Back-to-School Journal Prompts for Intentional Growth and Self-Expression

50 First Day of School Journal Prompts

Imagine starting your school year with a fresh mindset and well-defined goals—how transformative could that be? Join us as we unpack the art of journal prompts with insights from the brilliant minds at Lestallion, the experts in journaling. We navigate the rollercoaster of emotions that accompany the first day of school, discussing prompts that allow students to express excitement, uncover hidden anxieties, and set meaningful intentions for the academic year ahead. From morning thoughts to first-day wishes, these prompts offer a window into the emotional landscapes that shape each student's unique journey.

But it's not just about inner reflections; we also explore how outward expressions like fashion and friendships can significantly impact a student's experience. Listen in to discover how your wardrobe choice could be a powerful form of self-expression or how a simple act of kindness might brighten someone else's first day. As we explore the themes of learning and self-improvement, we tackle the art of setting goals beyond academic achievement, encouraging students to cultivate new skills like public speaking or guitar playing. Lastly, we dive into strategies for overcoming inevitable challenges, fostering resilience, and preparing for moments of failure with a game plan that keeps the school year on track. Join us for a conversation filled with practical tips and inspiring ideas designed to make the first day of school a remarkable and introspective experience.

LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, welcome in everyone for our deep dive.
Today we're going to be lookingat journal prompts for the
first day of school.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
Ooh, interesting.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
Yeah, Specifically like 50 of them.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Wow, that's a lot.

Speaker 1 (00:11):
Yeah, they came from a blog post by Lestallion.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Oh, those are the journal people.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Exactly the journal, folks yeah.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:18):
So obviously we can't go through all 50.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Right.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
But we're going to highlight some of the most
interesting ones and, with yourhelp, we'll kind of dig a little
deeper into, like thepsychology behind them.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Because it's not just about writing down what I did
today Exactly.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
So, like the first category is excitement and
anticipation, ok, and there'sthe classic one like.
What are you most excited aboutfor the first day of school?

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Like straightforward, but then they get a little bit
more.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
Oh, like describe your first thoughts when you
woke up on the first day ofschool.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Oh, wow.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
You know?
So it's like before you evenhave your coffee.

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Yeah, before the day even starts.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Yeah, that's really getting into the nitty gritty
there.
It is, yeah, and it's likethose underlying anxieties or
hopes or whatever.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Yeah, and it gives you you know whether you're the
student or you're somebodysupporting a student.
It gives you some insight into,like, what is the emotional
landscape they're starting from.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yeah, and then you have.
If you could make one wish forthe first day of school, what
would it be?

Speaker 2 (01:18):
Ooh.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
That one's kind of fun, but it's also like you know
.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
It is fun, but it's like what are.
Are your priorities?

Speaker 1 (01:24):
right.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Like what do you actually want out of this year?
Is it about friends?
Is it about grades?
Is it about just like feelingless stressed?

Speaker 1 (01:31):
That's such a good point, because it's not usually
about the surface level stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Right, exactly.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay.
So moving on the new beginningsection, there's this one.
What do?

Speaker 2 (01:49):
what do you hope your first day of school outfit says
about you oh fashion, I know soit's like, especially with
teenagers, especially yeahclothing is such a form of
expression oh, huge, and, likethe first day, everybody's
looking at each other trying tofigure out where they fit in,
you know.
So this is really promptingthem to think about, like, how
do I want to present myself tothe world?

Speaker 1 (02:03):
and like that can be a really big confidence booster
it can for sure all right, solet's jump to friendships okay
um, this one really stood out tome.
What is one way you can makesomeone else's first day of
school better?

Speaker 2 (02:18):
I love that.
I know it's not just aboutbeing nice yeah, it's like
taking action yeah, it'sencouraging empathy, but like
putting it into practice.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (02:28):
And it also kind of takes the focus off of yourself
and puts it on like how can wemake this a welcoming
environment for everybody?

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Yes, I love that.
Okay, on to learning and growth.

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Okay, this one was interesting.

Speaker 1 (02:39):
What's one skill you'd like to develop by the end
of the school year?
So it's one skill you'd like todevelop by the end of the
school year.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
So it's like goal setting from day one.
Yeah, but the cool thing is,skill can mean so many things.
It could be like I want to getan A in algebra, but it could
also be like I want to learn toplay guitar or I want to you
know, be able to code or I wantto learn how to, like you know,
do public speaking better.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
So it's not just about like the classroom
learning.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Exactly, it's expanding it out, which is super
important.

Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, all right.
So last section, overcomingchallenges.
Oh I know, right yeah, and thisone, like really stood out.
How do you plan to handlemoments of failure or
disappointment this year?

Speaker 2 (03:22):
Oh, that's good.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
Because let's face it like they're going to happen.
They are going to have, so it'slike that's a good one, because
let's face it like they'regoing to happen.

Speaker 2 (03:26):
They are going to happen, so it's like thinking
about that from day one.
Yeah, it's like how are yougoing to cope?
It's like having that littletoolkit in your back pocket,
Like, okay, if this happens, whoam I going to talk to?
How am I going to reframe this?
What am I going to do to, like,take care of myself, you know?

