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Reflective Essay Examples

50 best reflective essay examples (+topic samples).

If you have ever read reflective essay examples, you would know that these types of written works examine the writer’s life experiences . When you write a reflective paper example, you write about your own experiences and explore how you’ve changed, grown or developed because of those experiences. There’s no standard format for this essay as it may vary depending on the target audience.

Table of Contents

• 1 Reflective Essay Examples
• 2 What is a reflective essay?
• 3 Reflective Paper Examples
• 4 Format of reflective essay
• 5 Creating the outline of reflective essay examples
• 6 Reflective Paper Samples
• 7 Tips for writing reflective essay
• 8 Reflective Essay Samples

What is a reflective essay?

A reflective essay is a type of written work which reflects your own self. Since it’s about yourself, you already have a topic to write about. For reflective essay examples, readers expect you to evaluate a specific part of your life. To do this, you may reflect on emotions, memories, and feelings you’ve experienced at that time.

Since you’re writing reflection essay samples about yourself, make sure that they’re interesting and exciting. This is very important so that your readers don’t get bored with what you’ve written. Reflective essays are very personal thus, they’re a special type of essay. As you write one, you need to reflect, think, and explain.

In the essay, you should demonstrate and describe different feelings or emotions which you’ve felt in the past. These statements breathe life into your essay as your readers start picturing what you’ve written in their minds. Reflective essays are very honest, personal, and emotional, especially those which describe painful experiences.

Reflective Paper Examples

Format of reflective essay

As aforementioned, reflective essay examples don’t have a standard format. They seem easy enough to write but once you’ve sat down to start writing, you may suddenly find the task very challenging! Besides the format, you must think about the life experience you want to write about and remember everything about it.

A reflective paper example is a lot like a personal journal or diary. Of course, the difference is that other people will read your essay. Therefore, you must write it with good structure and coherence. In this regard, reflective essays are a lot like the other types of essays too.

When writing a reflective essay, you will have to examine your own life experiences. The purpose of writing such an essay is to provide yourself with a platform to share your most meaningful life experiences with other people. You can also use it as a way to explore how your experiences have changed you as a person.

You can present reflective writing in different formats. Most of the time though, people use a learning log or a diary entry format. You can use these formats and others. Just make sure that your essay has a good flow and that it’s easy for other readers to understand.

The format to use for your reflection essay samples would depend on your target audience. You can make an academic reflective essay or you can make it as a general and informal piece of writing. If you need to write the essay for a class assignment, follow the format given to you by your teacher.

No matter what format you choose, you may write an essay which:

• Focuses on your personal growth Such an essay helps you learn how to evaluate and analyze the experiences you have had in your personal life. This helps promote emotional development and growth. It also helps you understand yourself and your behaviors better.
• Focuses on literature For this type of essay, you may have to include references to literature and apply these to your own life experiences. Such essays are commonly given as assignments to students in school.

Creating the outline of reflective essay examples

Before you write your reflective essay examples, you must create an outline for them. Although you’d write about your own life, creating an outline gives structure to your essay to serve as a guide for what you want to write about.

Whether you need to write an essay for school, for a magazine or for any other reason, creating an outline is the very first step. With a good outline, you have a better idea of how your essay will flow from one paragraph to the next all the way to the conclusion.

When creating the outline of your reflective paper example, keep it organized. Develop the outline gradually and put a lot of thought into it. In doing this, you make the writing process much easier. Here is a rundown of the steps involved in the essay-writing process:

• Choose a topic (a significant life experience you want to write about)
• Gather information
• Create an outline
• Write a draft
• Finalize your essay

Reflective Paper Samples

Tips for writing reflective essay

As you think about the content of your reflection essay samples, remember that the important thing is that such an essay must be highly personal but also engaging to readers. There’s so much more to reflective essays than just writing your story. You must also reflect on your experiences to engage your audiences.

For your starting point, think about the most significant experiences you had in your life. Those which had either a negative or a positive impact on you as a person. If the reflective essay is a school assignment, your professor would probably specify what you must write about. Here are some tips for you for writing your reflective paper example:

• Reflection The most important part of writing your reflective essay is the reflective process. Think about the personal experience you want to write about. Focus on what happened, how this experience made you feel, and how it affected your life. Explore your memories and emotions for this part of the process. As you’re recalling and reflecting on your life experience, take a lot of notes . Write down all the details you remember and try to be as clear and as detailed as you possibly can. Take as much time as you need for reflection. You can even close your eyes as you try to remember those experiences vividly. When you’re confident that you have recalled all of the details of your life experience, it’s time to write your essay. To make it more meaningful, try to answer some important questions about your life experience including: Did you learn anything new about yourself because of this experience? Have you grown or developed because of this experience? If so, in what way? Did this experience impact your life positively or negatively? If you had the chance to experience this all over again, would you do anything differently? Why did you behave in such a way at the time of this experience? Did you make the right choices? What are your general thoughts and feelings about this experience? Can you say that you learned from this experience? Did you gain any new perspectives or skills because of this experience? These are “signpost questions” which can help you write a more meaningful essay. These are just some examples, you can also think of your own questions to ask yourself. The point of these questions is to make sure that you think critically and deeply about the experience you’re writing about.
• Planning After you’ve reflected on your life experience, it’s time to start planning your essay. When it’s time to start, you might feel as if you’re not adequately prepared even though you’ve done a lot of reflection. This is a normal feeling, especially if you want to create a written piece which people will love reading. To ease your anxiety and doubt, come up with a well-rounded and comprehensive plan. The best way to do this is through an outline. With an outline to guide your writing process, you can come up with an essay that’s more coherent and which has a clear structure. An outline or plan is important for reflective essays. Since you’re writing about an emotionally-charged topic, you might find yourself getting “lost” along the way. This is especially true if you’re writing about a painful experience which still affects you until now. The outline serves as a map for you to keep your thoughts organized. In your outline, make sure to establish all of the fundamental details you wish to include in your essay. This helps you pick out and remove any superfluous information to make it easier to read and understand. Planning the points you want to write about makes it easier for you to stay on point. As such, your writing becomes a lot clearer and your readers can follow your line of thought. An outline also prevents you from missing out any relevant information. It’s very difficult and frustrating to go back after you’ve written the whole essay just to fit in this information! Planning your essay also saves you a lot of time. Coming up with the structure makes you more familiar with your essay even before you start writing it. Thus, you can spend more time writing, revising, and proofreading your essay to make it the best version possible.

Reflective Essay Samples

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You are probably already used to writing academic essays where you have to analyze and dissect specific topics, books, or pieces of research. But what if your professor asks you to write a reflective essay? Will you be able to do it? If you are not sure, then this guide is a must-read for you. 

What is a Reflective Essay & How to Choose a Topic

What is a reflective essay? It’s a type of personal essay, that, nonetheless, is very similar to academic writing. In a reflective essay you, as a writer, explore a specific theme, topic, or subject, from your perspective. Basically, you give your own opinion on the topic, and explain why you think that way, often incorporating your personal experiences into this narrative. This type of paper is usually subjective, as its main purpose is to show your processing of something (event, book, lecture, anything). 

As to the topic of such essays, they can be very versatile. You can reflect on a specific life experience you had, outlining what happened, what did you think of it, and what did you learn. Sometimes, your professors may ask you to write a reflective essay on how a lecture, book, documentary, or learning experience has influenced and shaped your life. You can even be asked to visit an exhibition, go to a museum, or watch a movie and then write a reflection paper about it. So the variety of topics that can be chosen for this type of work is vast, to say the least.

Yet, you are most likely going to be writing a reflective essay during your university application process or as a part of your cover letter. There you will have to discuss your background, and how your experiences turned you into a proper candidate for the program.

The Structure of the Self Reflection Essay: Creating an Outline 

You may now think that you know everything you need to start writing your paper. Hold your horses though, because there are a lot of things we have yet to consider. The first one is the reflective essay structure. As with most academic papers, your reflection essay should include an introduction, the main body, and a conclusion paragraph. Below you can see what an outline for the essay paper will look like, following such a format.

Introduction 

An introduction is a greatly important part since it hooks the reader’s attention. That’s why here you need to include an opening sentence that gives the readers something to think about. This can be an opinion, a specific question, or a story from your life that relates to the topic of the essay.  After your hook, provide a brief overview of the topic you will be reflecting on, and end the introduction with a thesis statement that outlines what your reflection will entail.

Body Paragraphs

In the body paragraphs, you specifically explore and reflect on the topic of your writing, You can compare experiences with the main one, and describe your emotions and scenes that a vital to understanding your perspective. 

The body of your essay should be divided into several paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of your reflection. There’s no specific number, as everything depends on how you write and what you write about. Usually, this can be from 2-3 to 4-5 paragraphs. Start each of these with a topic sentence that introduces the point you will discuss. Follow with an explanation of your thoughts and feelings, and support your point by integrating personal experiences or relevant examples. This is where you can dive deep into your reflections, analyzing how the experience affected you and what you learned from it.

As with any final part, the conclusion in the reflective essay should be straight to the point and give a sense of finalization of everything said above. Wrap up your essay by summarizing the main points of your reflection. Reinforce how the experiences discussed have impacted you and possibly what you plan to do based on these reflections. A strong conclusion will leave your reader with a clear understanding of your personal growth and a sense of closure.

A Detailed Guide on How to Write a Reflective Essay

Phew, we got the theoretical part down so now we can peacefully move forward to writing. Of course, you can just create an outline and write as the ideas pop into your head. Let’s be clear though, with such a strategy you can be waiting for relevant insights anywhere from 5-10 minutes to an hour or two. So, to make the process more effective, we came up with a guide that will help you craft your reflective essay gradually, keeping a consistent pace.

Step 1: Choose Your Tone & Topic

First, decide on the tone that suits your reflective essay. Since this type of essay is more personal, a formal tone isn’t necessary. Hence, you can write using personal pronouns like “I”, and “me ” as well.  Choose a topic that deeply resonates with you—this could be a personal experience, an event, or an interaction that has significantly impacted you or your current life. Here, think about the points and emotions associated with this topic to set the groundwork for your reflection.

Step 2: Work With the Materials

We know that reflection essays are mostly written on personal experience, however, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to refresh your memories of those events. You can look up relevant photos, or maybe diary entries that you made during that period. It’s also a stage where you can ask yourself some critical questions to deepen your understanding: 

• How has this affected me? 
• What have I learned? 
• Are there any unresolved questions/emotions? 

Use this analysis to develop logical themes and select a main topic that incites strong opinions or reflections.

Step 3: Map Out Your Reflections

Create connections between your analyzed material and your insights. Outline these connections in your draft so that your essay follows a logical structure. This will form the skeleton of your body paragraphs. If you are more of a visual learner, you can create a mind map that ties all your ideas together. 

Step 4: Write with Personal Insight

Now, with a general theme, topic, and relevant supporting details (events, memories, emotions) in place, you can begin drafting your essay. You now know how to start a reflective essay – with an engaging introduction. Consider using a relevant quote or a compelling life story. As you move through your body paragraphs, be clear, and use vivid imagery and personal pronouns to express your reflections. Each paragraph should support your central theme with direct impacts and personal feelings, using specific language that shows the depth of both what you went through and the analysis of it.

Step 5: Conclude with Reflection

Wrap up your essay by reiterating the lessons learned and how the experience has reshaped your perspective. Highlight your “Aha!” moment to make a stronger support for your thoughts. Consider the further influence of your insights on your future actions or thinking.

Step 6: Revise and Reflect Again

You have everything on paper, so now you can work on perfecting it. Proofread your essay multiple times. Pay attention to grammar, logic, and the overall flow of your essay. Think about whether your essay captures the essence of your journey and make the necessary adjustments to achieve that.

Pay Attention To This When Writing a Reflective Essay

You have an idea about the structure, format, and the writing process itself. So, what more do you have to know? Well, we don’t say you must use the following information. These are more like tips that can help you stay on track with your writing and avoid some errors that may lead to numerous revisions (and who needs that, especially if you are writing for a college assignment).

