by connecting it to attributes like determination, leadership, or a passion for learning. Remember to close your essay by looking forward; explain how the event has prepared you for the challenges of college and beyond, and how it will inform your contributions to the college community.

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

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

• Analysis of Family and Person Life Cycle Words: 1574
• Stressful Events’ Impact on People’s Lives Words: 1388
• Major Life Events: Starting College Words: 861
• How Italian Culture Influenced Life: Personal Experience Words: 812
• Meaningfulness and Meaningless of Life Words: 921
• Family Life and Structure in the UK Words: 1790
• Support in Significant Life Event Words: 2798
• The “Value Life as It Is” Manifesto Words: 926
• The Need for Personal Life Philosophy Words: 909
• From U.S. to Africa: Personal Experience. Words: 643
• Family of Six Life Crisis Case Study Words: 1196
• Marriage in Family Life and Government Policies Words: 1159
• Importance of Work-Life Balance Words: 1380
• Life Before the Internet Versus After the Internet Words: 659

Life Changing Events: Personal Experience

If you are about to write a short narrative essay about something that changed your life forever, you’ve come to the right place! Check out our “childhood experience that changed my life” essay sample to get some ideas and inspiration for your paper.

Life Changing Event: Essay Introduction

Life changing experience: essay main body, life changing event: essay conclusion.

In life, certain experiences present challenges that change the way people relate to themselves and their families. Certain life events mark life-changing moments that alter lives either positively or negatively. It matters how people handle their relationships at such critical moments. 

Relationships, especially with family members, are the most important aspects of handling change. I have experienced life-changing events that turned me into a better person.

One such event occurred in my childhood, while the other occurred in adolescence. In both cases, my family was there to support and help me go through the tough times. Looking back at the influence of these events, I am always glad that my family was with me in overcoming the challenges. I am a better person because my family stood beside me and gave me strength and support in moments of weakness and helplessness.

The first event that had a remarkable impact on my life was the loss of a dear friend. This event changed my world and made me a better person. It taught me how to appreciate friends, family, and relationships. In childhood, I had a cousin who was my best friend.

Our friendship was so deep that we usually spent holidays and weekends visiting each other’s families. To my family, she was like one of the members. I was like one of her family members, too. We used to spend a lot of time together, playing, studying, traveling, and doing many other fun activities.

One day, while returning home from school, she got knocked down by a motorcyclist speeding off, trying to escape from a police officer. She was hit from behind and knocked her head on a large stone on the side of the road upon landing on the ground. When I received the news of the accident, I was devastated.

The morning after the accident, I visited her in the hospital and received the sad news that she was in a coma after suffering severe brain damage. I lost my appetite, could not sleep for weeks, and spent several nights crying and wishing she would be fine. She was in the hospital for six months. During that period, I became stressed and lost weight.

I missed school for many days, thus affecting my academics. Even though my family was also affected, the effect was greater on me because of our long-time friendship. Every day I woke up expecting to hear good news from my parents of her miraculous recovery, but that did not happen. As I became more depressed, I started to avoid social gatherings and experienced difficulty sleeping.

One morning, just after breakfast, we received news that she had passed away. At that moment, a hot flush of blood flowed into my head, and I fainted. The long period of endless waiting had come to an end. That morning was one of the lowest moments. I was rushed to the hospital, and the doctors said I had collapsed due to sudden shock. The grieving period was excruciating.

However, my family stood by me and offered consolation. My family members provided emotional and physical support and helped me overcome the incident. The event had severe emotional effects. My mum spent most of her time comforting me. I could cope with the situation because my family understood what I was going through, were patient, listened to me, and offered psychological help.

My parents were not angry at me for missing school. They allowed me to stay home until I was ready to go back. It took four months of grieving to get over the death of my cousin and best friend. This incident changed my life and brought me closer to my family. I now appreciate relationships and more. As a result, I am more loving, caring, compassionate, and appreciative of the people in my life.

The other defining moment that changed me involved a disagreement with my parents regarding joining high school. When the time came for me to enter high school, I was not prepared and wanted to stay home for a year before joining. My parents were concerned that I would lose a year of schooling since, at my age, I was not ready for a job. They feared I would have nothing to do for an entire year.

The reasons for delaying my entry to high school were fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. I was not ready to enter a stage of life where I was expected to be responsible for my life and actions. I refused to talk to my parents and other family members because I felt that they were imposing their principles on me. The truth is that I was afraid to enter a phase that would require me to be responsible for my decisions and actions.

I avoided my parents and always ensured they never got a chance to question me. My decision changed when my dad confronted me. Our discussion focused on the reasons that were informing my decision. At first, I was unwilling to tell my dad the truth, but as the debate progressed, I had no choice but to open up to him. I was afraid that he would be disappointed with me.

However, he assured me that it was normal to experience fear and anxiety, especially when making a life-changing decision. He narrated a story about how he had reacted the same way when his dad asked him to move out of their family house to find a place to live after joining college. Throughout the entire experience, my family was very understanding.

They helped me to overcome the fear and anxiety of embracing responsibilities. That incident changed my life, attitudes, and perspectives regarding life. My family has always supported me during tough times. That incident improved my relationship with my family and introduced me to adulthood. Whenever I face a challenge, I discuss it openly with my family because of the awareness that they are always ready and willing to listen and offer assistance. 

My elder brother introduced me to high school life and offered numerous tips on adjusting to the new environment. My family is my greatest source of joy and happiness. This incident taught me responsibility, trust, humility, and the importance of family. The aforementioned events changed my life tremendously because they played a crucial role in molding me into a responsible, caring, and compassionate person.

Cite this paper

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2020, January 8). Life Changing Events: Personal Experience. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/

"Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." StudyCorgi , 8 Jan. 2020, studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

StudyCorgi . (2020) 'Life Changing Events: Personal Experience'. 8 January.

1. StudyCorgi . "Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." January 8, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." January 8, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

StudyCorgi . 2020. "Life Changing Events: Personal Experience." January 8, 2020. https://studycorgi.com/life-changing-events-personal-experience/.

This paper, “Life Changing Events: Personal Experience”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: November 8, 2023 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Consequences of the accident.

A mother’s love has been proven throughout history and has been immortalized by sayings like “Nothing beats a mother’s love” and “No matter what a child does, a mother will always be a mother.” My mother is the epitome of these sayings and as I live and breathe, I will continue to attest to this. You see, I have not only felt my mother’s love but also seen it in action. I can remember everything that happened just this past June — June 18, 2003, to be exact, as if everything only happened a few hours ago.

That year, I was a carefree 11-year-old who had all the time in the world to enjoy the life ahead of me. Little did I know that everything in my life would change that night. The night that my 15-year-old brother was killed by a drowsy school bus driver as he stood outside my parent’s outdoor equipment business. That night, I came home from school to receive the bad news. News that changed my life literally from that very morning.

I had 15 special years with my brother and being in the 5th grade, he was my role model in everything that I did. He was my protector and guardian angel who was always there when I needed him. But now, I am 17 and 2 years older than him. I often find myself wondering as to how my night has turned out and what our relationship might be like at this point in our lives. Would we still be best friends and have each other’s backs? 6 years later my family and I have changed a lot and are still on the road towards a long and lonely grieving process.

We were devastated by the accident. Our sense of security was crushed and we could barely function as individuals and as a family for the next couple of years after the accident. We each dealt with death in different ways. My father had to go back to work 2 weeks after my brother’s untimely demise. He had to go back to the place where my brother died to pay the bills. While my mother threw herself into investigative work trying to figure out how a drowsy bus driver from our school would have been allowing to drive a bus in his condition. She needed to understand why and how the accident happened to have some sort of closure. She refused to let my brother’s death be in vain. Something good had to come out of it and that she would make sure of that.

Everybody tried to dissuade my mother from finding out the truth. Everyone but me. You see, I know my mother, I knew she would not stop until she got some answers. Her investigation was not for naught. It may have taken her 4 years but, she discovered that the driver suffered from sleep apnea and would often sleep in the bus garage, was taking 5 different medications, had uncontrolled diabetes, and most importantly, was not certified to drive a bus due to his existing physical conditions.

Armed with this knowledge, she ran for the school board and won. Under her guidance, she revamped the entire transportation of our school district and started a chapter of the non – profit organization Victims of Irresponsible Drowsy Drivers (VOIDD). She has traveled extensively throughout New York to educate the public about the dangers of drowsy driving and what countermeasures can be implemented. Watching my mother’s determination and strength that pulled her through the most devastating experience of our lives was an experience for me. Although she had taught me never to give up on my passions and beliefs, I only took it to heart when I saw her practice what she preached.

