Three things I know for sure

Objective:

Students will be able to write a personal essay articulating

about themselves or their life experiences.

Warm Up:

1. Think about a time when you learned something important about yourself. What did you learn?
2. Reflect on a moment that made you feel proud. What was it, and why did it make you feel that way?
3. List three things that you believe are true about yourself.

Key Vocabulary:

• Reflection: The act of thinking deeply about something, particularly one’s own thoughts or experiences.
• Mentor: A trusted advisor or guide who provides support and advice.
• Perspective: A particular attitude or way of considering something; a viewpoint.

What I Know for Sure (And Would Probably Bet My Last Slice Of Pizza On)

If you shoved my life into a fortune cookie, three tiny fortunes would tumble out and none of them would read “You will win the lottery.” These are the three things I know for sure — the reliable stuff, like gravity, taxes, and that one sock that always disappears in the dryer. They’ve shaped who I am, how I trip through the world, and how I dramatically narrate my own minor disasters.

1 — Hard work pays off. (Eventually. With snacks.)
My sophomore-year relationship with math was complicated in the way some people describe a video game level that is way too hard: lots of attempts, occasional screaming, and the persistent hope that one day I will finally beat it. I spent nights cramming, practicing problems until my pencil looked like it had been through a midlife crisis, and befriending a calculator who now has more emotional baggage than I do. At one point I stared at algebra like it was an abstract work of art titled “Why, Why, Why.”

But here’s the magic: the more late nights I logged, the fewer times I wanted to cry into my textbook. I got help from a saintly teacher, formed a study group that doubled as a snack exchange, and slowly the numbers stopped looking like hieroglyphics. My grades climbed. My faith in the universe returned. Lesson: persistence, help, and a suspicious amount of caffeine are actually a solid life plan.

2 — Friendships are vital. (Also excellent for smuggling snacks into exams.)
My friends are the human version of duct tape: they hold my life together, fix things I didn’t realize were broken, and occasionally cover embarrassing sounds in public. They are my confidants, my cheerleaders, and the only people who will tell me my outfit looks like “a bold artistic choice” while secretly holding a jacket under their breath.

During a particularly terrifying finals season, they organized a study group that felt less like academic rigor and more like a rescue mission. They quizzed me, explained things I pretended I knew, and lent me emotional Band-Aids when my brain short-circuited. Friendships turn crises into slightly less dramatic crises — which, honestly, is a gift.

3 — Failure is part of life. (And drama-training.)
Freshman year I tried out for the school play and received the kind of rejection that makes you consider moving to another time zone. I performed a whole tragic solo in my bedroom with a hairbrush mic and a monologue consisting entirely of “why me?” Then I did something radical: I used the rejection. I asked for feedback, practiced like someone with an audition on reality TV, and went back next year. I got a role. I discovered that failing was less like a tombstone and more like a trampoline — uncomfortable at first, then surprisingly fun.

Failure taught me how not to fall apart. It taught me how to stand up, dust off imaginary stage makeup, and try again — usually with more dramatic flair.

Questions:

1. What is one experience that shaped your belief in hard work?
2. How have your friendships impacted your life?
3. Can you recall a time when failure led to a valuable lesson? What did you learn?

Writing Prompt:

Reflect on three things you know for sure about yourself. Write a personal essay that explains these truths, providing examples from your life to support each one.

Standards Covered:

• W.9-10.1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant evidence.
• W.9-10.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

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This guide will help you structure a personal essay about the things you know for sure, offering a blend of sample topics, structural advice, and stylistic suggestions. A strong personal essay balances honest reflection with universal themes, allowing readers to connect with your experiences.

Step 1: Brainstorm your "certainties"

The key to a compelling essay is to turn abstract beliefs into concrete stories. Consider what principles, big or small, you truly believe in. The certainties you explore don't have to be grand pronouncements. Sometimes, the most meaningful truths are found in everyday moments.

Consider these angles for your essay:

• A defining moment: Recount a specific life event—a failure, a surprise, or an unexpected act of kindness—that solidified a core belief for you.
• A small, simple truth: Explore a conviction found in daily routines, simple observations, or interactions. For instance, you could write about why you're sure that a simple cup of coffee in the morning brings peace.
• Certainty in the face of uncertainty: Reflect on something you know for sure despite the unpredictability of life. This could be the resilience of the human spirit, the constancy of a loved one's support, or the restorative power of nature.
• A life lesson learned the hard way: Think about a mistake or setback that taught you a permanent lesson. What did you learn from failure that you now know with absolute certainty?

Step 2: Develop a narrative structure

A personal essay is a story, not a list of facts. Even if your essay is centered on a single belief, you should frame it with a narrative arc that moves from a point of ignorance or doubt toward a moment of insight.

Your essay could follow this structure:

• Introduction (The "Before"): Start by painting a picture of your life before you were certain of this truth. Use a specific anecdote to set the scene and draw the reader in.
• Body (The "Moment"): Describe the scene, conversation, or event that created this new certainty. Show, don't tell. Use sensory details to immerse the reader in the experience.
• Body (The "After"): Explain how your perspective changed as a result. Provide a second, later anecdote that demonstrates how this certainty now guides your actions and decisions.
• Conclusion (The "Meaning"): Reflect on the universal implications of your personal story. How does your experience connect to broader themes like resilience, compassion, or the pursuit of purpose? Tie your conclusion back to your opening to create a satisfying circular effect.

Step 3: Find your unique voice

Authenticity is what makes a personal essay memorable and compelling. The best essays sound like the person speaking, not like someone trying to impress a reader.

To make your voice shine:

• Be vulnerable: Don't be afraid to share your fears, struggles, and insecurities. Readers connect with honesty.
• Write conversationally: Write as if you were talking to a friend or mentor. Avoid overly formal or complicated language.
• Inject your personality: If you are funny, use humor. If you are reflective, be thoughtful and introspective. What you choose to observe, and how you observe it, is what makes your voice unique.

Step 4: Write, revise, and edit

Writing is a process of discovery. Your first draft is for figuring out what you want to say; subsequent drafts are for refining how you say it.

• Draft freely: Get your ideas down without worrying about perfection. Follow the story where it leads you.
• Read aloud: Once you have a draft, read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing and ensure your words have a natural rhythm.
• Gather feedback: Share your essay with a trusted person—a friend, family member, or teacher—who knows you well. They can tell you if the voice rings true.

Example ideas for a personal essay

Certainty in the mundane:

• Subject: The certainty of the sun rising every day.
• Narrative arc: Start with a time of great stress or confusion, a "long, dark night of the soul." Describe how watching the sunrise brought an unexpected sense of peace and perspective, and explain how that simple, constant act of nature has since become a comforting anchor in your life.

Certainty in connection:

• Subject: The unconditional support of a family member.
• Narrative arc: Begin by recounting a time when you made a significant mistake or faced a major challenge, feeling certain that you had lost someone's respect. Describe a specific conversation where they offered unwavering support, and detail how that moment made you certain that genuine love is not conditional.

Certainty in failure:

• Subject: The idea that failure is not an end but a new beginning.
• Narrative arc: Tell the story of a big disappointment or rejection—like not getting into your top-choice college. Describe the initial despair, and then pivot to an unexpected opportunity that came from that setback. Reflect on how this experience taught you that the path forward is rarely the one you expect, and that "failure" can be a redirection toward something better.