100+ Inspiring Narrative Essay Topics

Writing a personal narrative starts with a good personal narrative topic. Remember, this type of essay should be about a personal experience that inspired you or might inspire others.

• Overcoming a disability
• A health scare that changed your life
• A time when you helped someone
• Someone who changed your life and doesn’t know it
• A time your opinion was changed
• Something you dreamed of as a child that came to fruition
• Overcoming a publicly embarrassing moment
• How social media helped you
• How you dealt with a state of emergency
• A time when you realized someone looked up to you
• A random act of kindness that moved you
• Your part in a pay it forward chain
• One moment that made you a better person
• Checking something off your bucket list
• An accomplishment you never believed was possible
• A lesson you learned from nature
• A book that changed your outlook on life
• A song lyric that uplifts you
• A moment of spontaneity that brought great joy
• Someone who helped you set a goal
• The moment you realized you were beautiful
• Something a child said to you that put life in perspective
• A news story that made you take action
• Following your instincts
• An employer that really supports employees
• A job that changed your opinion about something
• A moment that taught you the value of money
• A movie that mirrors your life
• How VR changed your perspective of the world

Middle school is a great time of self-discovery that’s filled with firsts and memorable moments. Use these milestones as the topic for your narrative essay.

• Making an unlikely friend
• How bad relationships help you become a better person
• The first time you opened your locker
• The teacher that makes you feel smart
• Moving from elementary school to middle school
• A social media post that inspired you
• A news story about a kid/teen that was uplifting
• A comment from a teacher that made you feel good
• A comment from someone you’re not friends with that made you feel good
• Being yourself
• A class you look forward to
• Your parents supporting you and giving you some independence
• Your first cell phone
• A family vacation
• A special photo of friends
• Your bedroom as a safe haven
• Something that always calms you down
• A class presentation that went well
• Something that makes you special or unique
• A time when you didn’t let peer pressure get to you
• A time when you lost a friend, then got them back
• The village that helped raise you
• How you make a difference in the world
• What your pet has taught you about love

High school narrative essay topics include the classic moments that are stereotypical of the secondary school experience.

• Special homecoming court moment
• A friendship that started long before high school
• Prom dress shopping and your self-esteem
• Anticipation for graduation
• An award or scholarship you received
• Participating in a school musical
• A class or club trip
• Your first love
• A moment you stood up for what you believed in
• How your relationship with your parents changed for the better
• Showing school pride
• Something you thought would be hard, but turned out to be easy
• Taking a stand against social norms
• Expressing your personality through fashion
• A YA novel that captures your feelings exactly
• Removing a toxic person from your life
• Your most inspiring social media post
• Songs that get you pumped up
• A celebrity who impacted your life in a good way
• Overcoming a sports injury
• The power of true teamwork
• An optimistic moment
• A time you felt totally prepared for something scary
• Something you built on your own
• A life skill you’ve mastered
• Learning to drive

College is another time in your life that’s wrought with self-discovery and seeing the world as it truly is.

• Why you chose to go to college
• How you chose your major
• The impact of joining a team or club
• A fellow student you see thriving against the odds
• Examples of community on campus
• A test experience that boosted your self-esteem
• The moment you realized you were going into the right field
• What a college degree means to you
• College as a microcosm of the world
• The feeling of independence
• Keeping in touch with family
• The role of old friends in your new life
• Dating as a way of finding yourself and growing as a person
• Receiving good news
• Overcoming professional rejection
• Something you brought from home that keeps you sane
• The role of “home” in your life
• A time when you received great professional feedback
• Your biggest cheerleader
• Your mentor
• A TV character who broke the mold
• A moving internship experience

Whether you use narrative writing prompts or not, a narrative essay should always be a moment where you share your story. More often than not, your story is relatable to others. To craft the best narrative essay, choose a topic that’s meaningful to you.