My family crisis taught me how to be selfless and be there for others who need help and support. through my mother’s actions, I have learned that she will always be my mother no matter what mistakes I make and what changes happen in the family. She will forever be, the strongest lady I know.

I have come to learn that lives can change at the drop of a hat. Life has no guarantees and needs to be flexible. I learned how to accept things that I could not change, no matter how hard and painful it might be because of my brother’s death. His death taught me how to live and my family was eventually reborn after all the events that took place. We learned to laugh and be a family again even without my brother’s presence.

All my experiences in life have changed me as a person. I may only be in high school but I have been a long-term member of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and a soccer player for 12 years. I also take part in 4-H Community Service projects in honor of my brother’s memory and to show my mother that I too can be as strong as she is and that I respect everything she has accomplished in life with or without the support of her friends and family.

• My Greatest Passion and How It Has Contributed to My Personal Growth
• The Character Who Influenced Me: Abraham Lincoln
• The "Harry Potter" Novels by Joanne Rowling
• Greek Philosopher Socrates
• Jesus and Paul’s Teachings Analysis
• Travel: Personal Experience
• Madison Square Gardens: Personal Experience
• Life and Its Experiences. Personal Perception.
• Knowledge Through the Pain of Trial-and-Error
• Describing a Person Who Influenced You: Personal Experience.
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, September 29). An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life. https://ivypanda.com/essays/an-event-that-had-a-significant-influence-on-my-life/

"An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life." IvyPanda , 29 Sept. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/an-event-that-had-a-significant-influence-on-my-life/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life'. 29 September.

IvyPanda . 2021. "An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life." September 29, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/an-event-that-had-a-significant-influence-on-my-life/.

1. IvyPanda . "An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life." September 29, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/an-event-that-had-a-significant-influence-on-my-life/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "An Event That Had a Significant Influence on My Life." September 29, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/an-event-that-had-a-significant-influence-on-my-life/.

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Life Personal Experience

The Importance Of Significant Life Events In Our Life

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

• Cohabitation
• Family Planning
• Relationship

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

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

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Sample Essays: Significant Experience

Please select from the following sample application essays:

Essay 1: Princeton | Essay 2: Harvard | Essay 3: Princeton | Essay 4: Brown

Note: The following essays were not edited by EssayEdge Editors. They appear as they were initially reviewed by admissions officers.

Sample Essay 1

Princeton, Athlete (Football)

I have learned a great many things from participating in varsity football. It has changed my entire outlook on and attitude toward life. Before my freshman year at [high-school], I was shy, had low self-esteem and turned away from seemingly impossible challenges. Football has altered all of these qualities. On the first day of freshman practice, the team warmed up with a game of touch football. The players were split up and the game began. However, during the game, I noticed that I didn't run as hard as I could, nor did I try to evade my defender and get open. The fact of the matter is that I really did not want to be thrown the ball. I didn't want to be the one at fault if I dropped the ball and the play didn't succeed. I did not want the responsibility of helping the team because I was too afraid of making a mistake. That aspect of my character led the first years of my high school life. I refrained from asking questions in class, afraid they might be considered too stupid or dumb by my classmates. All the while, I went to practice and everyday, I went home physically and mentally exhausted.

Yet my apprehension prevailed as I continued to fear getting put in the game in case another player was injured. I was still afraid of making mistakes and getting blamed by screaming coaches and angry teammates. Sometimes these fears came true. During my sophomore season, my position at backup guard led me to play in the varsity games on many occasions. On such occasions, I often made mistakes. Most of the time the mistakes were not significant; they rarely changed the outcome of a play. Yet I received a thorough verbal lashing at practice for the mistakes I had made. These occurrences only compounded my fears of playing. However, I did not always make mistakes. Sometimes I made great plays, for which I was congratulated. Now, as I dawn on my senior year of football and am faced with two starting positions, I feel like a changed person.

Over the years, playing football has taught me what it takes to succeed. From months of tough practices, I have gained a hard work ethic. From my coaches and fellow teammates, I have learned to work well with others in a group, as it is necessary to cooperate with teammates on the playing field. But most important, I have also gained self-confidence. If I fail, it doesn't matter if they mock or ridicule me; I'll just try again and do it better. I realize that it is necessary to risk failure in order to gain success. The coaches have always said before games that nothing is impossible; I know that now. Now, I welcome the challenge. Whether I succeed or fail is irrelevant; it is only important that I have tried and tested myself.

The topic of this essay is how the applicant has matured and changed since his freshman year. He focuses on football. One of the strengths of this essay is that it is well organized. The applicant clearly put time into the structure and planning of this essay. He uses the platform of football to discuss and demonstrate his personal growth and development through the high school years. What he could have done better was spend more time describing himself after he made improvements. As it is, he only tells us about his newfound confidence and drive. This essay would have been stronger had he actually shown us, perhaps by including a story or describing an event where his confidence made a difference.

Back to top.

Sample Essay 2

Harvard, International experience: Living in Switzerland

"Je deteste des Americains," said the old Swiss woman sitting across from me. Her face contorted into a grimace of disgust as she and her friend continued to complain that Americans had no culture, that they never learned another language, and that their inferior customs were spreading throughout Europe like an infectious disease. Each hair on the back of my neck sprang to attention, as I strained to hear the women's inflammatory remarks. I gripped my bag of McDonald's harder with each insulting phrase.

I had been living in Geneva, Switzerland for four years, during which time I had attended an international school consisting of over 96 different nationalities. I had already become fluent in French and had become accustomed to the new culture in which I was living--a culture which I had believed to be rich in tolerance and acceptance. Naturally, the women's remarks hurt. Was I really an "ugly American?" Did I have no appreciation of anything other than McDonald's or Coca-Cola? Had I not been touched by the new world I had been exposed to? Without question, my four years in Switzerland changed my life in countless ways. From the minute I stepped off the plane at Cointrin Airport, the vastly different sights along the clean street, the ubiquitous smells of rich delicious French cuisine, and my feelings of excitement about my new surroundings told me that I definitely was "not in Kansas anymore." My school helped greatly in modifying my attitudes, as for the first time I was with peers from countries which I had only read about. Although it was sometimes difficult trying to find links between my self and my Saudi Arabian, Hungarian, French, Nigerian, or Chilean friends, I soon came to enjoy my new stir fry environment. By the time I left, I was wondering how I ever could survive the boredom of attending a homogeneous institution. This is not to say that, prior to this, I had been closed up in a bland box of a world. I had traveled to India, my father's home, and England, my mother's home, annually: a practice my family and I continue to this day. I had been brought up without specific religious beliefs, but an awareness of my parents' spiritual backgrounds of Judaism and Hinduism. Thus my exposure to these various different nationalities in Switzerland built on my found-ations of cultural awareness, rather than laying the cornerstone for it.

My understanding of my new environment was aided tremendously by my ability to speak French, and was subsequently one of the best gifts I brought back from my four year stay in Switzerland. An entire year of school lessons could not have taught me as much of the language as I learned form speaking with my Swiss friends, shopping in the local stores, or apologizing to my neighbors for hitting my ball into their yard. My proficiency in French earned me a regular spot on a nationally broadcast Swiss radio program, in which a Russian child and I discussed tensions between major world powers. This was a rare opportunity, as, although Stephen and I were peers, the fact that Russian children attended the Soviet Embassy school meant that we were not classmates. Though, even if we had been allowed to speak casually before, I am not certain that our conversation would have reached the depth of discussion we achieved on the show.

America will never again seem the same to me. Geneva gave me enough distance to look at my country through objective eyes. Traveling throughout Europe was like a trip with Gulliver: it gave me the ability to look inside myself and discern my country's faults as well as its numerous strengths. Like the Swiss women's remarks, it hurt me to find that the United States is not the only country in the world with a rich and stimulating environment. With my new perspective, I saw that America was not what it had been. Then I thought for a moment and realized that America had not changed, but I had.

One officer called this, "A good example of a foreign culture essay that works." The only negative comments about this essay came from one officer who found the conclusion to be a bit weak. "I would like to see her elaborate a little more in the last paragraph. This is because in most of her classes, she will be required to support any opinions." Another agreed that she could have kept her final points more personal and specific.

The writing is excellent.

The vocabulary is sophisticated without seeming labored. I do not suspect that the author had a thesaurus at hand! This tells me that she/he would certainly be successful academically, at least in the courses that require strong communication and analytical abilities.