• Keep the Length in Mind – A reflective essay is usually not that long and can vary from 200 to 800 words (in some cases, up to 1000). You might have to be specifically mindful of the word count if the essay is for an assignment (with a specific requirement) or application (no assistant will have the time to go through 5-20 pages of reflection).
• Don’t get too informal – When we were discussing the tone, we told you that there’s no need to be strictly formal. However, do not push the boundaries too far as well. It’s better to find the sweet middle ground where you can freely express yourself without adding unnecessary jargon, slang, or cuss words. Just, keep it professional.
• Include only relevant details – As you have a limited word count, you can’t really afford to go into much detail. So keep it relevant. Include only those arguments, events, and thoughts that largely contribute to your topic. Don’t add something just to simply tell about it. Everything should serve a purpose in your essay.
• Focus on one topic – At the beginning, you outline one specific subject that your essay is going to be dedicated to. So stay on track with it. If you discuss your family’s influence on you, don’t drag your friends into it as well. You know, stay focused, and you are going to avoid most of the p[itfalls we mentioned above.

Bonus tip : use other sources. Of course, the reflection essay touches upon YOUR experiences. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t use some kind of philosophical or psychological material to help you support your personal insights. You can use articles, or books you’ve read at the time or which you find relevant now. Believe us, this will show a well-rounded understanding and add depth to your reflective analysis.

Self Reflection Essay – Ideas Pitches

We didn’t want to tire you more with our reflective essay samples, so decided to include something different instead. Below, you will find topic ideas, as well as our suggestions for introduction paragraphs for these topics, that might inspire you to write a reflection essay of your own.

How do you start a reflective essay?

A reflective essay, like most other types of writing, starts with an introduction paragraph. There, you will need to include the purpose of your writing as well as its topic. Note that this paragraph should also give readers insights into why you chose this specific subject, as it will help them better understand your point of view. Including a thesis statement is also important here, so don’t forget to write it down.

What are the three parts of a reflective essay?

If we are talking about the 3 structural parts of a reflective essay, they are an introduction, body part, and conclusion. In case you mean the content of such writing, then you should include the following: what you experienced (basically what you are going to be reflecting on), then your thoughts, meaning the reflection itself, and finally, something you’ve learned from all of this.

What is a good opening sentence for a reflection paper?

A good reflection paper should start with a thought-provoking question, quote, or maybe an anecdote from your life. What type of question or story to choose depends on the topic of your reflection essay and what you are planning on discussing. Your opening should hook the reader, and make them interested in your writing.

What is the best structure for a reflective essay?

The best structure for a reflective essay is the one that mimics the usual structure of any academic writing (and most essays). It will therefore have an introduction, which will include a thesis statement, the body part, where you will reflect on the topic and a conclusion. However, clarify by your professor which structure you should specifically follow, as you also may be able to choose either journaling (regularly writing down entries) or a reflective model as well.

What not to do in a reflective essay?

Although a reflective essay can be based on your personal experience, try to avoid writing too informally. It is a piece of academic writing after all, so your style should be adjusted accordingly. Overloading or insufficient detailing can also make your writing not as effective. So describe any experience adequately, giving the readers everything they need to know to understand and connect to your essay. 

How long should a reflective essay be?

It all depends on the task, of course, but most usually reflective essays are somewhere around 250-800 words. AThat’swhy you need to include only relative and important information there, as you don’t have much space (in terms of word count) to go into extreme detail and analysis. 

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Every time I saw people’s highlight moments, I will lament the injustice of God. But looking at them from another angle, you will find that they have found the right direction through countless failures and attempts, and only then have they achieved what they are today. So I started to reflect on myself, why I am not as good as others? After seeing others succeed, I become self-doubt, afraid of failure, afraid of stepping out of the comfort zone, so how can I doing well? I recently saw a passage that I like very much: “Everyone’s flowering period is different. Some people graduated at the age of 22, but waited for five years to find a good job; some people graduated at the age of 28 and entered the world’s one of the top 500 companies in the year; some people started their own company at the age of 30, but passed away at the age of 60; some people became executives at the age of 60, but lived to the age of 90; Some people built their family at the age of 25, but unfortunately return to single after ten years; some people get married at the age of 35 and live a happy life all their lives.”So I started to stop being anxious, learning not to feel dim when seeing other people shining.. After all, everyone got a different life experience card, so just enjoy the moment.

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8 Tips For Writing A Great Reflective Essay (With Examples)

By writing a reflective essay, you can capture some of these ephemeral emotions and make sense of who you are. Below, I share eight tips (and a few examples) that will help you do it in a better way. You may have to write a reflective essay as a part of an academic assignment or a college paper. Or perhaps you want to create it for yourself and never show it to anyone. Regardless of the reason, after reading this article, you will hopefully become better at it. They helped a lot of students over the years, so you may check them out.

Here’s how to write a great reflective essay:

1. first, what is a reflective essay, 2. the power of writing introspectively.

Many great men and women (like Charles Darwin or Frida Kahlo ) had a habit of keeping a journal. This seems to be forgotten these days as we record everything through our mobile devices. But the habit of introspective writing and journaling helps you get in touch with your inner self and even improves your mental health. The reflective essay serves a similar purpose. It lets you search for meaning in your life and lets you discover the underlying causes of your actions.

“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

3. How do you start your essay?

You may start with an introduction of experience, an event, or a memory on which you’ll reflect. If your topic is “a life-changing incident you had when you were a child,” you could start with: I used to live on a sunny farm with my parents and grandparents when I was young. A few days after I turned six, something happened that would alter the course of my life forever. I’m fifty-two as I’m writing this…

This beginning has certain elements that make it effective:

“When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.” – Ralph Ellison

4. Learn how to structure your essay

In terms of length, it all depends on your assignment, but usually, the reflective essay has between 300 and 700 words . It has a rather informal structure and the use of language. After all, you’re drilling into your personal experiences, and often, this requires a poetic turn of the phrase. You’re more than welcome to use a wide range of advanced vocabulary .

Introduction

In this part, you set the tone for your reflection. You implicitly or explicitly say what will you reflect on, and what prompted you to do that. If you’re writing an academic paper , you’ll have to be more direct and for example, say: “What follows, are my reflections on what I’ve learned about life during the first year of college”.

Here, you sum up your essay and leave your audience with a final thought. Look ahead into the future and write about how your experiences are going to affect your life from now on. What’s the direction you’re going to take? What is there to look ahead to? You may also look backward and see how different you were in the past, compared to now. “I think it’s good for a person to spend time alone. It allows them to discover who they are and to figure out why they are always alone.” – Amy Sedaris

5. Create an outline for your essay

As with most writing assignments , the work begins with ideation and then creating some sort of outline . Here’s a simple process you can use to get everything ready before you start writing: a) Scan your mind in search of powerful experiences, meaningful memories, and thoughts about your past. This will serve as a raw material from which you’ll sculpt a piece of prose. b) Consider the attractiveness of your topic from the reader’s point of view. You certainly don’t want to bore anyone, so pick something interesting, but important. c) Organize your essay and divide it into a couple of paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain one important idea. d) Decide in which sequence you would like to share your ideas. Put some logic and chronology behind it. e) Jot down any side notes included in the essay. It’s always better to have an overabundance of material.

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” – C.G. Jung

6. The essay-writing process

Once you have the idea, you can follow a simple process:, 7. how to pick the right topic for your essay.

If you’re writing an assignment, you’ll probably receive the prompt from your professor. If that’s the case, follow it diligently. This may be something like: a) Reflect on what you learned during your first year of high school. b) Think about your favorite book and how it changed your life . c) How did your writing skills change over the years? And why? Or it might be something really specific like Write a two-page reflection paper on the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. Here, it’s not only about your personal experience, but about your interaction with a specific text, event, play, or movie and the effect it had on you. But what if you want to write an essay on your own? Which topic would you choose then? First, pick something meaningful to you. Second, pick something that you know well. Third, pick something that you want to explore and get deep into.

Here’s some more inspiration in the area of topics:

Personal reflection:, reflection on life and meaning:, reflection on events:.

“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

8. Learn from the masters

Montaigne was the father of the essay as a literary form. He was the first writer to use informal tone, colloquial language, and rather prosaic themes to get to the deeper truth about human nature.

I recommend you check his essays for inspiration, along with other masterworks:

And here are a few books filled with great reflective essays:.

And here you may find a huge list of 450+ essay books on Goodreads.

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein

Example #1 of a reflective essay:

The misgivings about the high school football, here’s a second, shorter sample of a reflective essay:, the sources of love for instrumental music., looking backward, moving forward.

There are certain milestones in your life: finishing high school, falling in love for the first time, your first journey abroad, the first kiss, the first psychedelic trip, graduating from the university, getting your first job, getting married, having children… Each of these brings something new and unexpected and makes you grow as an individual. But you can run through life and never reflect on how it all changed , how silly and incompetent you were just a few years ago. And how you’ll think the same thing about the present in a few years. Perhaps you should compose a reflective essay and think about all of this, and about what’s coming. Next up, you may want to explore a list of the best essays of all time .

Rafal Reyzer

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

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If you are here, you must be hunting for reflective essay topics, right? Picking one that truly speaks to you can seem tough, but don't worry. We're here to help. In this blog post, we're breaking down a whole bunch of fascinating reflection essay topics. We went the extra mile and arranged them by different categories to make it super easy for you. So, buckle up and let's dive right in. Your perfect reflective essay topic is just a scroll away!

What Are Reflective Essay Topics?

Think of reflective essay topics as starting points for a personal journey. They're about you and your experiences, feelings, or thoughts. The topics for a reflective essay aren't your average "write about your summer vacation" deal. Nope. They dive deeper, probing into how experiences have shaped you, lessons you've learned, and realizations you've had.

These topics push you to reflect, hence the name 'reflective' essays. But you shouldn’t just recount your experiences. Here it’s all about understanding your reactions, and figuring out how you've grown from them.  For this reason, reflection topics are often used in a college admission essay or personal statement for colleges . 

In this blog, we're about to dish out a collection of topics for reflective essays, all tailored to subject areas and specific needs. Stay tuned!

What Makes Reflective Essay Topics Good?

But what turns an ordinary reflective essay topic into a stellar one? Here are the key ingredients:

• Personal connection You've got to deeply relate to it. It's about your experiences, emotions, and memories.
• Exploration Good reflective topics are layered, giving you lots to explore and dissect. In this respect, they are very similar to topics for exploratory essays .
• Growth and transformation The best reflection topics tie into personal growth, letting you show how you've changed or evolved.
• Uniqueness Your reflection topic should be distinctive, reflecting your unique experiences and viewpoints.

How to Choose a Reflective Essay Topic?

Picking the right reflection paper title can feel like a challenge. There are so many options! Here's what you should do before you push yourself to the brink of decision-making exhaustion:

• Think about your experiences Reflective essays share personal experiences. So, start by thinking about your past. What moments have significantly shaped your life? Consider events where you felt strong emotions, learned a valuable lesson, or underwent a change in perspective.
• Identify the lesson Once you've picked a few worthy experiences, think about the lessons you learned from each of them. A good reflective essay topic goes beyond just describing an event – it also explores the impact it had on your personal development.
• Check its depth Assess if the topic has enough depth for exploration. Does it allow you to reflect deeply? Can you discuss not just what happened, but how it changed you? A good reflection essay topic should give you plenty of material to analyze.
• Keep it unique Lastly, ensure your topic is unique and personal to you. You don't want to pick a topic that's been overused or one that doesn't truly represent your personal experiences.
• Be honest Honesty is key in reflective essays. Choose a reflective topic that you're comfortable sharing and can be honest about.

It seems pretty easy on the paper, but actually it is not. Finding the right reflective essay topic can be tricky. If you don’t pick an interesting one, your essay might come out forced or lack the depth needed for a good reflective piece. But that’s about to be changed. Scroll down to find our suggestions. 

List of Top Reflective Essay Topics

Let us emphasize once again, the right reflective essay topic idea needs to resonate with you. That’s why, we suggest first to look at this list of top-rated reflective paper ideas to inspire you. Hover over these reflective essay questions and suggestions, find one that clicks, and get writing!

• Conquering your biggest fear.
• A life-changing experience in a foreign country.
• Balancing work and study: Personal insights.
• How a childhood hobby influenced your career choice.
• Reflections on a significant failure and its lessons.
• Meeting someone who changed your outlook on life.
• Learning a new language: Struggles and triumphs.
• Unexpected leadership: Stepping up when it mattered.
• Experiencing culture shock and its impacts.
• Living through a natural disaster: Personal narrative.
• Adopting a pet and learning responsibility.
• Personal growth from volunteering at a homeless shelter.
• How losing a job can lead to new opportunities.
• Lessons from a year spent off the grid.
• Navigating through the first year in college.

