Reflect on three experiences or events that led to personal growth. This can be something previously addressed in your Narrative Essay. Think about things that were important or life-changing. Explore ideas of why it was meaningful, what you learned, and how it shaped who you are today.
What Happened
What It Meant
This ENG 025 brainstorming activity asks you to reflect on three experiences that led to personal growth, exploring what happened, what it meant, what you learned, and how it shaped you. It’s pre-writing, so generate rich material you can later turn into a reflective essay.
Key takeaways
- Pick three meaningful, growth-producing experiences.
- For each, capture ‘What Happened’ and ‘What It Meant.’
- Focus on the lesson and how it shaped who you are.
- Be specific — concrete details fuel a strong essay later.
- This is brainstorming, so generate more than you’ll use.
Choose three experiences
Pick three that genuinely changed you — a challenge overcome, a relationship, a failure, a turning point. They can include material from your Narrative Essay. Variety gives you options when you draft.
For each: What Happened / What It Meant
Under What Happened, briefly describe the event with concrete detail. Under What It Meant, dig into why it mattered — what you felt, what you learned, and how it shaped your values, choices, or identity today.
Push for depth
The best reflective essays come from honest ‘so what’ thinking. For each experience, ask: how am I different because of this? Jot more than you need — you’ll pick the strongest one or two to develop.
Format
Keep it in the two-column (What Happened / What It Meant) brainstorming format.