This essay is very well written. The writer demonstrates a refreshing maturity that seems to come from his/her abroad experience. The essay demonstrates a transformation of the student from just an American in a foreign land to someone who embraces the international experience and grew with it.

What I like about this essay is that it shows that the traditional categories of "extracurricular activities" need not be the only way to demonstrate that one has something of interest to bring to the college experience. I think this writer would be a fascinating person to get to know, because she would be able to contribute a fresh perspective to conversations about many of the important ideas that we wrestle with in college. She might well be someone who would be especially adept at bringing together diverse members of the student body because she would not feel intimidated by differences, but would, instead, seek them out and value them highly.

Sample Essay 3

Princeton, Childhood experience: A fishing trip

Reluctantly smearing sunblock over every exposed inch of my fifty-three pound body, I prepared mentally for the arduous task that lay ahead of me. After several miserable fishing ventures which had left my skin red and my hook bare, I felt certain that, at last, my day had arrived. I stood ready to clear the first hurdle of manhood, triumph over fish. At the age of seven, I was confident that my rugged, strapping body could conquer any obstacle. Pity the fish that would become the woeful object of the first demonstration of my male prowess.

Engaging me deeply was my naive eagerness to traverse the chasm dividing boy from man. In fact, so completely absorbed was I in my thoughts that the lengthy journey to our favorite fishing spot seemed fleeting. The sudden break in the droning of the engine snapped me to reality. Abruptly jarred back into the world, I fumbled for my fishing pole. Dangling the humble rods end over the edge of the boat, I released the bail on the reel and plunked the cheap plastic lure into the water. Once I had let out enough line and set the rod in a holder, I sat back to wait for an attack on the lure. The low hum of the motor at trolling speed only added to my anxiety, like the instrumental accompaniment to a horror film. And then it hit. A sharp tug on the line pulled me to my feet faster than an electric shock. I bounded to the pole, and when I reached it, I yanked it out of the holder with all of my might. My nervous energy was so potent that when I tugged on the rod, I nearly plunged headlong over the side of the boat and into the fishs domain. Although adrenaline streamed through my veins, after five minutes both my unvanquishable strength and my superhuman will were waning steadily. Just when I was fully prepared to surrender to the fish and, with that gesture, succumb to a life of discontentment, pain, and sorrow, the fish performed a miraculous feat. Shocked and instantly revived, I watched as the mahi-mahi leapt from the oceans surface. The mahi-mahis skin gleamed with radiant hues of blue, green, and yellow in a breathtaking spray of surf. Brilliant sunlight beamed upon the spectacle, giving life to a scene which exploded into a furious spectrum of color. The exotic fish tumbled majestically back to the sea amidst a blast of foam. With this incredible display, the fish was transformed from a pitiful victim to a brilliant specimen of life. I cared no longer for any transcendent ritual I must perform, but rather, I longed only for the possession of such a proud creature. I hungered to touch such a wonder and share the fantastic bond that a hunter must feel for his kill. I needed to have that fish at any cost.

The fight lasted for only ten minutes; nevertheless, it was a ten minutes which I will never forget. When my fish neared the boat, I felt more energized than I had when the fish first struck. At my fathers command, I netted the fish and hauled it into the bottom of the boat. I was nearly bursting with exhilaration. Released from the net, the fish dropped to the bottom of the boat with a hollow thud, and my jaw dropped with it. I stared in complete horror at the violently thrashing fish which was now at my feet. Within minutes, all of the fishs vibrance, color and life had vanished. Instead, came blood. Lots of blood. It sprayed from its mouth. It sprayed from its gills. Shortly, the boat was coated with the red life blood of the mahi-mahi. It now lay twitching helplessly while it gasped and choked for oxygen in the dry air. I felt sickened, disgusted, and utterly lost in heart-wrenching pity. As I watched the color drain from the fish, leaving it a morbid pale-yellow, I realized that I was responsible for the transformation of a creature of brilliance and life into a pitiful, dying beast.

Despite my brothers cheers and praises, I rode back to shore in bitter silence. I could not help thinking about the vast difference between the magnificent creature which I saw jump in the sea and the pathetic beast which I saw gasping for life in the bloody pit of the boat. What struck me most forcefully on that day, though, was the realization that I was no mere bystander to this desecration. I was the sole cause. Had I not dropped the hook into the water, the fish undoubtedly would still be alive. I, alone, had killed this fish.

In retrospect, I am relieved that I reacted in such a way to my passage from boyhood to manhood. Although my views about many things, hunting and fishing included, have changed considerably since that day, I still retain a powerful conscience which actively molds my personality. One cannot dispute the frightening potential of the human race to induce the permanent extinction of every life form on the planet. As the ability to change the world on a global scale is arguably limited to one breed of life, so, too, is the force which impedes instinctual and conscious action, the human conscience. My own sense of strong moral principle reaches far beyond simply averting Armageddon, however. I often find myself unable to disregard this force of moral and social responsibility in whatever I do. Part of my keen social conscience is demonstrated in the effort I have made to be a positive intellectual leader among my classmates and in the community. Realizing how lucky I am to have been born with a high aptitude for learning, I feel sorry that others who also work very hard cannot achieve like I have nor be rewarded with success as I have been. In a leadership role, I hope to constructively guide my peers to find their own success and see the fruition of their own goals. By serving as class president for three consecutive years, as founder, member, and chairman of the peer counseling society, and as a peer tutor, I have enabled others to reach their goals, while finding personal gratification at the same time. I am fortunate in that I have been given the opportunity to optimize the usefulness of my personal virtues in helping others; I can only hope to continue heeding my conscience in work as a research chemist, or whatever I may do in the future. It is my right and my obligation, for I firmly maintain that the charge of a humanitarian conscience is one which each person must eternally bear for the good of humankind and all the world.

"A good example of how a talented writer can make a standard topic appealing" was the general consensus. One officer did think, though, that the writer got "overzealous" with his language and could have avoided some of the more corpulent sentences like, "Engaging me deeply was my naive eagerness to traverse the chasm dividing boy from man," by writing with a simpler, more natural voice.

I really enjoyed this essay. It starts with a wonderful, humorous touch, but describes vividly and movingly the young boy's first experience with death and with personal responsibility.

In reading this essay, I get a strong impression of the kind of person this young man must be, someone full of good humor, but great sensitivity as well. His easy way with the language convinces me that he would be an excellent student, and a welcome addition to the class.

This was a nicely written piece. This student took time to think about this experience and was able to articulate his memories of his fishing adventure rather well. This could have been another bland essay but the writer took you on the adventure with him, from boyhood to manhood.

I like the way he took his fishing adventure and transitioned to his life today and how and what he learned from it.

What I liked most about the essay was that the writer told of an experience in his childhood and was able to take that experience and make the connection to his life and goals of today.

Sample Essay 4

Brown, Achievement: Martial arts competition

A faint twinge of excitement floated through my body that night. A hint of anticipation of the coming day could not be suppressed; yet to be overcome with anxiety would not do at all. I arduously forced those pernicious thoughts from seeping in and overcoming my body and mind. I still wonder that I slept at all that night. But I did. I slept soundly and comfortably as those nervous deliberations crept into my defenseless, unsuspecting mind, pilfering my calm composure. When I awoke refreshed, I found my mind swarming with jumbled exhilaration. The adrenaline was flowing already.

After a quick breakfast, I pulled some of my gear together and headed out. The car ride of two hours seemed only a few moments as I struggled to reinstate order in my chaotic consciousness and focus my mind on the day before me. My thoughts drifted to the indistinct shadows of my memory.

My opponent's name was John Doe. There were other competitors at the tournament, but they had never posed any threat to my title. For as long as I had competed in this tournament, I had easily taken the black belt championship in my division. John, however, was the most phenomenal martial artist I had ever had the honor of witnessing at my young age of thirteen. And he was in my division. Although he was the same rank, age, size, and weight as I, he surpassed me in almost every aspect of our training. His feet were lightning, and his hands were virtually invisible in their agile swiftness. He wielded the power of a bear while appearing no larger than I. His form and techniques were executed with near perfection. Although I had never defeated his flawlessness before, victory did not seem unattainable. For even though he was extraordinary, he was not much more talented than I. I am not saying that he was not skilled or even that he was not more skilled than I, for he most certainly was, but just not much more than I. I still had one hope, however little, of vanquishing this incredible adversary, for John had one weakness: he was lazy. He didn't enjoy practicing long hours or working hard. He didn't have to. Nevertheless, I had found my passage to triumph.