Good Reflective Essay Topics

We can't overstate this: your reflective essay topic has to hit home. So take your time perusing this list. We've got another set of good topics for a reflective essay right below.

• Your first encounter with significant loss.
• Finding strength in vulnerability.
• Living through a pandemic: Lessons and realizations.
• How a chance encounter changed your day (or life).
• Experiencing a paradigm shift in thinking.
• Embarking on a solo travel adventure: Insights and experiences.
• Coping with change in your life.
• Coming out of your comfort zone.
• Confronting your bias: A turning point.
• Discovering a passion later in life.
• Learning to let go: A narrative essay .
• A conversation that opened your mind.
• Reflections on a significant birthday.
• First experience of feeling truly independent.
• Mastering a complex skill: Your journey and outcome.

Interesting Reflective Essay Topics

We're back with another set of thought-provoking reflective essay prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Dive into these interesting titles for reflection papers shared by our professional  essay writer .

• When a book made you rethink your beliefs
• Embracing a new culture.
• Experience of confronting a personal phobia.
• Navigating the world of online dating.
• When a film resonated deeply with your life.
• Managing mental health: Your journey to self-care.
• Transformative power of an act of kindness.
• When a piece of art stirred your emotions.
• Growing through a toxic relationship.
• Lessons from a year of minimalistic living.
• Struggling with impostor syndrome.
• An experience that tested your ethical boundaries.
• How your first rejection shaped your resilience.
• Learning to prioritize self: A personal story.
• When cooking taught you more than just recipes.

Easy Reflective Essay Topics

If you're just starting out or looking for something straightforward, you're in the right place. Here are some easy reflective essay topics that let you explore your experiences while keeping it simple.

• Your first heartbreak: Lessons learned.
• Adopting a healthier lifestyle: Personal journey.
• Learning from a mistake at work.
• Being part of a team: Insights and growth.
• Coping with moving to a new city.
• Overcoming an academic challenge.
• A memorable family vacation.
• Dealing with a personal conflict.
• Your experience with meditation or yoga.
• A rewarding experience of helping someone.
• Adjusting to life during a major event or crisis.
• Taking on a new hobby: Personal experiences.
• Adjusting to the life of a college freshman.
• Experience of learning to drive.
• Your relationship with nature.

Unique Reflective Essay Topics

Writing a reflection paper around a unique topic can make your piece stand out. These topics for reflective essays are meant to trigger your imagination and help you explore less conventional themes. Here are unique reflective essay topics that'll make your writing unforgettable.

• The impact of a documentary on your worldview.
• Living without technology: Your experience.
• Experience of witnessing an historical event.
• How a stranger's kindness affected you.
• Your evolution as a digital citizen.
• Moving from consumer to creator.
• The influence of astrology on your life.
• Reflections on a silent retreat.
• Growth from a failed startup venture.
• Learning empathy through virtual reality.
• The impact of climate change: Personal perspective.
• Your journey in understanding gender equality.
• Surviving a cyberbully: Lessons and growth.
• Living a month following a strict budget.
• A personal encounter with wildlife.

Best Reflective Essay Topics

To help you pen an exceptional paper, we've compiled a list of some of the best personal reflective essay topics. These prompts are designed to guide you towards meaningful self-reflection.

• Reconnecting with an old friend: Your experience.
• How a mentor shaped your personal or professional life.
• The transformational power of music: Your story.
• An incident that sparked personal growth.
• Learning to forgive.
• The moment you felt most alive.
• Impact of a social issue on your life.
• The process of overcoming a deep-rooted fear.
• Your experience of learning a foreign language.
• Lessons from an unplanned adventure.
• A significant dream and its impact on you.
• How a speech or a quote changed your perspective.
• Coping with failure.
• Discovering a new perspective on a controversial issue.
• Experience of a spiritual or mystical phenomenon.

Reflective Essay Topic Ideas for Students

From middle school to college, students at all academic levels can benefit from reflective writing. It not only boosts critical thinking but also personal growth. With that in mind, we've curated a wide range of reflective essay ideas and topics suitable for students of all grades.

Reflective Essay Topics for Middle School

Writing a reflective essay in middle school can be a fantastic way to express your thoughts and explore your feelings on various topics. Whether it's a personal experience or a concept you've learned in class, reflection topics allow you to dive deeper and understand it from a unique perspective. Below are some engaging reflective essay topics designed especially for middle school students.

• Moving from elementary to middle school.
• A time you took a stand for something you believed in.
• Reflecting on a school project that challenged you.
• Your experience with a memorable school trip.
• Lessons from your first team sport experience.
• An incident that made you appreciate your family more.
• When you had to make a difficult choice: Your story.
• Learning from a time you failed at something.
• How reading your favorite book influenced you.
• Your experience of making a new friend.

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 7

• Your experience of setting and achieving a personal goal.
• A time when you had to make a tough decision.
• Reflecting on your growth over the past school year.
• An encounter that helped you understand a different culture.
• Learning a valuable lesson from a sibling or friend.
• Your experience of participating in a school event.
• How a favorite movie or TV show has influenced you.
• The importance of an object that holds sentimental value.
• Your first experience with peer pressure.
• How volunteering or community service impacted you.

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 8

• Reflecting on a personal achievement that makes you proud.
• Your first experience of handling a big responsibility.
• The impact of a significant historical event on you.
• A moment when you realized your parents were right.
• How an act of kindness changed your perspective.
• An experience that made you understand the importance of time management.
• The changes in your life since the start of middle school.
• How a piece of news or a current event influenced your views.
• The role of a specific school subject in your personal growth.
• Your experience of dealing with a significant change at home or school.

Reflective Essay Topics for High School

At high school, you are expected to connect the theoretical world of your education with the practical experiences of your life. Explore these topics for a reflective essay for high school students. These reflection writing prompts encourage you to think introspectively about your personal growth, experiences, and learning.

• Overcoming your biggest fear.
• The influence of a high school teacher on your academic career.
• Reflecting on a memorable performance or game in school.
• Navigating high school politics.
• A significant event that shaped your high school experience.
• Impact of social media on your personal and academic life.
• Transitioning from middle school to high school
• The role of high school clubs or societies in your personal development.
• Balancing academics, extracurriculars, and personal life.
• Preparing for application for colleges .

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 9

• Your journey towards developing a growth mindset.
• Reflecting on your first year of high school.
• How a significant world event influenced your worldview.
• The role of perseverance in achieving academic goals.
• Learning about the importance of mental health: Your story.
• Navigating friendship changes in high school.
• The impact of a piece of literature on your thoughts.
• Your first experience with serious academic competition.
• Transition from being a follower to a leader.
• How you tackled an unexpected challenge in school.

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 10

• Reflecting on your growth since the start of high school.
• The influence of a mentor or role model on your life.
• Your experience with a group project or team assignment.
• A personal achievement that signified maturity.
• An event that highlighted the importance of diversity for you.
• How learning a new skill changed your perspective.
• The significance of a community service experience.
• Learning from a setback in your academic journey.
• The role of self-discipline in personal and academic growth.
• How planning for the future has influenced your current decisions.

Reflective Essay Topics for College Students

As you venture into your college years, your experiences become more diverse. Whether it's about the transition from high school, exploring a new city, or forming new relationships, reflective writing in college can be an enriching exercise. Take a glance at these reflective paper topics for college students to guide you towards meaningful self-exploration.

• Adapting to a new city.
• Your experience of living independently for the first time.
• A course that significantly impacted your career choice.
• An incident that tested your leadership skills.
• The impact of an internship or part-time job on your perspective.
• Your transition from high school to college.
• How a group study experience contributed to your personal growth.
• The role of college clubs or societies in your development.
• Balancing academics and social life in college.
• Your experience of studying abroad or planning for it.

Topics for Reflective Essays by Subject

Investigating a particular subject through a reflective essay can be a fascinating exercise. This task offers you an opportunity to connect your personal experiences and thoughts with the concepts you're studying. Be it English Literature, Psychology, or Environmental Science, reflective writing can enrich your understanding of your academic studies. So, we've prepared a list of reflective writing topics for various subjects.

Reflection Essay Topics on Literature 

Are you an avid reader or a literature student? Reflecting on literature can be an engaging way to delve deeper into the themes, characters, and events of your favorite pieces. Below are reflective essay topics  to ignite your literary contemplation:

• Personal revelations from reading '1984' by George Orwell.
• How 'To Kill a Mockingbird' changed your perspective on racial issues.
• Lessons from 'Pride and Prejudice' on societal norms.
• Impact of the dystopian world in 'The Handmaid's Tale'.
• Lessons on friendship from 'The Kite Runner'.
• Examining love and loss through 'Wuthering Heights'.
• Unraveling survival in 'Life of Pi': Your understanding.
• Reflecting on the power struggles in 'Macbeth'.
• Unpacking symbolism in 'The Great Gatsby'.
• Parallels between 'Brave New World' and today's society.
• Lessons on empathy from 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.
• How 'The Scarlet Letter' sparked your thoughts.
• The tragic vision of life in 'Hamlet': Your interpretation.
• Human nature and civilization in 'Lord of the Flies'.
• Exploring feminism in 'Jane Eyre': Your insights.

History Reflective Essay Titles 

Have you ever wondered how historical events shape our personal choices? Reflecting on history allows us to personally engage with these significant events, analyze their impacts, and draw meaningful connections to our lives today. Here are some great topics for reflection on historical events:

• Personal lessons from studying the French Revolution.
• Reflections on the Civil Rights Movement and its ongoing relevance.
• Impact of World War II on your understanding of global politics.
• How the Cold War reshaped your perspective on international relations.
• Understanding human nature through the Holocaust.
• Cultural shifts post the 1960s counterculture movement.
• How studying the Civil War altered your understanding of America.
• Insights gained from the Women's Suffrage Movement.
• Decoding resilience in the face of the Great Depression.
• Learnings from the Age of Enlightenment.
• Personal understanding of colonialism through the British Empire.
• Reflections on the impacts of the Industrial Revolution.
• The Space Race and its influence on your view of progress.
• Drawing parallels between Roman Empire and modern society.
• Reflections on the impacts of the Renaissance on today's world.

>> More ideas: Historical Topics

Reflective Essay Topics on Religion

Religion can offer to explore diverse philosophies and their influence on personal and societal levels. Below are some reflective ideas and topics that invite you to elaborate on various religious facets:

• Impact of studying Buddhism on your personal beliefs.
• Comparing ethical principles in different religions.
• How understanding Hinduism influenced your view on reincarnation.
• The role of the Bible in shaping your moral compass.
• Reflections on the concept of karma in your life.
• Islamic teachings and your view of charity.
• Interpreting the significance of ritual in religious practice.
• Meditation in religious and personal transformation.
• Personal insights from exploring pagan religions.
• Religious diversity and your worldview.
• How studying the Holocaust impacted your understanding of religious tolerance?
• Insights gained from the philosophy of Taoism.
• Lessons on forgiveness from religious teachings.
• Exploring the concept of 'soul' across different religions.
• Your interpretation of the role of faith in modern society.

Sociology Reflective Essay Topics

Sociology is a fascinating field that provides a wealth of ideas for reflective essay. By analyzing societal structures, interactions, and issues, you can gain unique insights and develop your understanding of the world around you. Take a look at these distinctive sociology reflective essay topics to inspire your writing:

• Living through a culture shock.
• Analyzing personal relationships in the era of social media.
• Education as a societal development tool: Personal reflections.
• Family structure shaping personal growth.
• Observations on gender roles in contemporary society.
• Racial disparities and their effect on personal worldview.
• Personal identity within consumer culture.
• Lessons learned from studying local poverty.
• Navigating life in an urbanized community.
• Aging population and shifts in societal norms.
• Applying concepts of status and role to your life experiences.
• Participating in social movements.
• Unpacking the 'social self' through personal experiences.
• Popular culture shaping youth: Personal observations.
• Socialization experiences across different settings.

