Best Reflective Essay Topics & Ideas for Students

A reflective essay is a piece of writing in which the writer shares their life experiences. The writer writes about those experiences and thoughts that they observe, examine, and perceive. In a reflective essay, it is essential to focus on yourself and your inner emotions rather than the event.

The format of the reflective essay depends on the type of readers. For example, writing an essay for a college course and an academic audience will have some changes in their writing. The reflective essay is easy to write and does not need extensive research skills.

In a reflective essay, you describe your personal memories, and no one else can write to them as you can. A reflective essay is sometimes known as a reading reflection essay.

The selection of an interesting topic is the first step in writing the perfect reflective essay. The reflective essay topics are personal and would come from your personal experience. With your personal experience, you can offer something unique to your readers.

How to Choose a Topic for Reflective Essay?

Choosing the right topic for a reflective essay can be a difficult task for many students. Writing a good reflective essay needs creativity and strong skills to express your emotions or feelings in the essay.

The topic of the reflective essay can be derived from nature, places, relationships, and events. Below you will find some tips that will help you to pick the right essay topic.

• Choose a Topic Idea

  Choose the reflective essay topic on a subject that you know. It will be easier to write an essay about a topic that you find interesting. Never choose a topic that is new to you; it makes your writing phase difficult and hard.

• Study your Topic

  Try to recollect minor details about your topic. Remember all the things that link to your topic, and you will have to add to your essay. Note down the ideas about your topic.

• Choose a Topic that You Can Approach from a Unique Angle

  Choose a topic that you can explain it from a different angle. It is a good technique to write something unique that will show off your personality in an interesting way. Write about your personal experience that you find meaningful and significant.

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics for Middle School Students

Some students find difficulty in choosing the topic for essays. Here are some good topics that can be categorized according to different grades. Pick from them and makes your topic selection phase easier.

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 7

• Going on a trip
• Scuba diving
• Your hometown
• Something that made you proud
• When you were lost
• Your favorite cartoon
• Time you lied
• The day you were hunting
• What role has the family played in your life?
• Camping outdoors

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 8

• Running outdoors
• Picking berries
• Your biggest loss
• Who do you admire most?
• What is your biggest fear?
• The most exciting moment I have experienced
• Your least favorite course
• Going for a special date
• A birthday party attended
• What is your best online space?

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 9

• Going to a new school
• How does this make me think about the future?
• A sporting event you took part in or watched.
• Shifting to a new city or town
• A memorable dream
• Running and hunting game
• A dream you cannot forget
• The home where you grew up
• Watching a sunrise
• An award ceremony

Reflective Essay Topics for Grade 10

• A situation where you defend someone
• Playing with friends
• A memorable dream
• When you lied and tried to hide it
• The most recent cooking experience
• Getting lost in the dark woods
• Serving as an intern in a hospital
• When someone’s life inspired you to change your own
• Challenges that I faced being a college freshman
• A sport activity which you took part in

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics for College Students

For college students, choosing the topic for a reflective essay is the most difficult task. Some students are best at picking the essay topic, but some will be stuck in this phase.

For your convenience, here is a list of some excellent reflective essay topics for college students. Choose from them and create a well-written essay.

• First time writing a thesis statement
• Your favorite video game
• The impact of social media on students
• A place you always tries to avoid
• What was the best birthday memory you had?
• What is your favorite restaurant?
• The moment when you were proud of yourself
• The bravest moment of your life
• The most beautiful thing you have ever seen
• A time you were embarrassed

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics for High School Students

High school students are confused when they choose a topic for a reflective essay. Make sure the topic is engaging, and you will easily explain your personal experience. Here is a list of topics for high school students; pick something good from the list for your essay.

• Your favorite outlet store
• Your favorite childhood memory
• The most special holiday
• The moment you were scared
• The moment you met your best friend
• What you love about yourself
• Playing with friends when you were a child.
• Favorite book to read
• Playing in the mud as a kid.
• Shifting to a new town or city

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics about Places

The reflective essay topics should link to strong emotions and memories. For example, you can write an essay about a day at your favorite cafe, favorite place to eat, etc.

Write a reflective essay about a place that you have really good and strong memories are easy to write. Here are some topic ideas that you can use and write an essay on it.

• The house of your grandparents
• An ice skating rink
• Places where you feel safe
• Your favorite vacation spot
• Which is your favorite lunch spot
• Your first day at the circus
• The mall or your favorite store
• Your first trip abroad
• Best park in your town
• Your favorite adventure

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics about Events

Writing about any event is a good way to grab the reader’s attention. You can write about a birthday party, a farewell, or any event that you attend or have enough information about.

When choosing a topic for a reflective essay about an event, include vivid details. Below are some interesting reflective essay topics, choose from them and create a good essay.

• An unexpected gift
• Going on a vacation
• When you were lost
• When you first voted
• Your trip to the zoo
• Getting a new job
• Your most exciting vacation
• Best Christmas you had
• Moving to a new city
• The time you went fishing

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics about Nature

In a reflective essay, it is better to give a deeper and meaningful experience to the reader. Write about nature also makes your writing process interesting and takes you to the imagination world.

Here are some good reflective essay topics about nature are:

• Climbing the mountains
• Diving in the ocean
• Walking in the woods
• Rock climbing
• Looking at the sunset
• Running in the forest.
• Quality time with your pet
• Taking a hike through a forest
• Swimming in a lake
• Watching animals at a zoo

(back to top)

Reflective Essay Topics about Relationships

Relationships are linked with strong emotions, and write a reflective essay about relationships means expressing the emotions and feelings you had. Some good reflective essay topics related to the relationship are:

• An amazing family reunion
• When you first spoke in public
• The role of friendship in my life
• When your parents punished you
• Family reunion
• When you told someone that you were sorry
• A time you spent with friends without parental supervision
• Describe your relationship with a family member
• A conversation when you became very angry
• The time when you had a long laugh

Some reflective essay topics are the same as some of the questions you may ask in a job interview.

Write on these essay topics needs proper planning and practice. So if you need help with your college essay, consult CollegeEssay.org. Our professional writers assist you 24/7.

Simply consult us and relieve your essay writing stress. Place your order now and get quality work on time.

Nova A.

Literature, Marketing

As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.