My mind raced even farther back to all my other failures. I must admit that my record was not very impressive. Never before had I completed anything. I played soccer. I quit. I was a Cub Scout. I quit. I played trumpet. I quit. Karate was all I had left. The championship meant so much because I had never persevered with anything else. In the last months, I had trained with unearthly stamina and determination. I had focused all my energies into practicing for this sole aspiration. Every day of the week I trained. Every evening, I could be found kicking, blocking, and punching at an imaginary opponent in my room. Hours of constant drilling had improved my techniques and speed. All my techniques were ingrained to the point where they were instinctive. Days and weeks passed too swiftly. . . .

I was abruptly jolted back into the present. The car was pulling into the parking lot. The tournament had too quickly arrived, and I still did not feel prepared for the trial which I was to confront. I stepped out of the car into the bright morning sun, and with my equipment bag in hand, walked into the towering building.

The day was a blur. After warming up and stretching, I sat down on the cold wooden floor, closed my eyes, and focused. I cleared my mind of every thought, every worry, and every insecurity. When I opened my eyes, every sense and nerve had become sharp and attentive, every motion finely tuned and deliberate. The preliminary rounds were quiet and painless, and the championship fight was suddenly before me. I could see that John looked as calm and as confident as ever. Adrenaline raced through my body as I stepped into the ring. We bowed to each other and to the instructor, and the match began.

I apologize, but I do not recall most of the fight. I do faintly remember that when time ran out the score was tied, and we were forced to go into Sudden Death: whoever scored the next point would win. That, however, I do recall. I was tired. The grueling two points that I had won already had not been enough. I needed one more before I could taste triumph. I was determined to win, though I had little energy remaining. John appeared unfazed, but I couldn't allow him to discourage me. I focused my entire being, my entire consciousness, on overcoming this invincible nemesis. I charged. All my strenuous training, every molecule in my body, every last drop of desire was directed, concentrated on that single purpose as I exploded through his defenses and drove a solitary fist to its mark. I was not aware that I would never fight John again, but I would not have cared. Never before had I held this prize in my hands, but through pure, salty sweat and vicious determination, the achievement that I had desired so dearly and which meant so much to me was mine at last. This was the first time that I had ever really made a notable accomplishment in anything. This one experience, this one instant, changed me forever. That day I found self-confidence and discovered that perseverance yields its own sweet fruit. That day a sense of invincibility permeated the air. Mountains were nothing. The sun wasn't so bright and brilliant anymore. For a moment, I was the best.

The admissions officers admired this essay for its passion and sincerity. In fact, most of the noted drawbacks were based on the writer being too passionate. "Kind of a tempest in a teapot, don't you think?" wrote one. Other suggestions for improvement were "purely editorial" such as the overuse of adjectives and adverbs, using a passive voice, and making contradictory statements. "For example, he says, 'I slept soundly and comfortably as those nervous deliberations crept into my defenseless, unsuspecting mind, pilfering my calm composure.' How could he sleep soundly and comfortably if the nervous deliberations were pilfering his calm composure? There are a few other examples like that that I won't go into here. I would just suggest that the author look carefully to be sure his ideas stay consistent and support one another."

What I like about this essay from the point of view of an admission officer is that I am convinced that the change in attitude described by the author is real. I do believe that he will carry with him forever the hard-won knowledge that he can attain his goals, that perseverance and hard work will eventually allow him to succeed in any endeavor. This is an important quality to bring to the college experience. Especially when considering applications to prestigious institutions, the admission committee will want to feel sure that the applicants understand the need for hard work and perseverance. Many times the strongest-looking applicants are students for whom academic success has come so easily that the challenges of college come as a shock. I always like hearing stories like this, of students who know what it means to struggle and finally succeed

Return to: Lesson One: College Essay Questions

Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Life Experiences — Life Changing Experience

Essays About Life Changing Experience

What makes a good life changing experience essay topic.

• Significance: Select a topic that holds personal significance to you. The more you connect with the topic, the more authentic and engaging your essay will be.
• Impact: Choose an experience that had a significant impact on your life. This could be a moment that completely changed your perspective or led you to make important decisions.
• Uniqueness: Avoid common or cliché topics. Instead, opt for something unique and unexpected that will capture the attention of your readers.
• Emotional connection: Select a topic that evokes strong emotions. Whether it's joy, sadness, or triumph, an emotionally charged topic will resonate with your audience.
• Growth and reflection: Focus on experiences that have taught you valuable lessons or prompted personal growth. This will allow you to explore your journey of self-discovery in your essay.
• Relevance: Choose a topic that is relevant to your intended audience. Consider what aspects of your experience will resonate with them and make your essay relatable.

Best life changing experience essay topics

• The moment I discovered my passion for [insert hobby or interest].
• Escaping the grips of fear: How I conquered my biggest phobia.
• A chance encounter that changed the course of my life.
• The transformative power of traveling solo.
• Overcoming adversity: How I triumphed over a major life setback.
• The day I realized the importance of self-love and acceptance.
• Unveiling my hidden talent: Discovering my artistic side.
• The unexpected friendship that taught me the true meaning of loyalty.
• From failure to success: How I turned my biggest mistake into an opportunity.
• The life-altering impact of volunteering in a third-world country.
• Embracing vulnerability: How sharing my story empowered me.
• The transformative power of forgiveness: Healing old wounds.
• Breaking free from societal expectations: Embracing my true identity.
• The day I let go of toxic relationships and embraced self-care.
• From scarcity to abundance: Overcoming financial struggles.
• The power of mentorship: How a guiding figure changed my life.
• A life-changing decision: Choosing passion over stability.
• The moment I discovered my purpose in life.
• The unexpected life lessons learned from a pet.
• Embracing my roots: Reconnecting with my cultural heritage.

Best life changing experience essay questions

• How did this experience shape your perspective on life?
• What were the major challenges you faced during this transformative journey?
• In what ways did this experience inspire personal growth and self-discovery?
• How did this life-changing event impact your relationships with others?
• What lessons did you learn from this experience that you will carry with you forever?
• How did this event challenge your beliefs or values, and what did you learn from that?
• What steps did you take to overcome obstacles and achieve personal transformation?
• Describe the emotions you felt throughout this life-changing experience and how they evolved over time.
• How did this experience alter your goals and aspirations for the future?
• Reflecting on this transformative journey, what advice would you give to others facing similar circumstances?

Life changing experience essay prompts

• Imagine you wake up tomorrow with the ability to speak a new language fluently. How would this newfound skill change your life and impact your interactions with others?
• Write about a time when you had to step out of your comfort zone and face a fear head-on. How did this experience shape your outlook on life?
• If you could relive one day from your past, which day would you choose and why? How would you make different choices or approach the situation differently?
• Reflect on a moment when you had to make a difficult decision that ultimately changed the course of your life. What factors did you consider, and how did this decision impact your journey?
• Describe a time when you found inspiration in an unexpected place. How did this newfound inspiration ignite a transformation in your life?

Writing life changing experience essay FAQ

Q: What is a life changing experience essay?

A: A life changing experience essay is a personal narrative that focuses on a specific event or moment that had a profound impact on the writer's life.

Q: How do I choose a topic for a life changing experience essay?

A: To choose a topic, reflect on significant moments in your life, considering their impact, uniqueness, emotional connection, and relevance to your audience.

Q: Can I write about a negative life-changing experience?

A: Absolutely! Life-changing experiences can be both positive and negative. The key is to focus on the growth and lessons learned from the experience.

Q: How can I make my essay stand out?

A: Select a unique and unexpected topic, evoke emotions, and incorporate personal reflection and growth. Avoid clichés and strive for authenticity.

Q: Can I use creative writing techniques in my life changing experience essay?

A: Yes! Creative writing techniques such as vivid descriptions, dialogue, and storytelling can enhance the impact and engagement of your essay.

Q: Should I include a moral or lesson in my essay?

A: While it's not necessary, sharing the lessons you learned from your experience can add depth and significance to your essay.

Q: How long should a life changing experience essay be?

A: The length of your essay can vary depending on the requirements. However, aim for a concise and impactful essay that captures the essence of your experience.

Q: Can I seek feedback on my essay before submitting it?

A: Absolutely! Seeking feedback from trusted individuals can provide valuable insights and help you refine your essay for maximum impact.

Q: Can I include humor in my life changing experience essay?

A: Yes, if appropriate to your topic and writing style. However, ensure that the humor enhances the overall message and impact of your essay.