>> View more: Sociology Paper Topics

Reflective Essay Topics on Psychology

Psychology helps us make sense of human behavior, emotions, and mental processes. Reflecting on psychology can enrich your understanding of self and others. Consider these reflective essay topics in psychology :

• Your journey of self-discovery through personality tests.
• Discovering coping mechanisms: A personal journey.
• Unpacking the stages of grief through personal loss.
• Personal growth from understanding cognitive biases.
• Mindfulness and its effect on personal wellbeing: Your experience.
• Applying behaviorism principles in personal life.
• Emotional intelligence shaping your interpersonal relationships.
• Dreams and their interpretations: Your exploration.
• Your experience with stress management techniques.
• Understanding romantic relationships through attachment styles.
• Personal insights from studying body language.
• The concept of resilience: A personal narrative.
• Personal reflection on motivation theories.
• Insights from exploring the nature vs. nurture debate.
• Your experience of practicing positive psychology.

Reflective Essay Ideas About Public Health

Public health seeks to understand and improve the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and broader populations. Elaborating on public health can provide you with valuable insights about how to protect and promote wellness . Choose a proper reflective essay title from this selection of public health research topics :

• Experiencing a public health campaign.
• Personal growth from volunteering in a healthcare setting.
• Navigating personal health in a pandemic era.
• How understanding health disparities changed your worldview.
• Lessons from personal involvement in a vaccination drive.
• Your experience with fitness and wellness programs.
• Insights from observing the impact of environmental health issues.
• Personal reflections on health education and its significance.
• The role of nutrition in personal health.
• Addressing mental health stigma.
• Your experience with health promotion initiatives.
• Personal reflections on the interplay between lifestyle and health.
• How learning about epidemiology shaped your understanding of diseases.
• Experiences with healthcare accessibility and its effects.
• Your role in creating a healthier community.

Environmental Science Reflection Essay Titles

Environmental science intertwines with many facets of our lives, and reflecting on it can enhance our awareness of the natural world and our place in it. That’s why, we created this list of environmental science topics for reflective essays:

• Personal growth from participating in a tree planting initiative.
• Your experience of witnessing a natural disaster.
• Personal insights from tracking local weather patterns.
• Your journey towards adopting a sustainable lifestyle.
• Lessons from personal involvement in a recycling program.
• Observations on local biodiversity during nature walks.
• Experiencing the effects of urbanization on local environment.
• A personal narrative on water conservation efforts.
• Your exploration of renewable energy options for your home.
• Reflections on personal encounters with wildlife.
• The role of composting in waste management: Your experience.
• Understanding climate change through local environmental changes.
• Insights from observing seasonal changes in your locality.
• Your experience with efforts to reduce air pollution.
• Personal reflections on the importance of national parks.

Topics for Reflective Essays by Categories

No matter the topic you choose for your reflective essay, it should be centered around a meaningful event, thought, or emotion. Whether it's a place you've visited, an event you've attended, or a relationship that's had a significant impact, these experiences offer ample fodder for introspective writing. Search for a worthwhile topic navigating the following ideas for a reflective essay.

Reflection Essay Topics About Places

Whether it's a city you've visited or a corner of your home that holds special meaning, places can serve as a compelling focal point for reflective writing. Unleash your creativity with these astounding  reflective essay topics about places:

• Finding tranquility in a public park: Your experience.
• Your personal journey through a bustling city.
• Living in a rural community: Personal reflections.
• Your experience exploring a historical site.
• How a visit to an art museum inspired you.
• Experiencing serenity at a seaside: A personal narrative.
• How a childhood home influenced your identity.
• Discovering cultural diversity in a global city: Your story.
• Personal insights from trekking through a national park.
• Reflections on a visit to a local farmer's market.
• Navigating life in a multicultural neighborhood.
• Unpacking your experiences in a sacred place.
• Your journey exploring an ancient ruin.
• Personal growth from time spent in a library.
• Your experience with the vibrancy of a music festival location.

Reflective Essay Topics About Events

Events can be small, everyday moments or major occurrences that have a lasting impact. Below you'll find creative reflection essay topics about events:

• The emotional impact of witnessing a solar eclipse.
• Personal growth from surviving a natural disaster.
• Your experience of a peaceful protest.
• When a sporting event stirred your emotions.
• Attending a live theater performance: Personal reflections.
• Lessons learned from hosting a surprise party.
• Your experience of witnessing a cultural ceremony.
• Personal growth from attending a writer's workshop.
• Reflections on participating in a marathon.
• Your experience of navigating a family crisis.
• Attending a friend's wedding in another culture: Personal insights.
• Experiencing a religious ritual: A personal narrative.
• Your reflections on a significant news event.
• Witnessing the evolution of a local tradition: Your story.
• How attending a funeral led to personal introspection.

Reflective Ideas About Nature

Nature offers endless possibilities for reflection, with every landscape, animal encounter, or weather pattern holding potential lessons. Take a look at these examples of reflection essay topics.

• Personal insights from observing a sunset.
• Witnessing a storm.
• Your experience with gardening: Growth and patience.
• Observing wildlife in its natural habitat.
• Reflections on a hike through a mountain range.
• Your first experience of snow.
• Lessons learned from living through a natural disaster.
• Personal growth from exploring a rainforest.
• Observing the changing seasons.
• A night under the stars.
• Experiencing the grandeur of a waterfall.
• Your interactions with a pet and what they've taught you.
• Personal insights from a sailing experience.
• Observing the cycle of life and death in nature.
• How a solitary walk in a park changed your perspective.

Topics for Reflective Essay About Outdoor Activities

Whether it's an adventure you've experienced or a skill you've learned, reflecting on your outdoor pursuits can be engaging. Below we will share great reflective essay topics about outdoor activities:

• Wilderness survival course.
• Experiencing the calm of fishing.
• Insights from your first camping trip.
• Tackling an adventurous mountain trek.
• Lessons from a star-gazing experience.
• Bird-watching in a natural reserve.
• Joining a nature cleanup campaign.
• Experiencing a multi-day hiking trip.
• Solitude and serenity of a desert visit.
• Challenging rock climbing session.
• Navigating a maze in a cornfield.
• How gardening influenced your understanding of life cycles.
• Sailing for the first time.
• Participating in a beach volleyball tournament.

Reflective Essay Topics About Life Moments

Life is full of moments, some ordinary, some extraordinary. It could be a chance encounter, a quiet moment of introspection, or a pivotal life event, these experiences shape us in profound ways. Dive into the depths of your life moments with these reflective essay topics:

• How moving to a new city changed your perspective?
• The birth of a sibling.
• Lessons learned from a financial hardship.
• Personal growth from coping with a break-up.
• Overcoming a fear.
• Significant accomplishment.
• A moment when a child's words profoundly affected you.
• Dealing with a health challenge.
• Your experience of living alone for the first time.
• Decision to adopt a pet.
• A chance encounter that changed your viewpoint.
• Learning a new skill as an adult.
• How receiving a meaningful gift affected you?
• Your experience of embracing a new hobby.
• The moment you stood up for what's right.

Personal Reflective Essay Topics on Relationships

Relationships form the bedrock of our personal experiences. They teach us about love, empathy, resilience, forgiveness, and many other facets of human interaction. Whether these relationships are familial, romantic, or platonic, they offer many reflective essay topics:

• How a friendship shaped your understanding of loyalty.
• Turbulent romantic relationship.
• Lessons learned from a strained familial bond.
• Mending a broken friendship.
• Supporting a friend in crisis.
• The end of a long-term relationship.
• Lessons from being the 'new kid' in a social circle.
• The impact of a mentor in your life.
• Maintaining long-distance relationships.
• Difficult work relationship.
• How a sibling rivalry influenced your personal growth?
• Friendship that blossomed online.
• Helping a friend through grief.
• Insights from being part of a diverse community.
• How building a relationship with a pet changed your life?

Reflective Essay Topics on Hobbies

Hobbies are much more than just pastimes. They are a reflection of our passions, interests, and personalities. They teach us new skills, offer a sense of achievement, and sometimes even become a significant part of our lives. Consider these reflective essay topics focused on hobbies:

• How a hobby turned into a passion.
• Learning to play a musical instrument.
• Setting up a home garden.
• Personal insights from getting into amateur photography.
• How collecting stamps broadened your understanding of cultures.
• Learning a new language as a hobby.
• Lessons learned from DIY home improvement projects.
• Your experience of getting into bird watching.
• Baking your own bread.
• How practicing yoga transformed your outlook.
• Joining a book club.
• Your experience of learning to knit.
• Lessons learned from amateur astronomy.
• How a hobby of painting helped you express emotions.
• Your experience of starting a blog.

Reflective Essay Topics About Personal Experience

If you are searching for reflective paper topics related to personal experiences, don’t skip these ideas:

• Overcoming a personal challenge.
• Receiving an unexpected act of kindness.
• Facing an ethical dilemma.
• Conquering the fear of public speaking.
• Your first job interview.
• A surprise trip as a journey of self-discovery.
• Volunteering at a local charity: Behind the scenes.
• Handling a personal failure.
• A moment of profound joy.
• Experiencing cultural shock.
• Standing up against a social issue.
• A random conversation that changed your perspective.
• The journey of spiritual awakening.
• Learning to drive.
• How a personal loss influenced your outlook on life.

Topics for a Reflective Essay About Home

Home is often considered a safe haven; a place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the world. Reflecting on your relationship with this special space can be an effective way to come to terms with your past and present experiences. Consider these reflective essay topic ideas if you want to describe meaningful things about your home:

• Growing up in a multi-generational household.
• First time home alone.
• Moving out: The journey from comfort to self-sufficiency.
• Childhood room: A sanctuary and its significance.
• Renovating your home.
• Home during holidays.
• Your experience of creating a home office.
• How setting up a kitchen garden transformed your space.
• Hosting a family reunion.
• Living in a dorm versus home.
• Your experience of maintaining a home library.
• How decorating your room reflected your personality.
• Transition from a bustling city home to a tranquil countryside abode.
• Your journey of turning a house into a home.
• Experiencing home through the eyes of a pet.

Bottom Line on Topics for Reflective Essays

Navigating the world of reflective essay topics might seem like a daunting task, but remember, the key is to choose something that you love. You're in the driver's seat, so pick a topic that stirs up memories, emotions, or thoughts worth exploring.

Remember, no experience is too small, and often, it's the simplest experiences that bring out the most profound insights. Whether it's about your home, school, or personal relationships, your reflection has the potential to turn into a compelling narrative.

In case you are wondering how to write a reflective essay  or any other type of essay , don’t forget to check our blog. From topic ideas to writing tips, we share tons of articles that will help you pass academic tasks.

Take a breather and let academic pros handle the heavy lifting! Our seasoned writers craft high-quality essays that won't break the bank. Order essay from our professionals and focus on more important matters.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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A complete guide to writing a reflective essay

(Last updated: 3 June 2024)

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“The overwhelming burden of writing my first ever reflective essay loomed over me as I sat as still as a statue, as my fingers nervously poised over the intimidating buttons on my laptop keyboard. Where would I begin? Where would I end? Nerve wracking thoughts filled my mind as I fretted over the seemingly impossible journey on which I was about to embark.”

Reflective essays may seem simple on the surface, but they can be a real stumbling block if you're not quite sure how to go about them. In simple terms, reflective essays constitute a critical examination of a life experience and, with the right guidance, they're not too challenging to put together. A reflective essay is similar to other essays in that it needs to be easily understood and well structured, but the content is more akin to something personal like a diary entry.

In this guide, we explore in detail how to write a great reflective essay , including what makes a good structure and some advice on the writing process. We’ve even thrown in an example reflective essay to inspire you too, making this the ultimate guide for anyone needing reflective essay help.

Types of Reflection Papers

There are several types of reflective papers, each serving a unique purpose. Educational reflection papers focus on your learning experiences, such as a course or a lecture, and how they have impacted your understanding. Professional reflection papers often relate to work experiences, discussing what you have learned in a professional setting and how it has shaped your skills and perspectives. Personal reflection papers delve into personal experiences and their influence on your personal growth and development.

Each of these requires a slightly different approach, but all aim to provide insight into your thoughts and experiences, demonstrating your ability to analyse and learn from them. Understanding the specific requirements of each type can help you tailor your writing to effectively convey your reflections.

Reflective Essay Format

In a reflective essay, a writer primarily examines his or her life experiences, hence the term ‘reflective’. The purpose of writing a reflective essay is to provide a platform for the author to not only recount a particular life experience, but to also explore how he or she has changed or learned from those experiences. Reflective writing can be presented in various formats, but you’ll most often see it in a learning log format or diary entry. Diary entries in particular are used to convey how the author’s thoughts have developed and evolved over the course of a particular period.

