“You think you have problems,” such was the wisdom my father imparted while he read the newspaper or watched a television news story about a person facing tragic circumstances. When stories of ...

As I revised my personal statement college essay for the ninth time, I grumbled in frustration. I had spent the past month editing, rewriting, and brainstorming topics that would hopefully let ...

Joan Didion opens The White Album with the famous line “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” This statement reflects her view that humans rely on narratives to make sense of life’s chaotic, ...

Your life story is more than a simple sequence of events; it’s a powerful tool that shapes your identity, guides your choices, and influences your future. This concept, called “narrative identity,” ...

As school soon comes to an end, the beginning of summer soon arrives. This time of year can be a strange one. Especially with school, it can seem more like an ending than a beginning. Though changes ...

When I first taught personal narrative in my freshmen Literature and Writing course last year I planned a traditional unit. I practiced descriptive writing techniques by having them listen to the ...

Brandon Galarita is a freelance writer and K-12 educator in Honolulu, Hawaii. He is passionate about technology in education, college and career readiness and school improvement through data-driven ...