Q: How can I conclude my life changing experience essay effectively?

A: Conclude by summarizing the key lessons learned or personal growth experienced, leaving the reader with a lasting impression of your transformative journey.

250-word About Your Life Experience

250-word about life experience, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

A Reflection of The Life Changing Experience in My Life

My example of a life changing experience, important choices that changed my life, the ultimate gift of life and happiness, let us write you an essay from scratch.

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

The Life Changing Experience in Working at A+

The way doubt can make life easier, the moment that changed everything: personal experience, changes in life: teacher as a driving force, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

How Serendipity Changes Lives

How the lion king changed my life , the theme of free gifts in "friends" series, meeting with a social worker: a radical change of life, how the study of satisfaction can enable you to associate with others, the bezos scholarship program: the life changing experience at the aspen ideas festival, choosing blue skies over grey ones on creative writing, how grand canyon started my journey as a photographer, the magical power of gratitude and saying 'thank you', the benefits of going into the unknown, the most meaningful experience of my high school years, talking about your life: my move to another continent, my leadership experience and the lessons i learned, how simple encouragement revealed my hidden talent, what i hope to gain from my college experience, what life event had the most influence on you and why: behavioral perspectives, 500 words about my life experience: how life experiences shape us, life event that has had the most influence on you, my teenage years: life-changing lessons i have learnt, failing as a blessing in disguise, relevant topics.

• Overcoming Obstacles
• Law of Life
• Overcoming Challenges
• Personal Growth and Development
• Why I Want To Be A Nurse
• Volunteering
• Professionalism
• Personal Experience

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

No need to pay just yet!

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

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

Life Experience Essay: How to Write a Brilliant Paper

A life experience essay combines the elements of narration, description, and self-reflection. Such a paper has to focus on a single event that had a significant impact on a person’s worldview and values.

Writing an essay about life experience prompts students to do the following:

• evaluate their behavior in specific situations critically;
• analyze their life and find significant moments;
• see connections between some crucial events;
• tell the story of their lives.

You may struggle with such papers, not knowing how to structure them. So, here are valuable tips for writing essays about experience in life. Hopefully, they will help you with your task. Don’t forget to bookmark our website in case you need any assignment assistance.

• 📅 Picking One
• ⏳ Essay Topics

📅 Picking One Life Experience

Many people struggle with such essay writing because they don’t know what events to choose from. Almost any person had a memorable moment at least once. Yet, it might be challenging to share it with someone else, especially in a narrative essay on a life-changing experience.

To find the right event for your essay, here are the essential preliminary steps that you need to take:

• Choose a memory to reflect in your essay. Think of any past event that made you reevaluate your views about other people or your values and moral principles. For example, you can describe an encounter with an exciting person that influenced you. Alternatively, think about discussing a situation when you had to make a moral choice. Make sure the event is indeed significant for you and will impress the readers.
• Describe the settings. It is essential to let the readers dive into the atmosphere you experienced. Introduce the background. Talk about the time and location of the event and describe your feelings. The more detail you provide, the more empathetic your reader will be. And in case some of the writing doesn’t seem to come together well enough, don’t hesitate to use a sentence changer to mix things up.
• Analyze the impact of the event on your life. Compare and contrast your views and values before and after this event. How did the experience influence your life? What did you learn from it? The analysis is probably an essential part of your life experience essay. So, make sure your ideas are concise and clear enough.
• Evaluate your experience. Finally, determine how this experience can help you or your readers. Highlight the key lessons you gained from the event you are describing in your essay. Give the audience valuable suggestions.

🌱 Life Experience Essay: Key Tips

Having chosen the most memorable experience, you can start writing your essay. It’s a common creative task for college or high school students. Usually, such papers require to reflect on their life while telling a story with a moral. You have to explain how one significant event in the past affected or even changed you.

Before composing your paper, it is essential to plan it properly. Here are some tips on how to do that:

• Decide whether the chosen topic is compelling.

Before starting structuring your essay, make sure you selected a great event. Here is a trick for you. Answer the following questions to evaluate your topic:

• Did I learn something from that experience?
• Did it significantly change my life?
• Can I apply the knowledge I gained in the future?
• Can I somehow educate the readers talking about this event?

If you answered YES, congratulations, you have a great topic. If your answers are NO, consider choosing another event to talk about.

• Order the events logically.

While talking about your life-changing experience, it is essential to list the events in a logical order. Before writing your essay, outline. Decide on what you will tell first, what should be mentioned next, and how to conclude the paper. A logical structure will help the readers not to get overwhelmed with your thoughts.

• Details matter.

For the readers, every detail might play a tremendous role. So, make sure you don’t forget to mention any essential turn of events. But be careful. Don’t overdo it. Include only vital and most vivid details in your essay about experience in life.

Several strategies will help you with that:

• A catchy intro is a key to a successful essay on life experience. Start your paper with an attention-getter or a sentence that can make your reader interested. For this purpose, you can use a quote or a paradoxical statement that shows how two conflicting ideas can co-exist. Turn on your imagination. The more exciting your first paragraph is – the highest chances to catch your readers’ attention are.
• Explain your choice. No doubt, every person gets into a life-changing experience. So, impress your readers with your idea. Prove to them that your experience is worth sharing. Only if you introduce your concepts dynamically and effectively, your essay will be indeed fascinating.
• Make your experience essay well balanced. It is also vital for you to find and maintain the balance between narrative and self-reflection. On the one hand, your paper has to describe an event accurately. As has been said before, you need to explain what happened and how it happened. On the other hand, you also need to analyze the impact the event’s experience had on you. So, make sure that your paper includes both: narrative and self-reflection.
• Compose a memorable conclusion. The conclusion of your essay has to explain how experience can be applied. In other words, you need to show what you learned from the event. Explain how the knowledge you gained can affect your decisions in the future. Also, show your readers what they can learn from your life lesson.

See how it all can be accomplished in a life experience essay example below:

⏳ Life Experience Essay: Topics

Now you can approach an essay on a life experience that profoundly influenced you. Such a paper allows you to demonstrate your creativity and writing skills. So, try to be natural, and this mindset will help you write a great essay about yourself .

We prepared a list of life experience topics that will help you start:

• How I conquered my fear . Were you afraid of something but found the courage to overcome your fears ? Isn’t it a perfect topic for an essay about experience in life? Introduce your fear. Explain how you conquered it. Describe how your life changed after it. Who knows, maybe you will inspire somebody else to deal with their fears.
• A failure that made me stronger. Unsurprisingly, everybody fails. But have you ever been in a situation when your failure motivated you to improve? Describe this experience and tell the reader how you felt about it. Share your insight into overcoming failures with the audience!
• How I met the love of my life. This topic is relevant to those having a boyfriend or a girlfriend who tremendously changed their lives. Are you one of them? Then consider writing about your life before and after you’ve met the love of your life. Did you change your habits? Did you improve? Tell the reader more about that in your experience essay. 
• The most memorable experience of my childhood. We start our character formation in early childhood. So, maybe there was an incredibly significant event in your childhood that impacted your personal development. Analyze this experience and present your thoughts in the essay. 
• My first public performance. Well, public performances are a nightmare for some people. Therefore, the first appearance on the stage might become a life-changing and unforgettable experience. Do you have something fascinating to share about your first performance? Consider selecting this topic, then. 
• The most meaningful conversation I have ever had. Sometimes conversations can be pretty shallow. Sometimes, however, a talk might become the most memorable experience in your life. Have you ever had such a conversation? With whom? What was the topic of discussion? How did your perception of life or set of values transform after that talk? 
• A fascinating journey . Are you a fan of traveling? Then you have probably been on numerous trips . But have you ever been on a journey that significantly impacted your life? What country did you visit? What did you see or learn that impressed you most? How has your perception of life changed after that journey?
• A piece of art that impressed me a lot. It’s no wonder that art has a tremendous power. Sometimes, a piece of art may turn an individual’s life upside down. Has it ever happened to you? What influenced you: a book, a movie, a painting? What were your feelings and emotions? 
• My first award. Are you a professional athlete, an outstanding singer, or a successful dancer? Then, you probably have numerous medals, cups, and certificates. But do you remember that unforgettable moment when you came to the stage to receive your first award? What was your way until that first award? How did you feel when you finally got it? What did you learn from that life-changing experience?
• Significant event that had a positive impact on my life .
• An unforgettable visit to Africa .
• Describe what makes you want to travel.
• The experience of my first job at a rehabilitation center.
• Discuss how a university degree became a driver of positive changes in your life.
• The day I experimented on challenging gender norms.
• Give details about your leadership experience.  
• My experience of winning the fight by losing it .
• Analyze your experience of adopting a pet.
• Describe your experience with English course and how it influenced your everyday life.
• My experience of learning to ride a bicycle .
• Examine the influence of a specific culture on your life.
• How I bought my first laptop .
• Spend twelve hours without smartphone and describe your experience.
• An unforgettable experience of becoming a mom.
• Analyze your experience with writing class and how it helped you to master writing in different styles.
• Discuss your experience of mysophobia and its impact on your life.
• The positive effect of art and dance movement therapy on my mental health.  
• Explain how you managed to resolve a conflict with your friend.
• A defining event from my childhood.
• Describe the challenges you faced at high school.
• Tell about your experience as a volunteer.
• Discuss your experience of working in a contact center .
• Transformation of my life values after the lockdown.
• The lessons I’ve learned being a Walmart employee .
• Explain how mindfulness practice improved the quality of your life.
• Personal experience of work with children with autism .
• Describe the day you experienced a culture shock .
• Tell about your experience of asking for help and results you obtained.
• Give details about the worst job you’ve ever worked at.
• My experience of covert conflict and how I managed to resolve it.
• My trip to Yellowstone National Park.
• Depict your last visit to the amusement park .
• The educational experiences that influenced my career goals.  