The format of a reflective essay may change depending on the target audience. Reflective essays can be academic, or may feature more broadly as a part of a general piece of writing for a magazine, for instance. For class assignments, while the presentation format can vary, the purpose generally remains the same: tutors aim to inspire students to think deeply and critically about a particular learning experience or set of experiences. Here are some typical examples of reflective essay formats that you may have to write:

A focus on personal growth:

A type of reflective essay often used by tutors as a strategy for helping students to learn how to analyse their personal life experiences to promote emotional growth and development. The essay gives the student a better understanding of both themselves and their behaviours.

A focus on the literature:

This kind of essay requires students to provide a summary of the literature, after which it is applied to the student’s own life experiences.

Pre-Writing Tips: How to Start Writing the Reflection Essay?

As you go about deciding on the content of your essay, you need to keep in mind that a reflective essay is highly personal and aimed at engaging the reader or target audience. And there’s much more to a reflective essay than just recounting a story. You need to be able to reflect (more on this later) on your experience by showing how it influenced your subsequent behaviours and how your life has been particularly changed as a result.

As a starting point, you might want to think about some important experiences in your life that have really impacted you, either positively, negatively, or both. Some typical reflection essay topics include: a real-life experience, an imagined experience, a special object or place, a person who had an influence on you, or something you have watched or read. If you are writing a reflective essay as part of an academic exercise, chances are your tutor will ask you to focus on a particular episode – such as a time when you had to make an important decision – and reflect on what the outcomes were. Note also, that the aftermath of the experience is especially important in a reflective essay; miss this out and you will simply be storytelling.

What Do You Mean By Reflection Essay?

It sounds obvious, but the reflective process forms the core of writing this type of essay, so it’s important you get it right from the outset. You need to really think about how the personal experience you have chosen to focus on impacted or changed you. Use your memories and feelings of the experience to determine the implications for you on a personal level.

Once you’ve chosen the topic of your essay, it’s really important you study it thoroughly and spend a lot of time trying to think about it vividly. Write down everything you can remember about it, describing it as clearly and fully as you can. Keep your five senses in mind as you do this, and be sure to use adjectives to describe your experience. At this stage, you can simply make notes using short phrases, but you need to ensure that you’re recording your responses, perceptions, and your experience of the event(s).

Once you’ve successfully emptied the contents of your memory, you need to start reflecting. A great way to do this is to pick out some reflection questions which will help you think deeper about the impact and lasting effects of your experience. Here are some useful questions that you can consider:

• What have you learned about yourself as a result of the experience?
• Have you developed because of it? How?
• Did it have any positive or negative bearing on your life?
• Looking back, what would you have done differently?
• Why do you think you made the particular choices that you did? Do you think these were the right choices?
• What are your thoughts on the experience in general? Was it a useful learning experience? What specific skills or perspectives did you acquire as a result?

These signpost questions should help kick-start your reflective process. Remember, asking yourself lots of questions is key to ensuring that you think deeply and critically about your experiences – a skill that is at the heart of writing a great reflective essay.

Consider using models of reflection (like the Gibbs or Kolb cycles) before, during, and after the learning process to ensure that you maintain a high standard of analysis. For example, before you really get stuck into the process, consider questions such as: what might happen (regarding the experience)? Are there any possible challenges to keep in mind? What knowledge is needed to be best prepared to approach the experience? Then, as you’re planning and writing, these questions may be useful: what is happening within the learning process? Is the process working out as expected? Am I dealing with the accompanying challenges successfully? Is there anything that needs to be done additionally to ensure that the learning process is successful? What am I learning from this? By adopting such a framework, you’ll be ensuring that you are keeping tabs on the reflective process that should underpin your work.

How to Strategically Plan Out the Reflective Essay Structure?

Here’s a very useful tip: although you may feel well prepared with all that time spent reflecting in your arsenal, do not, start writing your essay until you have worked out a comprehensive, well-rounded plan . Your writing will be so much more coherent, your ideas conveyed with structure and clarity, and your essay will likely achieve higher marks.

This is an especially important step when you’re tackling a reflective essay – there can be a tendency for people to get a little ‘lost’ or disorganised as they recount their life experiences in an erratic and often unsystematic manner as it is a topic so close to their hearts. But if you develop a thorough outline (this is the same as a ‘plan’) and ensure you stick to it like Christopher Columbus to a map, you should do just fine as you embark on the ultimate step of writing your essay. If you need further convincing on how important planning is, we’ve summarised the key benefits of creating a detailed essay outline below:

Now you’re familiar with the benefits of using an outline for your reflective essay, it is essential that you know how to craft one. It can be considerably different from other typical essay outlines, mostly because of the varying subjects. But what remains the same, is that you need to start your outline by drafting the introduction, body and conclusion. More on this below.

Introduction

As is the case with all essays, your reflective essay must begin within an introduction that contains both a hook and a thesis statement. The point of having a ‘hook’ is to grab the attention of your audience or reader from the very beginning. You must portray the exciting aspects of your story in the initial paragraph so that you stand the best chances of holding your reader’s interest. Refer back to the opening quote of this article – did it grab your attention and encourage you to read more? The thesis statement is a brief summary of the focus of the essay, which in this case is a particular experience that influenced you significantly. Remember to give a quick overview of your experience – don’t give too much information away or you risk your reader becoming disinterested.

Next up is planning the body of your essay. This can be the hardest part of the entire paper; it’s easy to waffle and repeat yourself both in the plan and in the actual writing. Have you ever tried recounting a story to a friend only for them to tell you to ‘cut the long story short’? They key here is to put plenty of time and effort into planning the body, and you can draw on the following tips to help you do this well:

Try adopting a chronological approach. This means working through everything you want to touch upon as it happened in time. This kind of approach will ensure that your work is systematic and coherent. Keep in mind that a reflective essay doesn’t necessarily have to be linear, but working chronologically will prevent you from providing a haphazard recollection of your experience. Lay out the important elements of your experience in a timeline – this will then help you clearly see how to piece your narrative together.

Ensure the body of your reflective essay is well focused and contains appropriate critique and reflection. The body should not only summarise your experience, it should explore the impact that the experience has had on your life, as well as the lessons that you have learned as a result. The emphasis should generally be on reflection as opposed to summation. A reflective posture will not only provide readers with insight on your experience, it’ll highlight your personality and your ability to deal with or adapt to particular situations.

In the conclusion of your reflective essay, you should focus on bringing your piece together by providing a summary of both the points made throughout, and what you have learned as a result. Try to include a few points on why and how your attitudes and behaviours have been changed. Consider also how your character and skills have been affected, for example: what conclusions can be drawn about your problem-solving skills? What can be concluded about your approach to specific situations? What might you do differently in similar situations in the future? What steps have you taken to consolidate everything that you have learned from your experience? Keep in mind that your tutor will be looking out for evidence of reflection at a very high standard.

Congratulations – you now have the tools to create a thorough and accurate plan which should put you in good stead for the ultimate phase indeed of any essay, the writing process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Reflective Essay

As with all written assignments, sitting down to put pen to paper (or more likely fingers to keyboard) can be daunting. But if you have put in the time and effort fleshing out a thorough plan, you should be well prepared, which will make the writing process as smooth as possible. The following points should also help ease the writing process:

• To get a feel for the tone and format in which your writing should be, read other typically reflective pieces in magazines and newspapers, for instance.
• Don’t think too much about how to start your first sentence or paragraph; just start writing and you can always come back later to edit anything you’re not keen on. Your first draft won’t necessarily be your best essay writing work but it’s important to remember that the earlier you start writing, the more time you will have to keep reworking your paper until it’s perfect. Don’t shy away from using a free-flow method, writing and recording your thoughts and feelings on your experiences as and when they come to mind. But make sure you stick to your plan. Your plan is your roadmap which will ensure your writing doesn’t meander too far off course.
• For every point you make about an experience or event, support it by describing how you were directly impacted, using specific as opposed to vague words to convey exactly how you felt.
• Write using the first-person narrative, ensuring that the tone of your essay is very personal and reflective of your character.
• If you need to, refer back to our notes earlier on creating an outline. As you work through your essay, present your thoughts systematically, remembering to focus on your key learning outcomes.
• Consider starting your introduction with a short anecdote or quote to grasp your readers’ attention, or other engaging techniques such as flashbacks.
• Choose your vocabulary carefully to properly convey your feelings and emotions. Remember that reflective writing has a descriptive component and so must have a wide range of adjectives to draw from. Avoid vague adjectives such as ‘okay’ or ‘nice’ as they don’t really offer much insight into your feelings and personality. Be more specific – this will make your writing more engaging.
• Be honest with your feelings and opinions. Remember that this is a reflective task, and is the one place you can freely admit – without any repercussions – that you failed at a particular task. When assessing your essay, your tutor will expect a deep level of reflection, not a simple review of your experiences and emotion. Showing deep reflection requires you to move beyond the descriptive. Be extremely critical about your experience and your response to it. In your evaluation and analysis, ensure that you make value judgements, incorporating ideas from outside the experience you had to guide your analysis. Remember that you can be honest about your feelings without writing in a direct way. Use words that work for you and are aligned with your personality.
• Once you’ve finished learning about and reflecting on your experience, consider asking yourself these questions: what did I particularly value from the experience and why? Looking back, how successful has the process been? Think about your opinions immediately after the experience and how they differ now, so that you can evaluate the difference between your immediate and current perceptions. Asking yourself such questions will help you achieve reflective writing effectively and efficiently.
• Don’t shy away from using a variety of punctuation. It helps keeps your writing dynamic! Doesn’t it?
• If you really want to awaken your reader’s imagination, you can use imagery to create a vivid picture of your experiences.
• Ensure that you highlight your turning point, or what we like to call your “Aha!” moment. Without this moment, your resulting feelings and thoughts aren’t as valid and your argument not as strong.
• Don’t forget to keep reiterating the lessons you have learned from your experience.

Bonus Tip - Using Wider Sources

Although a reflective piece of writing is focused on personal experience, it’s important you draw on other sources to demonstrate your understanding of your experience from a theoretical perspective. It’ll show a level of analysis – and a standard of reliability in what you’re claiming – if you’re also able to validate your work against other perspectives that you find. Think about possible sources, like newspapers, surveys, books and even journal articles. Generally, the additional sources you decide to include in your work are highly dependent on your field of study. Analysing a wide range of sources, will show that you have read widely on your subject area, that you have nuanced insight into the available literature on the subject of your essay, and that you have considered the broader implications of the literature for your essay. The incorporation of other sources into your essay also helps to show that you are aware of the multi-dimensional nature of both the learning and problem-solving process.

Reflective Essay Example

If you want some inspiration for writing, take a look at our example of a short reflective essay , which can serve as a useful starting point for you when you set out to write your own.

Some Final Notes to Remember

To recap, the key to writing a reflective essay is demonstrating what lessons you have taken away from your experiences, and why and how you have been shaped by these lessons.

The reflective thinking process begins with you – you must consciously make an effort to identify and examine your own thoughts in relation to a particular experience. Don’t hesitate to explore any prior knowledge or experience of the topic, which will help you identify why you have formed certain opinions on the subject. Remember that central to reflective essay writing is the examination of your attitudes, assumptions and values, so be upfront about how you feel. Reflective writing can be quite therapeutic, helping you identify and clarify your strengths and weaknesses, particularly in terms of any knowledge gaps that you may have. It’s a pretty good way of improving your critical thinking skills, too. It enables you to adopt an introspective posture in analysing your experiences and how you learn/make sense of them.

If you are still having difficulties with starting the writing process, why not try mind-mapping which will help you to structure your thinking and ideas, enabling you to produce a coherent piece. Creating a mind map will ensure that your argument is written in a very systematic way that will be easy for your tutor to follow. Here’s a recap of the contents of this article, which also serves as a way to create a mind map:

1. Identify the topic you will be writing on.

2. Note down any ideas that are related to the topic and if you want to, try drawing a diagram to link together any topics, theories, and ideas.

