100 PERSONAL ESSAY TOPICS FOR WRITING A KILLER ESSAY
Students in high school and college are often required to write a personal essay. Whether it is
for admissions or for a particular course, this assignment is always challenging because you have
to use both narrative and descriptive styles of writing, and double-check your grammar as well as
the usage of tenses. More importantly, you can’t simply tell a story or describe a person or an
event. You have to connect what’s happened to you to a broader idea. Here is a selection of 100
personal essay topics to help you get a head start with this writing assignment. They are all
interesting and give you an opportunity to create an impressive piece of writing. Let’s start.
1. The most fascinating adventure you’ve ever had
2. A recent stressful situation
3. How you managed to overcome a great obstacle on your way to achieving something
4. The most motivating thing for you
5. How you coped during a difficult time in your life
6. Your greatest fear
7. A time when you reacted without thinking
8. The most annoying thing for you
9. An event that has brought you closer to your parents
10. If you were an animal, what would you be?
11. A time when you failed but learned something from the experience
12. The last time you left your “comfort zone”
13. A time when you were alone and felt good about it
14. How you relax
15. A major change that has occurred in your life
16. A person that you want to write a thank-you message to
17. How you made a difficult decision
18. A public figure that you would invite to speak at your college/high school
19. The most daring thing that you have done
20. A time when you did something heroic
21. The family member who has had the most influence on you
22. How you work in a team
23. Your favorite karaoke song
24. A time when you competed for something
25. A character in a book/movie who shares many personal traits with you
26. How did your parents choose your name?
27. The school trip which you had the most fun on
28. A superpower that you wish you could have
29. The historical figure that you admire the most
30. The best place to hang out in your local area
31. A celebrity that you want to interview
32. The sweetest neighbor that you have had
33. A family tradition that you carry on
34. The most dangerous situation that you have been in
35. Which of the latest technologies are you most excited about?
36. How your parents react to your report card?
37. Your favorite cartoon
38. A time when a friend helped you out
39. The biggest conflict that you have had with a sibling/cousin
40. What you like the most about the place where you live
41. The most disappointing thing that happened to you at school
42. A type of behavior that annoys you
43. A time when you changed another person’s mind
44. Your favorite place in your house
45. The most interesting family story that you have
46. A time when you had a lot of fun
47. Your dream home
48. A time when you made a wrong decision
49. Compare yourself to one of your parents
50. How a teacher/professor has motivated you to do better
51. The most beautiful place on the planet for you
52. A time when you explored the great outdoors
53. The coolest kid in your previous class/school
54. A piece of technology that you cannot live without
55. If you were President for a day, what would you do?
56. Your favorite TV show when you were younger
57. A place in your local area that you try to avoid
58. How your life would differ if you lived a century ago
59. The last video that you watched online before writing this essay
60. The role money plays in your life
61. A time when you wanted to run away but stayed
62. Your favorite time period in history
63. An object that you have kept since childhood
64. The last thing you posted on social media
65. The thing that has made the biggest impression on you today
66. How you decorated your room
67. The book with the biggest impact on you so far
68. A time when a friend disappointed you
69. The most irresistible thing for you
70. The last time when you deleted an online chat message
71. A historic event you wish you could have witnessed/been a part of
72. The last important topic that you discussed with a friend
73. The time when you felt the greatest pride
74. If you could invent something, what would it be?
75. The last time you needed a hug
76. The artist or band whose music inspires you the most
77. The greatest moment in movie history
78. A time when you found something valuable by accident
79. A piece of fake news that you read online
80. The most impressive building for you
81. A time when a close person betrayed your trust
82. The most distractive thing in the classroom
83. A TV show character that you would like to be friends with
84. If you had a million to spend today, what would you buy?
85. A time when you lied with a good intention in mind
86. A person that you cannot imagine your life without
87. The last time when you supported a good cause
88. The single item that you have spent the biggest amount of money on in your life
89. The mobile app that you use the most
90. A song that brings a happy memory to mind
91. A celebrity that you want to invite to your graduation party
92. The most memorable poem for you
93. Your latest act of kindness
94. The person who has helped you the most with homework
95. A time when you felt very angry
96. Your favorite work of art
97. What helps you to learn a new language
98. How you approach essay writing
99. How you find inner peace
100. Your dream job
101. What makes your parents special
102. What your grandparents taught you
103. How you managed to avoid a dangerous situation
104. How a stranger changed your life
105. The longest minute of your life