Thank you for reading our article! We hope our tips were helpful. Don’t forget to leave a comment and share the page with your friends.

This might be interesting for you:

• School Days Essay: How to Describe a Memorable Event
• Growing Up Essay: Great Ideas for Your College Assignment
• Childhood Memories Essay: Brilliant Writing Ideas
• Writing Essay about Someone Who Has Made an Impact on Your Life
• Excellent Remembering a Person Essay: Free Writing Guidelines
• How to Write a Personal Experience Essay With Sample Papers: Virginia Kearney, Owlcation Education
• An Experience That Changed My Life Essay: Cram
• Strategies for Essay Writing: Harvard College Writing Center
• Basic Essay and Paragraph Format: Utah Valley University Writing Center
• Elements of a Personal Essay: Brigham Young University – Idaho
• Life Changing Experience Essay: Bartleby
• Share to Facebook
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Are you about to start writing a financial assistance essay? Most probably, you are applying for a scholarship that will provide additional funding for your education or that will help you meet some special research objectives.

Probably, a murder essay is not a fascinating assignment to complete. Talking about people’s deaths or crazy murderers can be depressing. However, all assignments are different, and you are supposed to work on every task hard. So, how are you going to deal with a murder essay? You can make...

Are you a nursing student? Then, you will definitely have an assignment to compose a nursing reflective essay. This task might be quite tough and challenging. But don’t stress out! Our professionals are willing to assist you.

Environment vs. development is a multifaceted present days’ dilemma. On the one hand, environmental problems are increasing year after year. We have more polluted areas on our planet, more polluted rivers, fewer trees that produce oxygen. On the other hand, can we stop development and progress in various fields? Is...

What does an essay look like? At a glance, the answer is obvious. An essay looks like a mere piece of paper (one page or several pages) with an organized text. It’s generally divided into five paragraphs, though there may be more. The essential essay structure includes: Yet, will this...

Some students find writing literary analysis papers rather daunting. Yet, an English class cannot go without this kind of work. By the way, writing literary analysis essays is not that complicated as it seems at a glance. On the contrary, this work may be fascinating, and you have a chance...

These days, leadership and ability to work in a team are the skills that everybody should possess. It is impossible to cope with a large educational or work project alone. However, it can also be challenging to collaborate in a team. You might want to elaborate on importance and difficulties...

Racial profiling is not uncommon. It’s incredibly offensive and unfair behavior that causes most of the protests in support of people of color. It occurs when people are suspected of committing a crime based on their skin color or ethnicity. Unfortunately, most people are unaware that racial profiling is an everyday...

Without a doubt, a natural disaster essay is a tough paper to write. To begin with, when people encounter a disaster risk, it’s a tragedy. Emergency situations can affect hundreds, thousands, and millions of people. These are the crises and events that change people’s lives drastically. So, disaster and emergency...

“You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say”Martin Luther There are a lot of other good quotations that can serve as a good beginning for your essay on responsibility and provide good ideas for writing.

Exemplification essays, which are also called illustration essays, are considered one of the easiest papers to write. However, even the easiest tasks require some experience and practice. So, if you are not experienced enough in writing exemplification essays, you will face certain challenges.

You push the snooze button once again and finally open your eyes. It is already 8:50, and your classes start at 9. “I’m going to be late again!”— you think, already in full panic mode. In a minute, you rush out the door half-dressed, swallowing your sandwich on the go....

I need an essay about an experience that impacted you until today.

Thanks for the given information. Can you help me with what I ask you?

• Testimonials

Your Life Is Golden: 50 Events You Could Explore in Your Own Memoir

October 16, 2017

Life is a wonderful gift, especially when you can look back on it! Do you have some memories that are truly joyous? Do they make you smile when you think of what happened? Or what about some memories that aren’t so pleasant? Do you also remember them and their effect on your life? Big and small, happy and sad, all the milestones and special events in your life have helped shape you into the wonderful person that you are today. And not only that, but the events in your life provide fertile ground for writing your own memoir. A memoir is a great way to preserve your stories and your legacy. However, if you’ve thought about writing your own memoir, chances are that you’ve also wondered what exactly you should write about. What should or could be included in your memoir?

Life Events

To get your creative juices flowing, here are 50 significant life events that you can use as inspiration for your own reflection and writing . I have grouped them into seven categories: school, family, work, life learning, hobbies, travel and history. For all of these life events, try to remember and think about what happened, who was involved, where it happened, when it happened, why it happened and how. Not every event on this list will be applicable to you, but a good number of them will. Just try to relax and enjoy your journey remembering many of the things you’ve done and experienced in this life. But take some notes if you can; it will help with your memoir writing later.

1. You attended school for the first time. 2. You made friends or a best friend at school. 3. You attended your favorite (or least favorite) class. 4. You got involved in a group or sport at school or after school. 5. You graduated from high school. 6. You graduated from college or university. 7. You took an important test.

Family, Friends and Relationships

8. You attended a significant family gathering. 9. You fought with a loved one or a family member. 10. You fell in love for the first time. 11. You met and fell in love with your future spouse. 12. You got engaged. 13. You got married. 14. You built a home life. 15. You had a baby, witnessed the birth of your child or adopted a child. 16. You added a pet to the family. 17. You got divorced. 18. You lost a loved one.

19. You got your first job and your first paycheck. 20. You got a promotion. 21. You achieved something significant at work. 22. You got fired or lost a job. 23. You opened a business or made an investment. 24. You retired.

Life Learning

25. You moved out of your family’s home. 26. You accomplished something that took a lot of effort. 27. You discovered something about yourself. 28. You earned an award. 29. You overcame an obstacle. 30. You dared to do something that others around you considered to be unconventional. 31. You learned to do certain things by yourself. 32. You experienced a big failure for the first time. 33. You did something that changed your perspective. 34. You did something important for someone else. 35. You experienced something that made you rethink what you were doing. 36. You met someone who had a big influence on you. 37. You experienced an important religious or philosophical moment. 38. You suffered from an illness or cared for someone with an illness.

39. You learned how to do your favorite hobby. 40. You discovered your life’s passions. 41. You attended an important event. 42. You got involved in a club or organization. 43. You discovered your favorite nature spot or a connection with nature.

44. You took a family vacation. 45. You moved to another house, city or country. 46. You took a road trip. 47. You took your first trip abroad. 48. You met someone on a trip who changed your perspective.

49. You became aware of what was happening in the world or your community. 50. You witnessed or participated in an important moment in American history, such as World War II or September 11.

Memoir Writing Made Easy 

Are you interested in writing your memoir, but don’t know where to start?  Our Memoir Writing Made Easy course is a step-by-step guide to help you generate story ideas and write with a style you can be proud of. Plus you can work at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want! The course is written for non-writers. Topics include: setting yourself up for writing success, writing styles and formats, editing, legal issues, publishing ideas and lots more!  Visit our Memoir Writing Made Easy webpage to learn more!

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Family Matters Practical Parenting Blog

• Make a list: Events that Have Shaped Your Life

If you’re a regular visitor on this blog, you know by now that coming up with a list of 100 items is a stretch that helps you understand yourself better and contributes to your personal development. If this is your first visit, please start from the beginning .