3. Allow your ideas to flow freely, knowing that you will always have time to edit your reflective essay .

4. Consider how your ideas are connected to each other, then begin the writing process.

And finally, keep in mind that although there are descriptive elements in a reflective essay, we can’t emphasise enough how crucial it is that your work is critical, analytical, and adopts a reflective posture in terms of your experience and the lessons you have learned from it.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Class Reflection — What I Learned on Public Speaking Class: a Reflection

What I Learned on Public Speaking Class: a Reflection

• Categories: Class Reflection Communication Skills Speak

About this sample

Words: 861 |

Published: Mar 18, 2021

Words: 861 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Works Cited

• DeVito, J. A. (2020). The essentials of public speaking (6th ed.). Pearson.
• Hamilton, C. (2014). TED Talks: The official TED guide to public speaking. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
• Lucas, S. E. (2014). The art of public speaking (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• O'Hair, D., Stewart, R., & Rubenstein, H. (2019). A pocket guide to public speaking (6th ed.). Bedford/St. Martin's.
• Pearson, J. C., & Nelson, P. E. (2000). An introduction to human communication : Understanding and sharing (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Petersen, C., & Gallagher, K. (2017). Public speaking: Strategies for success (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Pride, W. M., Hughes, R. J., & Kapoor, J. R. (2020). Business communication (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Quintanilla, K., & Wahl, S. (2016). Business and professional communication: KEYS for workplace excellence (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Verderber, R. F., Verderber, K. S., & Sellnow, D. D. (2020). Communicate! (16th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Zarefsky, D. (2017). Public speaking: Strategies for success (9th ed.). Cengage Learning.

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Encyclopedia

Writing with artificial intelligence, reflection essay.

• CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 by Kristen Gay

At first glance, academic and reflection can sound like contradictory concepts. Writing an academic reflection essay often involves striking a balance between a traditional, academic paper and a reflective essay. In order to find this balance, consider the terms that encompass the title of the assignment

The term “academic” suggests that the writer will be expected to observe conventions for academic writing, such as using a professional tone and crafting a thesis statement. On the other hand, the term “reflection” implies that the writer should critically reflect on their work, project, or writing process, depending on the assignment, and draw conclusions based on these observations.

In general, an academic reflection essay is a combination of these two ideas: writers should observe conventions for academic writing while critically reflecting on their experience or project. Note that the term “critically” suggests that the writing should not merely tell the reader what happened, what you did, or what you learned. Critical reflection takes the writing one step further and entails making an evaluative claim about the experience or project under discussion. Beyond telling readers what happened, critical reflection tends to discuss why it matters and how it contributed to the effectiveness of the project.

Striking the proper balance between critical reflection and academic essay is always determined by the demands of the particular writing situation, so writers should first consider their purpose for writing, their audience, and the project guidelines. While the subject matter of academic reflections is not always “academic,” the writer will usually still be expected to adapt their arguments and points to academic conventions for thesis statements, evidence, organization, style, and formatting.

Several strategies for crafting an academic reflection essay are outlined below based on three important areas: focus, evidence, and organization.

Table of Contents

A thesis statement for an academic reflection essay is often an evaluative claim about your experiences with a process or assignment. Several strategies to consider for a thesis statement in an academic reflection essay include:

• Being Critical: It is important to ensure that the evaluative claim does not simply state the obvious, such as that you completed the assignment, or that you did or did not like it. Instead, make a critical claim about whether or not the project was effective in fulfilling its purpose, or whether the project raised new questions for you to consider and somehow changed your perspective on your topic.
• Placement: For some academic reflection essays, the thesis may not come in the introduction but at the end of the paper, once the writer has fully explained their experiences with the project. Think about where the placement of your thesis will be most effective based on your ideas and how your claim relates to them.

Consider the following example of a thesis statement in an academic reflection essay:

By changing my medium from a picture to a pop song, my message that domestic violence disproportionately affects women was more effectively communicated to an audience of my classmates because they found the message to be more memorable when it was accompanied by music.

This thesis makes a critical evaluative claim (that the change of medium was effective) about the project, and is thus a strong thesis for an academic reflection paper.

Evidence for academic reflection essays may include outside sources, but writers are also asked to support their claims by including observations from their own experience. Writers might effectively support their claims by considering the following strategies:

• Incorporating examples: What examples might help support the claims that you make? How might you expand on your points using these examples, and how might you develop this evidence in relation to your thesis?
• Personal anecdotes or observations: How might you choose relevant personal anecdotes/observations to illustrate your points and support your thesis?
• Logical explanations: How might you explain the logic behind a specific point you are making in order to make it more credible to readers?

Consider the following example for incorporating evidence in an academic reflection essay:

Claim: Changing the medium for my project from a picture to a pop song appealed to my audience of fellow classmates.

Evidence: When I performed my pop song remediation for my classmates, they paid attention to me and said that the message, once transformed into song lyrics, was very catchy and memorable. By the end of the presentation, some of them were even singing along.

In this example, the claim (that the change of medium was effective in appealing to the new audience of fellow classmates) is supported because the writer reveals their observation of the audience’s reaction. (For more about using examples and anecdotes as examples, see “Nontraditional Types of Evidence.”)

Organization

For academic reflection essays, the organizational structure may differ from traditional academic or narrative essays because you are reflecting on your own experiences or observations. Consider the following organizational structures for academic reflection essays:

• Chronological Progression: The progression of points will reflect the order of events/insights as they occurred temporally in the project.

Sample Chronological Organization for a Remediation Reflection:

Paragraph 1: Beginning of the project

Paragraph 2: Progression of the remediation process

Paragraph 3: Progression of the remediation process

Paragraph 4: Progression of the remediation process

Paragraph 5: Progression of the remediation process

Paragraph 6: Conclusion—Was the project effective. How and why? How did the process end?

• By Main Idea/Theme: The progression of points will centralize on main ideas or themes of the project.

Sample Organization By Main Idea/Theme for a Remediation Reflection:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Paragraph 2: Discuss the message being translated

Paragraph 3: Discuss the change of medium

Paragraph 4: Discuss the change of audience

Paragraph 5: Was the change effective? Explain.

Paragraph 6: Conclusion

Remember that while these strategies are intended to help you approach an academic reflection paper with confidence, they are not meant to be prescriptive. Academic reflection essays are often unique to the writer because they ask the writer to consider their observations or reactions to an experience or project. You have distinctive ideas and observations to discuss, so it is likely that your paper will reflect this distinctiveness. With this in mind, consider how to most effectively compose your paper based on your specific project guidelines, instructor suggestions, and your experiences with the project.

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32 Reflect – Informative Speech Self Critique

Informative Speech Self Critique Assignment

Understand the mn state communication pathways learning outcomes for this assignment:, students should be able to:.

1.4 Utilize appropriate research strategies to discover and ethically integrate supporting materials from diverse sources and points of view.

1.5 Demonstrate the ability to listen, analyze, and provide feedback on public discourse.

Description

Start: After you give your speech, ASAP — watch your video one time without stopping it. Then, watch it a second time and answer these questions, rewinding, stopping and playing, etc. as you go. Answer the questions honestly. Remember to use specific examples to support your responses. Remember to quote your online textbook – OR notes online in the Content Area that are relevant to your response — often folks forget and that is the only reason they get poor scores (really!). You will “cite” the textbook like you would a source in your outline.

Read: look back at the chapters related to this unit.

Practice: review the vide of your speech

Do: Complete this

A nice job here will help bolster your grade…!!!

•  How did you practice for this speech (honestly)? How did your preparation differ from the Introduction Speech? What went well in your preparation and what will you do differently for your next speech? How was anxiety similar/different this time? Answer fully below (about at least a paragraph – and please use proper grammar/spelling for full credit – i mn not “texting” mezaages k?):
• Did you state your sources at least 3 times during your speech? When — be specific – add times from your video if possible. Did you say “who, where and when” — be SPECIFIC).  Add the “times” on the video for full credit.
• Watch your speech carefully. Now describe your greatest strength concerning the CONTENT of your speech (content is “what” you said, delivery is “how” you said it careful not to mix these up).

Look to chapters that talk about supporting materials and organization for this question.

Include a specific example from your speech to illustrate your response (yes, quote yourself); explain why this is a strength and include a quote and citation from the free online textbook  (or if you have a hard copy, you can use this too) to support your explanation.

My greatest strength in the content area was my use of transitions. An example of this was when I moved from my first main point to my second main point I said, “Now that I have told you how this book represents my hard exterior, let’s open it up and see how it can also represent the softer side of me.” This was a strength because I was clear and creative in my movement between ideas, as described on page 8-7 in chapter 8 of the online textbook, it says, ” One way to connect points is to include transitional statements. Transitional statements are phrases or sentences that lead from one distinct but connected idea to another. They are used to alert audiences to the fact that you are getting ready to discuss something else.” Thus, these should be smooth and help you move from one point to another” (Barnett, 8-7).

• Now watch your speech carefully and describe your greatest strengths concerning the DELIVERY of your speech (delivery is “how” you said it, content is “what” you said).

For this question,  include a specific example from your speech to illustrate your response (yes, quote yourself and describe the delivery of that quote); explain why this is a strength and include a quote and citation from the free online textbook to support your explanation.

My greatest strength in the delivery area was my use of eye contact. For example, in the body of my speech, when I was covering my second point on why this occurs, I said “this could happen to each of us” and began to look directly at the audience members, and looked to each side very slowly (at 1:30 in the video). I think that this is a strength because if you can look someone in the eye, you generally appear sincere. In the text, on page 12-10, it states, “The eyes are called the windows to the soul, and the importance of eye contact in communication cannot be overemphasized. Ideally, a speaker should include 80% to 90% of the delivery time with eye contact” (Capecce, 12-10). Thus, the online stresses you should not read your speech, with my eye contact I was able to avoid that!

• What will you want to improve upon concerning your delivery? List three areas you will focus upon for the next speech. For each area to improve, give a specific example from your speech to illustrate your response. Then describe how you will work to improve in this area.

I used too many hand gestures. For example, when I was describing the first reason the ball represents me, I looked like I was flying. I raised my hands 10 times in just 43 seconds! I plan to watch myself in a mirror and actually practice my gestures next time. I will write out on my note cards when I should use the gestures….  (then add 2 more areas to improve and your plans for improvement as above).

The Public Speaking Resource Project Copyright © 2018 by Lori Halverson-Wente and Mark Halverson-Wente is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to write a reflective essay

Published September 27, 2020. Updated May 19, 2022.

Reflective Essay Definition

A reflective essay is a type of writing that examines an experience from the past by looking through the lens of the present.

Overview of reflective Essay

The purpose of a reflective essay is to explore an impression you had, looking into the reasons for that impression.  A reflective essay is not writing about an experience. It is writing about your reaction to that experience. A reflective essay is not learning from doing. It is about learning from thinking about what you did. A reflective essay is not about trying to influence anyone of anything. It is about drawing the meaning from your own experience. A reflective essay is not about being correct. It is about being honest. A reflective essay is actually designed to help you improve how you think and learn.

Key takeaways

• A reflective essay examines an experience from the past looking through the lens of the present.
• The purpose of a reflective essay is to explore an impression you had, looking into reasons for that impression.
• A reflective essay is very personal: the topic isn’t so much the experience but how YOU felt ABOUT the experience.

What is a reflective essay?

Sometimes it’s easier to explain what something is NOT.

• A reflective essay is not writing about an experience. It’s writing about your reaction to that experience.
• A reflective essay is not learning from doing. It’s about learning from thinking about what you did.
• A reflective essay is not about trying to convince anyone of anything. It’s about drawing meaning from your own experience.
• A reflective essay is not about being correct. It’s about being honest.

Think about the word “reflection.” What you see in the mirror is not you; it is a reflection of you.

Do you realize that you can never really see yourself? You can only see a reflection of yourself.

Every life experience is like that. You never really see the experience as it’s happening. You only see it and learn from it when you see it through reflection.

Also, you cannot see your reflection if you are too close to the mirror. You need to step back in order to see yourself clearly.

Reflective writing is like that.

A reflective essay is a way of writing where you, as the writer, take a step back from your experience and write about it with some distance.

It is a way of writing about the past from the perspective of the present.

You are no longer going through an experience. Rather, you are reflecting on it to see it more clearly.

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Purpose of a reflective essay

Regardless of how you feel about writing essays, most essays are designed to help you improve how you write. A reflective essay is actually designed to help you improve how you think and learn.

The reflective essay can be very helpful because writing it helps you process whatever you are writing about. That act of processing leads to deeper understanding.

