How many times have you asked a student, “What are you proud of?” only to get a blank stare or the classic, “I don’t know”? Whether they’re prepping for college apps, scholarship essays, or asking for letters of recommendation, most students struggle to talk about themselves.
Enter: the brag sheet.
A brag sheet gives students a space to reflect, gather their thoughts, and start building a personal highlight reel. It’s part resume, part journal, and all about helping them feel confident about what they bring to the table. And guess what? Summer is the perfect time to start one.
Encourage students to start writing down what makes them them. It doesn’t have to be formal or fancy. If it mattered to them or helped them grow, it belongs on the sheet. Here are a few ideas:
Tip: If a student says, “I don’t think I did anything special,” that’s your cue to dig a little deeper. You’d be surprised how much they’ve done once they start talking.
You don’t need a full summer program to help students start a brag sheet. Here are a few quick and easy ways to get it going:
Bonus: Brag sheets help YOU, too! Writing recommendation letters or helping with personal statements gets so much easier when students have already done the groundwork.
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When students feel seen and supported, they start to see themselves differently. A brag sheet helps them put their story into words: honestly, proudly, and with purpose. With a little reflection, “I don’t know what to say” becomes “Let me tell you what I’ve done.”