142+ ‘Lessons learned’ Writing Prompts
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Golden Rule Reflection
The Golden Rule states “Treat others how you would want to be treated”. Write about a time when you applied this rule, or a time when you failed to do so.
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Love Letters to Self
On Valentine’s Day, write a love letter to yourself, focusing on your strengths and achievements.
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Tales of The Time Traveling Wizard
A wizard has invented a time-travelling spell. Write about his adventures across different timelines.
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The Heartbreak
Write about a high school breakup, revealing the emotions, the fallout, and the lessons learned.
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Life Lessons from Family
Write about something your family member taught you that you find valuable.
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Digging the Depths of Experience
Write about an event where you took a meaningful risk, and explore the impact it had.
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Cupid’s New Apprentice
Write a story from the perspective of Cupid’s new apprentices on their first Valentine’s Day.
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Coping with Cliques
Share an instance from 7th grade of dealing with peer pressure or fitting into a specific group.
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November Twilight Reflections
Write an introspective piece reflecting on the year, using the November twilight as symbolism.
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Summer Camp Chronicles
Describe a memorable summer camp experience, highlighting a particular sport or activity that you engaged in.
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Fantastical Fairy-tale Journey
You are a character in a fairy tale. Describe a long journey through a magical land.
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Your Own Fairy Tale
Write out your own original fairy tale, complete with a mystical creature, a daring quest, and a moral at the end.
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Gratitude in Grief
Write a letter of gratitude to your past love for the growth experienced through your heartbreak.
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Golden Lessons
Describe your journey to find the Pot of Gold at the end of a rainbow and the lessons you learn along the way.
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Past, Present, Future
Write three letters: one to your past self, one to your present self, and one to your future self.
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Creating My Own Fairy Tale
Write your own fairy tale, complete with heroes, villains, magical items, and lessons learned.
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A Letter to my Broken Heart
Pen a compassionate letter to your own broken heart, acknowledging its pain and the lessons learned.
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4. Unrequited Love
Create a scenario where one character is in love with another, but their feelings are not reciprocated.
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Decade in Review
Dedicate a piece of writing on the decade past, reminiscing the notable experiences and transformations.
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The Companion of Time
Write a letter to yourself that speaks to your experiences from the past year.
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Lessons Learned
Write down a hard lesson you’ve learned, and express your gratitude for the growth it allowed.
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Back to the Future
Your protagonist begins to receive messages from an old friend who claims to have traveled into the future.
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Acknowledging Emotions
Write a letter to your heartache, acknowledging how it has shaped you and how you plan to move forward.
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A Titanic Endeavor
Create a fictional account of an engineer involved in the making of a notorious ship, like the Titanic.
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Retrospect of Goodbye to the Old Year
Think back upon the year that has just ended and write a farewell letter to it.
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Lessons from Mistakes
Pen down a mistake you’ve made that you are now thankful for, detailing how it taught you a valuable lesson.
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The Chapters of Life
Envision your life as a book, break down the stages into chapters, and write about them.
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Changing Season, Changing Routines
Detail a day in the life of an October farm, detailing the shifts in routines and activities as seasons change.
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April Affirmations: Write Your Own Motivational Quote
Write your own motivational quote that captures the spirit of April and what it means to you.
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Mindfulness Reset
Write a letter to yourself sharing key lessons from the past year and your commitment to practiced mindfulness.
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Commemorating Major Accomplishments
Recount your most significant achievements in the past year and how they have shaped you as an individual.
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Handling Heartbreak
Reflect on a romantic relationship that ended and how you handled the heartbreak.
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The Weight of a Lie
Write about a time when you told a lie and how it made you feel. Explore the consequences of this and what you learned from it.
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Reflections of October
Reflect on the events of the previous month and how they have affected your self-development and the lives of those around you.
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Evolution of Love
Describe how your idea of love has changed from your teen years to the present day.