John Dewey, an American scholar, said: “We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.”

Difference between a personal essay and a reflective essay

More than other essays, a reflection is about YOU. Unlike a personal essay, however, a reflective essay requires you to take a step back from an experience and write about it from a distance.

Where a personal essay might say, “Here is something I did,” a reflective essay would try to answer, “Why did I do what I did?”

A reflective essay is a good place to explore questions like, “How did I feel before and after I did that?”, “If I encountered a similar experience, would I do the same thing again?”, and “What did I learn from this experience?”

As you can see, all of the questions are personal: they are not asking about the experience itself, they are asking how YOU felt ABOUT the experience.

Don’t worry about finding the “right” answer. There is no such thing. Every person’s experience and interpretation is unique, and you are writing about your own. You don’t need to compare it to anyone else’s.

Make sure you write the essay in the first person.

Possible topics for a reflective essay

When choosing your topic for a reflective essay, think about whether it caused an impression on you.  Remember that the topic you write about isn’t the focus – the focus is your interpretation of it.

• A teacher who believed in you
• A friend who betrayed you
• A family member
• A place in nature where you feel most comfortable
• The house you grew up in
• A place you visited for the first time, that felt “familiar”
• Going somewhere very foreign
• A new experience
• Failing or succeeding at something
• Learning something new
• Something you’ve done before, but this time something was different

Questions to ask about your topic

Since you want to go deeper with your understanding of the topic, the questions that you ask yourself as you write are important.

• How did I feel, and why did I feel this way?
• How did I react, and why did I react like this?
• Did this change me? Why or why not?
• Would I do something differently next time?
• Was this experience positive or negative for me?
• What does this mean in my life?
• What did I learn from this experience?

Parts of an essay

Every essay you write, including reflective essays, should have three parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. The reflective essay should have those parts as well.

However, the way a reflective essay is organized might be a little different.

Let’s go through each of those parts for a reflective essay. Each part will include a sample.

Introduction

You want to begin your essay with a hook. A hook is an interesting opening that “catches” your readers and makes them want to read more. Your hook is usually the first sentence.

After you’ve hooked the readers, you want to give some context, or background information. In a reflective essay, use the introduction to mention the experience that you will be writing about. Think of each sentence in your intro as a stepping point. Each sentence brings you closer to your thesis statement.

Once you’ve given some context, write a thesis statement, which tells the readers exactly what they’re going to read about. For a reflective essay, the thesis statement should give the readers an idea of the impression the experience made on you. Think of it like a map to the rest of your essay.

Sample introduction

Can you identify the hook, background information, and thesis statement in this sample?

I had seen pictures of the Mona Lisa my whole life. Last summer, I went to Paris and got to see the original painting in the Louvre Museum. As I stood looking at the Mona Lisa, I really was seeing her for the first time. What I found surprising is that I felt the woman in the painting was seeing me as well. I actually felt a connection to the painting.

A typical essay will have from one to three body paragraphs, though you can write as many as you need (or as many as your teacher assigns you). Regardless of how many body paragraphs you have, they will all be organized in a similar manner.

Start with a topic sentence to show your reader what is coming up. This is a general sentence that gives an overview of that paragraph. Since your thesis statement should be about the impression your experience made on you, each topic sentence should be a reason for that impression.

The body paragraph should explain the reason for your impression in depth.

End a body paragraph with a sentence that summarizes what you wrote or that leads into the next paragraph.

Sample body paragraphs

Can you identify the topic sentences? Do the body paragraphs discuss the reasons in depth

I first felt a connection because of the Mona Lisa’s expression. Her face looks calm and seems to give nothing away. Every time I had seen the picture before, I felt like her expression was empty, with nothing behind it. As if the subject was a rich, carefree woman who was just sitting to have her portrait painted. When I stood in front of the original masterpiece, though, her expression opened up. At the time, all I knew was that I was seeing something I hadn’t seen before. Now I know that I saw a woman trying to get through life while feeling like she didn’t know what she was doing. I have often felt the same way. I may look calm to the outside world, but I am trying to hide anxiety. Now I recognize that the Mona Lisa was doing the same thing.

The second reason I felt a connection was because of the Mona Lisa’s posture. The subject looks like she’s sitting in a chair. Her body is facing to the left, but her face is looking at the viewer. It seems as if she wants to go in one direction but is forced to face another. I have felt that way. Like when my parents suggest which future would be better for me. Like when my friends want to do something I’m not comfortable doing. Like when I want to stay home and read but my boyfriend wants us to go to a party. Which way should I go?

Lastly, I felt a connection to the background in the painting. Behind the Mona Lisa is a natural vista with a road and mountains and a lake. The landscape itself seems improbable. Why is there a road when there is no other sign of life? There are no buildings or people in the background. Having the Mona Lisa placed in such a strange background adds to the feeling of anxiety and uncertainty. Again, it seems like the Mona Lisa is talking to me: “Do you ever feel like you don’t know where you are? Or where you belong?” Yes, I feel that way a lot.

Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.

This is how your essay ends and includes the last impression your reader takes away.

In a reflective essay, you may use your conclusion to give closure to the experience you’re writing about.

Add any insights to explain your reasons for your impression.

Finally, remember that a reflection is a way to write about the past from the perspective of the present. Make a clear connection from the past to the present.

Sample conclusion

Does this conclusion give a sense of closure? Does it add any insights? Does it make a connection between past and present?

That summer in Paris was supposed to be an exciting trip for me, but it was actually a difficult time in my life. I was trying to decide what university to go to, what major I should choose, and whether my boyfriend and I should break up or try a long-distance relationship. I had questions brewing in my head and it was difficult to appreciate the beauty of Paris. Seeing the Mona Lisa at that time in my life made me feel at peace. Now I understand what I saw in her that made me feel connected: I saw someone else with doubt and uncertainty, but I knew she would be okay in the end, and so will I. 

Example reflective essay on the Mona Lisa

Example reflective essay on environmental troubles.

By Halina Stolar. Halina has a master’s degree in teaching and taught English as a second language and writing for almost 15 years overseas. She now works as a freelance writer, and geeks out over grammar for fun.

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Critical Reflection

A Critical Reflection (also called a reflective essay) is a process of identifying, questioning, and assessing our deeply-held assumptions – about our knowledge, the way we perceive events and issues, our beliefs, feelings, and actions. When you reflect critically, you use course material (lectures, readings, discussions, etc.) to examine our biases, compare theories with current actions, search for causes and triggers, and identify problems at their core.   Critical reflection is   not   a reading assignment, a summary of an activity, or an emotional outlet.   Rather,   the goal is   to change your thinking about a subject, and thus change your behaviour.

Tip: Critical reflections are common in coursework across all disciplines, but they can take very different forms. Your instructor may ask you to develop a formal essay, produce weekly blog entries, or provide short paragraph answers to a set of questions. Read the assignment guidelines before you begin.

How to Critically Reflect

Writing a critical reflection happens in two phases.

• Analyze:   In the first phase, analyze the issue and your role by asking critical questions. Use free writing as a way to develop good ideas. Don’t worry about organized paragraphs or good grammar at this stage.
• Articulate:   In the second phase, use your analysis to develop a clear argument about what you learned. Organize your ideas so they are clear for your reader.

First phase: Analyze

A popular method for analyzing is the three stage model: What? So What? Now what?

In the  What?  stage, describe the issue, including your role, observations, and reactions. The   what?   stage helps you make initial observations about what you feel and think. At this point, there’s no need to look at your course notes or readings.

Use the questions below to guide your writing during this stage.

• What happened?
• What did you do?
• What did you expect?
• What was different?
• What was your reaction?
• What did you learn?

In the second  So What?   stage, try to understand on a deeper level why the issue is significant or relevant. Use information from your first stage, your course materials (readings, lectures, discussions) -- as well as previous experience and knowledge to help you think through the issue from a variety of perspectives.

Tip:  Since you’ll be using more course resources in this step, review your readings and course notes before you begin writing.

Below are three perspectives you can consider:

• Academic perspective: How did the experience enhance your understanding of a concept/theory/skill? Did the experience confirm your understanding or challenge it? Did you identify strengths or gaps in your knowledge?
• Personal perspective:   Why does the experience matter? What are the consequences? Were your previous expectations/assumptions confirmed or refuted? What surprised you and why?
• Systems perspective:   What were the sources of power and who benefited/who was harmed? What changes would you suggest? How does this experience help you understand the organization or system?

In the third   Now what?   stage, explore how the experience will shape your future thinking and behaviour.

Use the following questions to guide your thinking and writing:

• What are you going to do as a result of your experiences?
• What will you do differently?
• How will you apply what you learned?

Second phase: Articulate

After completing the analysis stage, you probably have a lot of writing, but it is not yet organized into a coherent story. You need to build an organized and clear argument about what you learned and how you changed. To do so,   develop a thesis statement , make an   outline ,   write , and   revise.

Develop a thesis statement

Develop a clear argument to help your reader understand what you learned. This argument should pull together different themes from your analysis into a main idea. You can see an example of a thesis statement in the sample reflection essay at the end of this resource.

Tip: For more help on developing thesis statements, see our   Thesis statements  resource

Make an outline

Once you have a clear thesis statement for your essay, build an outline. Below is a straightforward method to organize your essay.

• Background/Context of reflection
• Thesis statement
• Introduce theme A
• Writer's past position/thinking
• Moment of learning/change
• Writer's current/new position
• Introduce theme B
• Introduce theme C
• Summarize learning
• Discuss significance of learning for self and others
• Discuss future actions/behaviour

Write and revise

Time to get writing! Work from your outline and give yourself enough time for a first draft and revisions.

Even though you are writing about your personal experience and learning, your audience may still be an academic one. Consult the assignment guidelines or ask your instructor to find out whether your writing should be formal or informal.

Sample Critical Reflection

Below are sample annotated paragraphs from one student’s critical reflection for a course on society and privilege.

Introduction

Background/context of reflection : I became aware of privileged positions in society only in recent years. I was lucky enough, privileged enough, to be ignorant of such phenomena, but for some, privilege is a daily lesson of how they do not fit into mainstream culture. In the past, I defined oppression as only that which is obvious and intentional. I never realized the part I played. However, during a class field study to investigate privileged positions in everyday environments, I learned otherwise.   Thesis:   Without meaning to, I caused harm by participating in a system where I gained from others’ subtle oppression. In one of these spaces, the local mall, everything from advertisements to food to products, to the locations of doorways, bathrooms and other public necessities, made clear my privilege as a white, heterosexual male.

Body paragraph

Topic sentence : Peggy McIntosh describes privilege as an invisible knapsack of tools and advantages. This description crystalized for me when I shopped for a greeting card at the stationary store. There, as a white, heterosexual male, I felt comfortable and empowered to roam about the store as I pleased. I freely asked the clerk about a mother’s day card.   Writer’s past position:   Previously, I never considered that a store did anything but sell products. However, when I asked the sales clerk for same sex greeting cards, she paused for a few seconds and gave me a look that made me feel instantly uncomfortable. Some customers stopped to look at me. I felt a heat move over my face. I felt, for a moment, wrong for being in that store.  I quickly clarified that I was only doing a report for school, implying that I was not in fact homosexual.   Writer’s current position:   The clerk’s demeanor changed. I was free to check, she said.  It was the only time during the field study that I had felt the need to explain what I was doing to anyone. I could get out of the situation with a simple clarification. But what if I really was a member of the homosexual community? The looks and the silence taught me that I should be feared.  I realized that, along with its products, the store was selling an image of normal. But my “normality” was another person’s “abnormality.”  After I walked out of the store I felt guilty for having denied being homosexual.

Summary of learning:   At the mall I realized how much we indirectly shame nonprivileged groups, even in seemingly welcoming spaces. That shame is supported every time I or any other privileged individual fails to question our advantage. And it leads to a different kind of shame carried by privileged individuals, too.   Value for self and others:   All of this, as Brown (2003) documents, is exacerbated by silence. Thus, the next step for me is to not only question privilege internally, but to publicly question covert bias and oppression. If I do, I may very well be shamed for speaking out. But my actions might just encourage other people to speak up as well.

Sample paragraphs adapted from James C. Olsen's Teaching Portfolio from Georgetown University .

