National Essay Day, February 28,
In 1968, I was student-teaching at an all-black elementary school, the first white student teacher my college had ever placed there. Every day stretched me beyond lesson plans and textbooks. I was learning about courage, humility, and the power of listening.
In the afternoon, back on campus, our professor gave us fifteen minutes to write about what we were learning. “One page only,” he said.
Around me, chairs shifted. A few students sighed. I began writing, and writing, and writing, and writing.
When time was called, I was beginning my third page. My professor smiled as he counted the sheets. “Miss Greene, I only wanted one page.” “That is one page, I replied,” front and back.” The class laughed. So did he. But later, I reflected on that moment. Perhaps I should have disciplined my thoughts and chosen just one or two key lessons. Perhaps I needed not just enthusiasm, but focus. That day taught me something essential about essay writing.
What an Essay Really Is.
The word essay comes from the French word essayer, meaning “to try.” The form was popularized by Michel de Montaigne, a sixteenth-century writer who simply explored his thoughts on paper. He did not write to prove he was right. He wrote to discover what he believed.
An essay is not:
A flawless performance
A report filled only with facts.
A place to impress your reader.
An essay is:
An attempt.
A reflection.
Thinking on Paper.
Three Lessons About Essay Writing
1. Start with Experience
Strong essays begin with something lived. A classroom moment. A conversation. A mistake. A surprise.
Ask Yourself:
What happened?
Why did it stay with me?
What did it teach me?
Your experience is your material.
2. Choose One Main Idea
This is what my professor was gently teaching me.
You may have three pages of thoughts. Write them. Discover freely.
But before you finish, ask:
What is the central lesson?
What do I most want my reader to understand?
Clear essays focus on one controlling idea.
3. Reflect, Don’t Just Report.
Many writers tell what happened.
Essay writers ask:
Why did it matter?
How did it change me?
What does it mean now?
Reflection transforms a story into an essay.
A Simple National Essay Day Practice
Today, try this:
Set a timer for 10-15 minutes
Write about something you recently learned.
Do not edit while writing.
When finished, reread and underline the single most important sentence.
That sentence may be your true essay.
A final Encouragement
On National Essay Day, do not worry about writing perfectly.
Write honestly.
Let your essay be an attempt—an exploration of something you are still learning. You may begin with more words than you need. Discovery often comes before discipline.
Take one page. Reflect on one lesson. Shape one clear thought.
And remember, every meaningful memoir begins with a single essay, a small, brave attempt to understand your own story.
