You made it through a tough school year! Congratulations! While summer is a great time to relax, it’s also a great time for reflection. It’s important to reflect on your school year, while also looking forward to the next one.
So, I’m helping you do just that with these journal prompts that I’ll be sharing. Grab a pen and some paper, or your favorite journaling app, and let’s get started.
Rewinding It Back: Reflect On Your School Year
Before we look towards the future, we have to do some reflecting. There is so much you can learn about yourself and what you want by answering these questions thoroughly and honestly.
1) Rate your overall experience this year from a 1-10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best), then explain why you rated it that way.
This is a great way to warm up into reflective questions. Give yourself a baseline of how you felt your year was overall. We’ll dig deeper in other questions.
2) What was your favorite memory to reflect on from this school year?
Between fall and spring semester I’m sure you made a lot of memories. Which one sticks out the most? This question provides you time to go back and relive your best memory before you look forward to making more.
3) What was your favorite course this year?
While college is so much more than school experiences, you are there for that main reason. With this question you’ll think about the classes you took and determine which one was your favorite.
Whether it’s a class that surprised you, or one that you feel connected you to what you are aspiring to do when you graduate, write it down. Take a moment to remember and reflect on what you loved about it during your school year.
4) If you have chosen a major, how are you feeling about your decision now? Is it still aligning with the direction you want to take after college or are you contemplating switching?
If you only answer one of these reflective questions about this year at college, let it be this one. It’s so important to check in with yourself with how you are feeling about the path you’ve chosen.
What major you choose doesn’t have to be what you do your whole life. However, making sure you are aligned with your choice now ensures that you give yourself the best possible boost right after graduation.
If you are not connecting with your major, it’s okay to pick a new one. Take some time to think about what you may want to switch to.
5) When you reflect on your school year do you feel you are doing socially at college?
As I’ve stated, there are a lot of different areas of college that vie for your attention. Your social life is an important aspect of the college experience.
Did you have a hard time transitioning to the college social scene? Did you immediately connect with anyone that defined your experience this year? Take time to reflect on this area.
6) How have you taken care of your physical health this school year?
College life can be busy. It is sometimes hard to prioritize your physical health during all the chaos of midterms, social outings, and more.
This question is meant for you to think about the ways you showed up for yourself physically this year. Was it an adequate amount? Or could you have done more? Take some time to think on it.
7) How have you taken care of your mental health this year?
Just like your physical health, your mental health is also important so it’s great to take time to reflect on your school year in this regard. You may have been under a lot of stress at certain points in the year.
How did you handle the stress? How did you deal with any low points you may have felt at any point? This is important to think about so that you can be more aware next year.
8) In what ways can you reflect on that have you grown this school year?
Most likely, the person you are now isn’t the same person that stepped onto the college campus at the beginning of the year. This is a good thing!
College is meant to grow and stretch you into the person you will become when you throw that graduation cap in the air. This question will help you realize how far you’ve come in just this one year.
Looking Forward To The Next Year
Now it’s time for the exciting stuff. Let’s figure out where you want to go from here. What are you excited about? What do you want to learn? All these questions and more will be answered through these last set of journal prompts.
1) Rate how you’re feeling about the upcoming school year from 1-10 (1 being not looking forward to it, 10 being extremely excited), and explain your rating.
Now that we are looking towards the new school year, let’s set another baseline. How are you feeling about the new year? Are you ready for it to be over already, or are you ready to learn new things and create new memories? Think about where you are at then put it down on paper.
2) Do you plan on joining any extracurricular activities in the new school year? If so, which ones and why did you choose it/them?
The clubs/sports you join while in college can shape your experience just as much as your classes, in some cases maybe even more. However, it’s okay if you decide you only want to focus on school or don’t have the time for anything else.
Figure out what you may want while you have the time to think through it clearly. Hopefully the time you spent to reflect on your school year before can help you decide.
3) How do you plan on taking care of yourself physically next school year?
Take what you learned about how you treated your physical health last year and figure out if there was room for improvement, or what were some best practices that you want to continue.
Do you need to prioritize moving your body more in this new school year? Will you be a pro at navigating the dining hall for healthy food options? Take time to write down your plan of action.
4) How do you plan on taking care of yourself mentally next school year?
Next you want to make a game plan for how to prioritize your mental health. Do you need to seek out counseling? Are there some go-to ways you can de-stress when college gets to be too much? Think through what you can do to keep yourself happy and content throughout the year.
5) Pick an affirmation or quote that you want to define your next school year. Journal about how that statement makes you feel.
How do you want to feel in this new school year? This journal prompt is the time for you to do a little manifestation and envisioning by finding a quote or affirmation to define your year.
For an added bonus, write down what you come up with on a separate piece of paper, a sticky note, poster board, etc. and hang it somewhere in your dorm room/bedroom when you move in.
Final Thoughts for Reflecting on Your School Year and Looking Ahead
Now that you’ve gained some perspective about where you’ve been and where you’re going, it’s time to let out a breath and get back to that relaxation we talked about in the beginning. See you next school year!
About the Author
Kelly graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Advertising and Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. Even though it took her a little while to find her career path, she was always meant to be in Communications. She remembers writing poems and songs when she was a little girl and pitching to my parents the reasons why I should have a cell phone when I was a teenager. She currently has a blog (budding-joy.com) where she talks about her weight-loss journey, mental health and personal development. Her hope is to encourage and inspire readers and let them know they are not alone. Reading blog posts like that are what helped her in tough times and she wants to pay it forward. She loves dance fitness, listening to music, and creating layouts in her bullet journal. She's a big fan of planning, especially when cute notebooks and pens are involved. Her dream job has changed so much over the years; right now she'd love to co-own a dance studio.
Website: budding-joy.com