Events in our life shape our thinking, beliefs and overall attitude. When I ask people, “Please share the things that have shaped your life”, they come up with big things, mainly traumatic events that were hard to ignore.

I can relate to this too, because when I worked on my own list, the first things that came up were the big things – moving house, changing city, changing country, the birth of my kids, loss and painful failures. I did have some positive, wonderful, exciting events too, like the birth of my kids and winning prizes and awards, but there weren’t as many of them as there were hits.

Focusing on the big things is natural. However, I believe that the small things, the ones we neglect to pay attention to, may contribute a lot to how we conduct ourselves in a way that we hardly recognize.

I’m saying this is because very often, when my clients bring up their past and examine it, they talk about small incidents that were big for them at the time, even out of proportion.

A friend told me, “For years, I couldn’t speak out because when I was 13, I stood in front of many people and my voice sounded funny. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life”.

One of my clients felt rejected by her mother, because “When I was 12 (30 years ago), my mom said to my aunt she hadn’t wanted to have another child and that I had been ‘an accident'”.

Boosters and Changers

Although we may be unaware of these “little” events, they have a great influence over us and switch us from one path to another. Think about it as if you were flying through an asteroid field. Every asteroid in your path (event in your life) impacts you in one of three ways:

• Has no impact, so you just keep going
• Becomes part of who you are and increases your mass (energy, motivation), so you keep going in the same direction, but smaller obstacles no longer matter
• Changes your direction

Happy and Unhappy Life Events

It’s tempting to think that we get a boost from happy events and our direction changes from unhappy ones, but this isn’t necessary true. Sometimes, unhappy events help us move forward faster and do bolder things.

A great example of an unhappy event that motivates many people is the event of getting really sick. This causes many to take charge of their life and finally do all the things they have only dreamed of before.

An example of a happy event (definitely one of my top happy events) that triggers a huge change is the birth of your first child and becoming a parent. I remember how in a split of a second, while hugging my daughter (now 20 years old – isn’t she gorgeous?) and breastfeeding her, the whole world faded and my priorities changed dramatically.

I often say to my kids that having kids while studying is a big challenge, not because of money or having to go to work, but because of priorities. Before Eden was born, I was the best student – I did all my assignments, I passed all my exams with flying colors, I was an example student and did brilliantly.

The second she was born, I stopped caring about my grades and didn’t have to be the best anymore. Luckily for me, I had finished most of my degree in the first 3 years, I only had 2 courses to complete after Eden was born and one of my courses was practical (and I was good at the practical side, so I did not have to put in a lot of extra effort).

I don’t regret the change in my priorities and I don’t regret that it took me on a different adventure, but this change was still caused by a happy event.

When you make the list of 100 events that have changed your life, you are writing a biography that is limited to 100 significant events from birth until today that were boosters or changers. It’s important to recognize your perception of the events as happy or unhappy and also their rating of how strong they were for you at the time.

How to list 100 events that have shaped your life

• Write events you believe have changed your life, NOT “my mom said it changed me” – this is about your own perception.
• Going over events in a chronological order may help you uncover more details about your life. Go over memories from childhood. Try to remember things from as early as 3 years of age or even earlier. If you remember them, they were probably significant. Beware of memories that were given to you by others, like “this was the best day of your life” (even through you have no recollection of that day).
• Think of special birthdays and find some that were meaningful for you. A birthday that has shaped your life, a gift you remember specifically, etc.
• Think of family gatherings . Family gatherings can be awesome and change life. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
• Find significant times at school , awards, failures, horrible teachers, angel teacher that have helped you become who you are today. Remember school breaks , parties, exams, report cards, challenges. Start from Grade 1 and go all the way up beyond higher education if necessary.
• Recall friends you have had over the years and what you got from each of them. Go over 2-3 friends in preschool (only if you remember), 2-3 in primary school, 2-3 in high school, etc. Friends have a great way of shaping our life. I believe that friends we have over the years are there to teach us the best lessons of our lives. If you come up with a list of 20 good friends over your life and think of what each of them has given you and under what circumstance, you will be on track towards your 100 list

• Birth of siblings seems to be a popular event that many people feel has changed their life. Unfortunately, for most people this event isn’t a happy one, but it doesn’t have to be like that. I think my daughter would write that the birth of her brother was an event that has shaped her life in the most positive way, because she had to wait for him for too long.
• Changing school/house/country. I can tell you for sure that my move to Thailand has changed me dramatically (it has even inspired some of the writing for my upcoming book, “Reflections”).

• Something unpleasant someone has done to you . Notice this is a perception – at the time of the event, you thought it was a bad thing and acted on it. Don’t beat yourself over your perception in the past. It’s only natural. When I was a kid, I had a different perception and many things people did, I perceived as nasty, but in from perspective of 30 years later, I realized they were probably limited to what I knew or understood back then. Remember, the reason we’re doing this isn’t because we can change the past, but because understanding how significant events impact us can teach us a lot about ourselves.
• A fight you have had with someone. Conflicts, fights, arguments at different times of our lives can be boosters or changers. I remember many years ago, after reading Illusions by Richard Bach, I decided to stay away from negative people and a fight I had with someone boosted me to limit the time I have spent with this person since.

• Places you have visited . After visiting Bryce Canyon and seeing all its glorious beauty, I became a different person. Living in Thailand, the “land of smiles”, where people are happy despite their poor conditions, has shaped my life big time. I don’t think it was a booster, it was a changer. Life couldn’t go back to where they were before. I was on a totally different track. For example, I finally understood why I needed more patience.
• Traumas that have changed your life. I’m sure there’s no need to expand on this one.
• Successes and victories that have changed your life. Many times, successes are great boosters and help us build motivation to move forward towards the desired destination. The kid in this photo is one of my greatest victories in life.
• Failures that have changed your life . Again, they may fall in the category of traumatic life events, but they can just be things you haven’t succeeded at and have de-motivated or frustrated you in a way that has changed you.

• People you have met during your life that have changed your path and shaped your life. When I think of this section of my events list, I have plenty of people that have made a difference in my life and I carry some part of them with me. Gal is a person I have met who has shaped my life greatly.

I wish you a very enlightened biography of the events that have shaped your life. Remember, when writing each of them down, think if it’s boosted you or changed your direction and how. It’s a good way to find out how the mechanism of this machine called “you” works.

Join me next week for the list of 100 ways to be kind. In the meantime, feel free to describe significant life events and their impact on you in the comment box below.

Happy and empowering discoveries, Ronit

This post is part of the series Make a List :

• Make a list: List Making
• Make a list: About Myself
• Make a list: Friends and Friendships
• 100 Things I Want to Be, Do and Have in My Lifetime
• 100 Things that Make Me Happy
• Make a list: Childhood Memories
• How to Clean Away Resentment and Be Happy
• 100 Ways to Say “I Love You!”
• Make a list: What I like about me
• Make a list: Birthday Presents to Ask for
• Make a list: Improve My Life
• Make a list: Things to tell my parents

Make a list: Beliefs about Money

• 100 Feelings I Want to Feel (and how to feel them)
• Make a list: If I Could Live Forever
• Make a list: Beliefs about Kids
• Make a list: Beliefs about Kids cont.
• Make a list: Ways to be kind
• Make a list: Be More Productive
• Make a list: Mistakes (and what I can learn from them)
• Make a list: Expectations
• Make a list: Beliefs about Traveling
• Make a list: Rules I Follow
• Make a list: Good Parenting Qualities
• Make a list: Excuses
• Make a list: Quotes to live by
• Make a list: How to use my time better
• If I Were Santa Claus
• What I Would Do If I Had One Year to Live
• Make a list: Movies I loved
• Make a List: My Fears
• Make a List: Find your Happy-ism
• Make a List: Inspiring People
• Make a List: Books that have changed my life
• Make a list: Inspiring Movies
• Things to Be Grateful for
• Make a List: Ronit’s Gratitude Examples List
• Make a list: Life Lessons Learned
• Make a List: Self-Kindness
• Make a List: 100 Ways to Be Kind to Myself
• 100 Things I Want People to Think of Me
• Make a List: Judgment of Right from Wrong
• Make a List: 100 Reasons to Be Wealthy
• 100 Great Insights I Got from the Coronavirus
• How to Make Every Relationship You Want Good
• If I Only Knew: How to Learn from the Past

Share This Page

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Attitude, Awareness, Authenticity

Personal development means never stopping to look for things that will help us grow, understand ourselves and the world better and enjoy life more. Life is tough nowadays, so anything that makes it more enjoyable is welcome, especially when it costs nothing. TED is a really special forum, where truly…

In "Personal Development"

Happy Affirmations: Happy Beliefs

I have written a lot about affirmations in this blog, mainly because I believe they are very important for our health and wellbeing. You can sit down with a person for 10 minutes and tell if his/she is a happy, successful, healthy person by the sentences they repeatedly say. Do…

Money is a big part of every success in life. Money is an enabler - the more money you have, the more successful you can be. For example, my son is very successful as a musician, no doubt due to his special talent, but without the money we spend to…

* Your comment may take up to a day to appear.