Speaker 1 (03:43):
So, instead of being reactive, you're being proactive
about it.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
Exactly, yeah, and it's not just for kids either.
Host speaker.
What do you mean?
I mean like these themes, theyapply no matter what age you are
.
Host speaker.

Speaker 1 (03:55):
Oh, interesting, like you know.
Self-awareness, resilience,building healthy coping
mechanisms that's stuff we allneed.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
Right, it's not just for school, right, exactly, and
they could even be adapted, youknow, depending on the age.

Speaker 1 (04:07):
Oh, so like the same basic prompts.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, but you know, the language might be a little
different for a kindergartnerversus a high school senior,
obviously.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, that makes sense.

Speaker 2 (04:19):
But the core ideas are still there.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
It's like they grew up with this student.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Exactly, and they can also be like conversation
starters.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
Oh, between like parents and kids.
Yeah, or even teachers andstudents instead of just like
how a school right.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
It's a way to like really connect on a deeper level
oh, I like that yeah, it's likeopening a window into their
inner world, you know yeah, I doand you can build trust and
understanding that way that'shuge, especially on the first
day of school exactly.
You know, teachers could evenuse some of these as icebreakers
.

Speaker 1 (04:51):
Ooh fun.

Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yeah, or even, like you know, writing prompts
throughout the year.

Speaker 1 (04:55):
Oh, that's so much better than what I did on my
summer vacation Way better, okay.
So we've talked a lot about thepositives, but are there any
like potential downsides tousing these prompts?

Speaker 2 (05:06):
Well, you know, you got to remember that journaling
can be kind of a personal thing.
It can make people feelvulnerable, so it's really
important to make sure it feelslike a safe space.

Speaker 1 (05:17):
So, no judgment, no grading.

Speaker 2 (05:19):
Exactly, it shouldn't feel like homework.
You know, it's got to be aplace where they can really
express themselves honestly.
Yeah, it makes sense and youknow, not every kid loves to
write oh yeah so for some ofthem, maybe journaling isn't the
best fit.
So you know, maybe they coulddraw or paint, or even, you know
, dance so it's about findingwhat works for them exactly okay

(05:42):
, so it sounds like the keytakeaways here are like yeah
personalization, flexibility increating a supportive
environment exactly and you knowit's really cool what these
prompts.
They can like personalization,flexibility and creating a
supportive environment.
Exactly, and you know what'sreally cool, what these prompts.
They can be used for other newbeginnings too, not just the
first day of school.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
Oh.
So you're thinking likestarting a new job, yeah, or
moving to a new city, or evenjust like, oh, or like
committing to a new workout planor something?

Speaker 2 (06:06):
Exactly Anytime you're stepping outside your
comfort zone.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
Because it's still all about that, like
self-awareness, yeah.

Speaker 2 (06:13):
And setting goals and being prepared for those bumps
in the road.

Speaker 1 (06:16):
So it's like taking those core themes.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
Like tweaking the prompts.
Yeah, to fit the situationExactly Huh.

Speaker 1 (06:24):
That's actually like really useful.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
Right.
Yeah, I'm already thinkingabout how I could use some of
these for, like, my next bigproject at work there you go see
it's like a, like a mentalchecklist it is, and the best
part is you're creating it foryourself right, not like
someone's giving it to me andsaying do this exactly.

Speaker 1 (06:42):
It's way more powerful that way okay, so as we
wrap up here, yeah what's likeone piece of advice you'd give
someone who's maybe feeling alittle apprehensive about that
first day.

Speaker 2 (06:52):
That's a good one.

Speaker 1 (06:53):
Whatever it may be, you know, first day of school,
first day at a new job.

Speaker 2 (06:56):
I think I'd say embrace the uncertainty oh
that's good.
Because you know meanbeginnings.
They're full of unknowns, butthat's also where the excitement
is.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
That's true.

Speaker 2 (07:06):
So go in with curiosity, be willing to learn
and like also where theexcitement is.

Speaker 1 (07:09):
That's true.
So go in with curiosity, bewilling to learn, but, like,
don't be afraid to ask questionsExactly and remember.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
Everyone feels those first day jitters.

Speaker 1 (07:16):
Oh yeah, for sure.

Speaker 2 (07:17):
You're not alone.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
I love it.
It's such a good reminder thatwe're all in this together.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
We are.

Speaker 1 (07:23):
Navigating those new starts and figuring things out
as we go.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
And sometimes the best way to do that is with a
little bit of self-reflection.

Speaker 1 (07:30):
That's so true.

Speaker 2 (07:31):
Maybe even with one of those Lestallion journals.

Speaker 1 (07:33):
They might come in handy, all right.
Well, that brings us to the endof our deep dive, but we want
to leave you with this whatfirst day is on your horizon?

Speaker 2 (07:43):
Oh, good question.

Speaker 1 (07:43):
And how can these journal prompts, maybe even
tweaked a bit, help you stepinto it with more intention and
self-awareness?
Until next time, keep exploringand keep jiving deep.