• Informative vs. Persuasive Speeches Words: 830
• Effective Speech Delivery Tips Words: 876
• Rhetoric: Different Types of Speeches Words: 304
• How to Cite Sources for Informative Speech Words: 572
• Creating a Successful Informative Speech Words: 669
• Freedom of Speech Peculiarities Words: 718
• The “Greening the Ghetto” Speech by Majora Carter Words: 859
• Sociolinguistic Concepts: Speech Community Words: 2132
• The Speeches “Is it a Crime to Vote?” by Anthony and “We Should All Be Feminists” by Adichie Words: 2112
• Why Hate Speech Should Not Be Allowed in the US Words: 577

Personal Informative Speech Reflection

Introduction.

Public speaking skills are essential in the contemporary world since they contribute to a person’s academic and career achievements. To improve the ability to deliver speeches in public, people should have a chance to look at themselves through the eyes of their audience. In this way, they can notice the strengths and weaknesses of their performance and try to eliminate the discovered drawbacks in the future. For this reason, I am going to watch the video of my speech delivery and analyze my public speaking skills.

It seems that the most reliable way of finding out whether the presentation was successful is to check the audience’s feedback. After I delivered my speech, the listeners applauded me, so I can assume that they liked my report. Moreover, I heard a surprised sound from the audience when I expressed my recommendation as to the consumption of vitamins. It makes me think that my speech was interesting and useful for the listeners.

I do not think that the presence of the camera contributed to my anxiety. However, I believe that delivering a speech while being recorded is more complicated than speaking in front of people without a camera. When people perform in front of the audience and know that they will later appear on a video, which can be seen by many other people, the number of their listeners is enlarged. Therefore, speakers feel greater responsibility for their performance, which may increase their anxiety.

However, I think that it does not apply to the cases when a person records the speech while he or she is alone. In this case, it is possible to stop recording when anything goes wrong and start delivering the presentation anew.

While delivering the speech, it is essential to let the audience know where the mentioned evidence comes from. It is also important to make sure that the audience can trust the cited sources. To achieve this, the speaker should provide as much information about references as possible, including the authors’ credentials and dates of publication (Griffin, 2016). For this reason, I cited each of my sources orally, but I think that I could have done it more accurately.

For example, in my report, I cited Raymond Francis, but I did not clarify how old was his research, which I used to support my claims. However, I let my listeners know that Raymond Francis was a doctor and a brilliant and advanced thinker, which proved his trustworthiness. I also mentioned a recent article published in 2019, but I think that my audience could have failed to figure out who had written that article.

Considering the discovered issues, I am determined to do differently several things concerning writing and delivering my speech. First, I will try to provide more information about each of the cited sources. I will tell the listeners the authors’ names, credentials, and dates of publication. Second, I noticed that I looked at my notes almost all the time. Such behavior usually causes a loss of connection with the audience due to the lack of eye contact (North, n.d.). Therefore, I will try to look at my listeners more often to establish a connection and see their immediate feedback.

To sum up, I consider my speech delivery quite satisfactory. Despite some flaws in citing the sources and little eye contact with the audience, the listeners seemed to like my report because of its relevant topic and useful recommendations. Since I have discovered my weaknesses, it is up to me to deal with them and take them into account while preparing for my next public performance.

Griffin, C. L. (2016). Invitation to public speaking – National Geographic edition (6 th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

North, M. (n.d.). 10 tips for improving your public speaking skills . Web.

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How to Write a Reflective Essay

Writing a reflective essay is like deep diving into your experiences and thoughts and sharing what you've learned. 

It's not your typical academic paper – it's more about exploring your personal growth and understanding. Reflective essays are about looking back on moments in your life, analyzing how they've shaped you, and expressing those insights clearly and meaningfully. 

From how to start a reflective essay to what kinds of stylistic devices to use, this article will teach you how to offer readers a glimpse into the complexities of your human experience as a human being.

What Is a Reflective Essay

A reflective essay is a type of personal writing where the author delves into their thoughts, emotions, and experiences regarding a particular topic, event, or aspect of their life. 

Unlike other forms of academic writing, it focuses on the writer's introspection and self-analysis, often exploring how they have been affected or changed by their experiences. 

Reflective essays typically involve a structured approach in which the writer examines the significance of their experiences, considers lessons learned, and considers how they might apply these insights in the future.

Should you need urgent help with this assignment, use our essay writing service without hesitation.

What Is the Purpose of Writing a Reflective Essay

Composing a reflective essay provides a platform for individuals to explore and analyze their experiences, thoughts, and emotions in a structured manner. Through reflection, writers can gain deeper insights into themselves, their beliefs, and their actions. 

Reflective essays provide opportunities for self-discovery, growth, and learning. They encourage individuals to critically examine their experiences, identify patterns, and understand how they have been shaped by various factors. 

Additionally, reflective essays allow custom writers to communicate their insights and perspectives to others, fostering empathy, understanding, and connection. 

Types of Reflective Essays

Reflective essays can take various forms depending on the purpose, audience, and context. Some common types include:

How to Start a Reflective Essay

Starting a reflective essay can be approached in various ways, but here are a few effective strategies to consider:

• Begin with an Engaging Anecdote

Capture your reader's attention by sharing a brief, compelling story or anecdote related to the topic you'll be reflecting on. This can set the tone for your essay and draw readers in from the start.

• Pose a Thought-Provoking Question

Start with a question that prompts readers to think deeply about the topic you'll explore in your reflection. This can create curiosity and encourage engagement right from the beginning.

• Provide Context

Offer some background information or context about the experience or topic you'll reflect on. This will help orient your readers and give them a foundation for understanding your reflection.

• State Your Thesis or Main Idea

Clearly state your reflective essay's main idea or thesis in the introduction. This gives readers a preview of what to expect and directs your reflection.

• Use a Quotation

Begin with a relevant quotation that sets the tone for your reflection and encapsulates what you'll discuss in your essay. Make sure the quotation is meaningful and resonates with your topic.

• Start with a Strong Statement

Open with a bold statement or assertion that captures the essence of your reflection. This can be a striking observation, a personal revelation, or a philosophical insight related to your topic.

Recommended for reading: Academic Essay Guide.

Writing a reflective essay involves several key steps:

Select a Meaningful Topic

Choosing a meaningful topic is pivotal as it sets the foundation for your reflective essay. Consider moments that have left a profound impact or triggered significant growth. These can range from personal experiences and academic achievements to challenges overcome. 

Selecting a topic involves considering personal experiences that have significantly impacted you. Here's how to choose a topic before writing a reflective essay:

• Reflect on Personal Experiences – Think about moments that have left a lasting impression or provoked deep thought and introspection. Consider experiences that have shaped your beliefs, values, or outlook on life.
• Identify Key Events or Challenges – Look for specific events, challenges, or milestones that stand out in your memory. These could be achievements, failures, conflicts, transitions, or moments of self-discovery.
• Consider Emotional Significance – Reflect on experiences that have evoked strong emotions, whether positive or negative. Emotional depth often leads to rich reflection and meaningful insights.
• Focus on Growth or Learning – Choose a topic that highlights personal growth, learning, or transformation. Reflective essays are most compelling when they explore how experiences have influenced your development.
• Think about Relevance and Universality – Consider topics that are not only personally significant but also have broader relevance or universal themes. Reflecting on experiences that others can relate to can make your essay more engaging and impactful.
• Brainstorm Ideas – Brainstorm potential topics, jotting down any experiences or moments that come to mind. Don't censor yourself at this stage; let your thoughts flow freely.
• Narrow Down Your Options – Review your list of potential topics and consider which ones resonate with you the most. Choose a topic you feel passionate about and eager to explore in depth.
• Ensure Personal Connection – Choose a topic that feels authentic and meaningful to you. Your passion and genuine interest in the topic will shine through in your writing, making your reflective essay more compelling and engaging for readers.

Outline Your Essay

An organized outline is a blueprint for your reflective essay, ensuring a structured and coherent narrative flow. Begin by outlining the main points you intend to explore in each section, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. 

Structure your outline logically, allowing for smooth transitions between ideas and reflections. Consider the overarching themes and insights you wish to convey, ensuring they are seamlessly integrated into your essay's framework. 

Through outlining, you streamline the writing process and maintain a cohesive narrative that captivates your audience and effectively communicates your reflections.

Reflect and Brainstorm

Reflection and brainstorming are the cornerstones of a reflective essay, allowing you to delve deep into your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Take the time to introspect on your chosen topic, exploring the nuances of your feelings, reactions, and lessons learned. 

Embrace moments of vulnerability and introspection, as they can lead to genuine insights and self-awareness. Through brainstorming, jot down key moments, reflections, and realizations that have shaped your perspective. 

This process enriches your writing and fosters personal growth and understanding as you navigate through the complexities of your experiences.

Come up with a Thesis Statement

Crafting a compelling thesis statement is essential as it encapsulates your reflective essay's core message or insight. 

Your thesis serves as a roadmap, guiding both you and your readers through the narrative journey ahead. It should concisely summarize your reflection's central theme or purpose, offering a glimpse into the key aspects of your experience and its significance. 

A well-crafted thesis statement provides clarity and focus and sets the tone for the rest of your essay. It acts as a beacon, directing your efforts toward articulating your reflections cohesively while inviting readers to delve deeper into the complexities of your narrative.

Write, Reflect, and Revise

Writing, reflecting, and revising are iterative processes culminating in a polished reflective essay. 

Draft your essay, beginning with a compelling introduction that sets the stage for your reflection. Dive into the body paragraphs, exploring specific aspects of your experience and their implications. Incorporate personal anecdotes, observations, and reflections to enrich your narrative, fostering a deeper connection with your readers. Alternatively, you can buy an essay online to avoid having to do everything on your own.

As you write, reflect on your journey, acknowledging the growth and insights gained along the way. Finally, revise your essay for clarity, coherence, and impact, ensuring that your reflections are articulated effectively and leave a lasting impression on your audience. 

Through this process, you refine your writing and deepen your understanding of yourself and others.

Reflective Essay Outline

Before you start writing any content for your essay, it would be wise to draw up an outline of your document:

Tips for Writing a Reflective Essay

As we know, a reflective essay involves examining your experiences and expressing how they influenced you. Here are seven useful and practical tips to help you write an effective essay about self-reflection:

Focus on a Specific Moment

Choose a specific incident or moment that had a profound impact on you. Narrowing your focus to a single event or series of related events can make your reflection deeper and more meaningful.

Ask Guiding Questions

Use questions to guide your reflection. For example:

• What happened?
• How did it make me feel?
• Why did I feel that way?
• What did I learn from this experience?
• How has this experience changed me?

Answering these questions can help you explore your thoughts and emotions more thoroughly.

Use the 'What, So What, Now What' Framework

• What: Describe the experience or event.
• So What: Analyze why the experience was significant.
• Now What: Reflect on how the experience will influence your future actions or perspectives. This structure ensures your essay has depth and direction.

Integrate Theory and Practice

If relevant, connect your personal experiences with theoretical concepts or lessons you've learned in your studies or professional life. This can add a layer of intellectual reflection to your reflective essays and demonstrate your ability to apply theory to practice.

Include Dialogue and Thoughts

Incorporate direct quotes or internal monologue from the experience. This adds authenticity and gives readers insight into your immediate reactions and thoughts during the event.

Use Reflective Language

Employ phrases that indicate reflection, such as "I realized," "I learned," "This made me think," "I understood that," etc. This helps convey your introspective process to the reader.

 Haven’t Finished Your Reflective Essay Yet?

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Reflective Essay Examples

Recommended for reading: Definition Essay Examples .

Reflective essays are super important for students because they help you think about what you've learned and how you've grown. They make you reflect on your experiences, figure out what went well and what didn't, and understand how it fits into your life. 

By doing this, you don't just memorize stuff for a test – you get why it matters and how it applies to real life. Plus, reflecting like this helps you improve at thinking things through, understanding yourself, and solving problems. 

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How to Write a Reflective Essay?

What are the parts of a typical reflective essay, what is a reflective essay format.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

• Content updated.
• Added 2 tables.
• Reflective essays | Australian National University. (2023, November 14). https://www.anu.edu.au/students/academic-skills/writing-assessment/reflective-writing/reflective-essays
• Reflective Essays. (n.d.). The Writing Center. https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/writing-resources/different-genres/reflective-essays
• https://westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1082779/Reflective_writing_Structure.pdf