Get Happiness by Email

Sign up to receive posts by email and get my free mini-course Seven Emails with Seven Secrets for Seven Weeks to boost your personal development

First Name (optional)

Email Please leave this field empty.

Join Us on Social Media

Books by ronit baras.

Related Links

• Be Happy in LIFE – Life Coaching
• Noff Baras – Screen Actor & Model
• Personal Growth Web
• The Motivational Speaker
• Tsoof Baras – percussionist, composer and producer
• About Ronit Baras
• Motivating Kids
• Be Special, Be Yourself for Teenagers
• Reflections
• In the Outback with Jasmine Banks
• * Your Cart
• * Secure Checkout

How to Motivate Kids

• World Atlas /
• Perm Krai /
• Nytvenskiy /
• Area around 58° 8' 44" N, 55° 19' 30" E /
• Chaykovskaya /

Physical Map of Chaykovskaya

This is not just a map. It's a piece of the world captured in the image.

The flat physical map represents one of many map types available. Look at Chaykovskaya, Nytvenskiy, Perm Krai, Urals, Russia from different perspectives.

Get free map for your website. Discover the beauty hidden in the maps. Maphill is more than just a map gallery.

• Free map
• Panoramic 4

Shaded Relief

Maps of chaykovskaya.

Maphill is a collection of map images. This physical map of Chaykovskaya is one of them. Click on the Detailed button under the image to switch to a more detailed map.

See Chaykovskaya from a different perspective.

Each map type has its advantages. No map style is the best. The best is that Maphill lets you look at each place from many different angles.

Sure, this physical map is nice. But there is good chance you will like other map styles even more. Select another style in the above table. See Chaykovskaya and Urals from a different view.

What to do when you like this map?

If you like this Chaykovskaya, Nytvenskiy, Perm Krai, Urals, Russia map, please don't keep it to yourself. Give your friends a chance to see how the world converted to images looks like.

Share this map.

Use the buttons for Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to share a link to this physical map of Chaykovskaya. Maphill is the largest map gallery on the web. The number of maps is, however, not the only reason to visit Maphill.

Get map of Chaykovskaya for free.

You can embed, print or download the map just like any other image. All Chaykovskaya and Urals maps are available in a common image format. Free images are available under Free map link located above the map.

Is there anything more than this map?

Sure, there is. It has been said that Maphill maps are worth a thousand words. No doubt about that. But you can experience much more when you visit Chaykovskaya.

Be inspired.

Urals has a lot to offer. Each place is different. Each place is worth a visit. It will never be possible to capture all the beauty in the map.

Chaykovskaya hotel deals.

If any of Maphill's maps inspire you to come to Chaykovskaya, we would like to offer you access to wide selection of nearby hotels at low prices and with great customer service.

Thanks to our partnership with Booking.com you can take advantage of up to 50% discounts for hotels in many locations in the area of Urals. Book hotels online and save money.

Chaykovskaya hotels

See the full list of hotels in or close to Chaykovskaya , the list of destinations in Nytvenskiy , browse destinations in Perm Krai , Urals , Russia , Asia or choose from the below listed cities.

• Chaykovskaya hotels »
• Hotels in Nytvenskiy »
• Hotels in Perm Krai »
• Hotels in Urals »
• Hotels in Russia »
• Hotels in Asia »

Hotels in popular destinations in Nytvenskiy

• Nytva hotels »
• Mayskiy hotels »
• Makuryata hotels »
• Prokhory hotels »
• Kommuna hotels »
• Chekmeni hotels »
• Krasoty hotels »
• Nizhnyaya Gurikha hotels »
• Sergino hotels »
• Dubrovino hotels »
• Kosintsy hotels »
• Tyuleni hotels »
• Luzino hotels »
• Os'kino hotels »

Learn more about the map styles

Each map type offers different information and each map style is designed for a different purpose. Read about the styles and map projection used in the above map (Physical Map of Chaykovskaya).

Physical map

Physical map illustrates the mountains, lowlands, oceans, lakes and rivers and other physical landscape features of Chaykovskaya. Differences in land elevations relative to the sea level are represented by color.

Green color represents lower elevations, orange or brown indicate higher elevations, shades of grey are used for the highest mountain ranges in the world. Underwater topography is represented by blues. Darker blues are used for the deepest water, lighter shades of blue represent shallower water such as the continental shelf.

Geographic map projection

A map projection is a way how to transform points on a Earth to points on a map. This map of Chaykovskaya uses Plate Carree projection. The Plate Carree projection is a simple cylindrical projection originated in the ancient times. It has straight and equally spaced meridians and parallels that meet at right angles.

All projections from a sphere to a plane are distorted. The drawback of the Plate Carree projection is that it doesn't make an attempt to compensate for these distortions. For the general view of Chaykovskaya, this is not a significant problem. The detailed maps use the Mercator projection which preserves the shape of small areas better.

Locations near Chaykovskaya

Destinations close to Chaykovskaya sorted by distance.

• Lenino 3.9 km
• Mayskiy 4.4 km
• Oshapy 4.4 km
• Fedotova 6.4 km
• Prokhory 7.6 km
• Agafy 7.6 km
• Moshevo 8.1 km
• Fadiyata 8.5 km
• Pylai 8.5 km
• Pokrovskoye 8.8 km

Popular searches

A list of the most popular locations in Russia as searched by our visitors.

• Ural Mountains
• Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
• Kaliningrad Oblast
• Kursk Oblast

Recent searches

List of the locations in Russia that our users recently searched for.

• Udskaya Guba
• Amur Oblast
• Bagaevskaya
• Pskov Oblast
• Ladozhskoe Ozero
• Republic of Dagestan

The Maphill difference

It's neither this physical map nor any other of the many millions of maps. The value of a map gallery is not determined by the number of pictures, but by the possibility to see the world from many different perspectives.

We unlock the value hidden in the geographic data. Thanks to automating the complex process of turning data into map graphics, we are able to create maps in higher quality, faster and cheaper than was possible before.

Forever free

We created Maphill to make the web a more beautiful place. Without you having to pay for it. Maphill maps are and will always be available for free.

Real Earth data

Do you think the maps are too beautiful not to be painted? No, this is not art. All 2D maps of Chaykovskaya are created based on real Earth data. This is how the world looks like.

Easy to use

This map is available in a common image format. You can copy, print or embed the map very easily. Just like any other image.

Different perspectives

The value of Maphill lies in the possibility to look at the same area from several perspectives. Maphill presents the map of Chaykovskaya in a wide variety of map types and styles.

Vector quality

We build each map individually with regard to the characteristics of the map area and the chosen graphic style. Maps are assembled and kept in a high resolution vector format throughout the entire process of their creation.

Experience of discovering

Maphill maps will never be as detailed as Google maps or as precise as designed by professional cartographers. Our goal is different. We want to redefine the experience of discovering the world through the maps.

Fast anywhere

Maps are served from a large number of servers spread all over the world. Globally distributed map delivery network ensures low latency and fast loading times, no matter where on Earth you happen to be.

Spread the beauty

Embed the above physical map of Chaykovskaya into your website. Enrich your blog with quality map graphics. Make the web a more beautiful place.

Maphill is the web's largest map gallery.

Get a free map for your website. Explore the world. Discover the beauty hidden in the maps.

Map graphics revolution.™

Current time by city

For example, New York

Current time by country

For example, Japan

Time difference

For example, London

For example, Dubai

Coordinates

For example, Hong Kong

For example, Delhi

For example, Sydney

Distance between Chaykovskaya, Perm Krai, Russia and the Equator

• We assume a spherical Earth as a close approximation of the true shape of the Earth (an oblate spheroid). The distance is calculated as great-circle or orthodromic distance on the surface of a sphere.
• We calculate the distance between a point on the Earth’s surface and the Equator as the length of the arc of the meridian passing through this point and crossing the Equator.

Chaykovskaya, Russia

The equator.