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January Reflections
Write a reflection on the past year, documenting key lessons learned, triumphs and trials.
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Replaying January’s Tape
Write a day-by-day reflection journal detailing your experiences, emotions and lessons learned in January.
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Adventures with an Ancestor
Pen down the exciting adventures you could see yourself having if you traveled back in time to meet an adventurous ancestor.
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Eternal Love Letters
Write a heart touching love letter as if it was being written by an elderly couple celebrating their 60th Valentine’s Day.
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Overcoming the Impossible
Compose a story about a character who has to face and overcome an impossible challenge.
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Opening New Doors
Write about an opportunity that unexpectedly presented itself following a heartbreak.
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Reflecting on Semester End
Write a letter to Santa discussing your achievements and lessons learned over the semester.
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Inspiring Future Endeavors
Discuss how high school has prepared you for future pursuits and express your aspirations.
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Growing Pains
Detail the process of growing a particular flower or vegetable and the lessons learned along the way.
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Financial Highs and Lows
Write about the most successful and unsuccessful financial decisions you’ve made.
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Master Chef
Describe a Thanksgiving where you or a family member took charge of the cooking for the first time.
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Bubbles of Joy
Revisit that time from your childhood when you were blowing bubbles and your heart swelled with joy.
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Nature’s Echoes
Write an account of a character experiencing personal conflict mirrored by an unfolding natural event.
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Shadow Sleepwalkers
Write about a ghost who visits you in dreams and guides you on spectral sleepwalking adventures.
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The Time Capsule
Create an imaginary time capsule that represents your current parent-child relationship.
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Childhood Amid the War
Put yourself in the shoes of a child during the Civil War era. Write about their disillusionment, their growth, and lessons learned.
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Trial by Fire
Write about a challenging ordeal your hero must undergo to prove their worth or readiness.
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Rethinking Perspectives
Write about a challenging situation you faced and describe how you’d handle it differently today.
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Reflecting on the Past, Planning for the Future
Discuss how writing can help students understand their past and plan for their future.
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Journey into Positivity
Recall a particularly difficult situation or period of time in your life, and consider if there were any positive aspects or lessons learned.
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Temporal Carousel
Imagine yourself as a time-traveling character but with a peculiar twist – the time travel is random and uncontrollable.
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Pillars of Support
Describe a relationship with a teacher or an adult mentor instrumental in your personal and academic growth.
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From Spectator to Player
Write a story on how you transitioned from being a sports spectator to a player.
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Bouncing Back
Describe a setback you faced in 2020 and how you plan to turn it into an opportunity in 2021.
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Life Lessons from Pokemon
Narrate how a trainer learns valuable life lessons from their Pokemon friend.
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The Lost Pokemon Kingdom
Narrate a tale about a forgotten kingdom inhabited purely by Pokemon, discovered by a lost traveler.
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Personal Bonds with Pokemon
Detail the bonds you build with nurturing and caring for injured or abused Pokemon. How does this change your journey?
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Mapping the Lessons
Create a rejection timeline and jot down the lessons learned from each experience.
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Facing Life Hurdles
Write about a challenging situation or event in your life that forced you to grow and change.
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Reframing Failure
Write about an instance where you fell short or failed, and how you can interpret it positively.
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Lessons Learned
Choose a past mistake and unpack the circumstances around it. Explore what you learned from it and how you used that knowledge to overcome future obstacles.
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Achievement Jubilation
Write about a personal achievement that made you ecstatic — it could be something big or small.
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First Job Flashbacks
Write about your very first job, regardless of how humble or trivial it may seem today.
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Mapping Life Path
Create a map that represents your life journey so far. Detail out the highs, the lows, and the decisions that led you to where you are today.
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Harvesting Fruits of Steadfastness
Write about the sweetest success earned after a long period of persistent hard work.
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Journey through Illness
Reflect on a time when you were significantly ill or injured and how it impacted your life.
