Peggy McMath Personal History Worksheet

Date: 20 Mar 2020 [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Use these prompts for family interviews.

Write your Personal History

1. Tell about your name. Where did it come from? What does it mean?
2. When and where were you born?
3. Tell about your mom. What would you like people to know?
4. Tell about your dad. What would you like people to know?
5. Do you have siblings? Write about them.
6. Where did you grow up? What do you remember about this place?
7. Think about your house growing up. What was it like?
8. What was your childhood bedroom like?
9. What was your favorite activity as a child?
10. What was your favorite place as a child?
11. Who were your friends as a child?
12. Did you travel as a child? What were your favorite places to visit?
13. What did a typical day look like as a child?
14. What did a typical day look like as a teen?
15. What was high school like for you?
16. What world events were significant to you as a child?
17. Tell about your grandparents.
18. Tell about your aunts.
19. Tell about your uncles.
20. Tell about your cousins.
21. Tell about your early school memories.
22. What was your favorite subject in school?
23. Who was your favorite teacher as a child?
24. Did you move as a child? Write about it.
25. Who taught you to drive?
26. What was your favorite food as a child?
27. Tell about your most memorable birthday.
28. How did you typically celebrate your birthday?
29. Tell about your favorite holdiay memory.
30. What was the hardest part about growing up?
31. What was the best part about growing up?
32. When did you first leave home? Write about the experience.
33. What did your parents do for work?
34. What was your first job?
35. What is your favorite family story?
36. Tell about a funny story that has been passed down through the generations.
37. What were you most proud of as a child?
38. What did you want to be/do when you grew up? Did you become it?
39. Who inspired you as you matured?
40. What job has been your favorite?
41. What was the best part of your 20s?
42. What was the best part of your 30s?
43. Are you in a relationship? How did you meet your significant other?
44. Did you have any boy/girlfriends as a youth? Write about them.
45. Do you have kids? Write about them.
46. What are you the proudest of as an adult?
47. Where is the most fascinating place you've visited?
48. What is one thing about today that you never want to forget?
49. What item will you cross off your bucket list next?
50. What advice would you give your younger self?
51. What significant world event is occurring now? Write about how it affects you.
52. What life lesson would you leave for your descendants?

Writing About Yourself

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1. Describe one of your earliest childhood memories.
2. Tell about what you see as one of your best qualities.
3. Do you have the same religious beliefs that you had as a child? If so, why? If not, how and why did they change?
4. Tell about the benefits of being an only child—or the advantages of having siblings.
5. Tell about how a person can tell if they’re really in love. If you don’t know, write about how you don’t know.
6. Are you shy about your body, such as when you change clothes in a locker room? Or are you comfortable with it? Why?
7. Describe your favorite spot in your home, and why you like it.
8. Tell about one of the most admirable classmates or coworkers you’ve ever had.
9. Tell about one of the worst classmates or coworkers you’ve ever had.
10. Tell your story about the time you succeeded at something because you just. Didn’t. Give. Up.
11. Tell about how you’re a typical resident of your city or town… or about how you’re different from most people there.
12. Tell about how you fit the stereotype of people from your country… or about how you don’t fit it at all.
13. Describe your favorite toy or game when you were five years old.
14. Tell about one of your most useful talents.
15. What superstitions do you believe in or follow? Do you do certain things to avoid bad luck, or make wishes in certain ways?
16. Tell about a death in your family.
17. Tell about a birth in your family.
18. Tell your story about how you made a friend in the past five years or so. How did you meet them? What do you like about them?
19. Tell your story about your first best friend as a child. How did you meet them? How did you play together?
20. Describe a physical feature of yours that you really like.
21. Is your home usually neat, or usually messy? Why is that? Do you think it matters? Why or why not?
22. Describe a part of your job or everyday work that you love.
23. Describe a part of your job or everyday work that you loathe.
24. Tell your story about how you won something, like a contest, a game, or a raffle.
25. Do you think your hometown is a good place to live? Why or why not?
26. Do you fit your astrological sign? Why or why not?
27. Tell about when you think it’s morally acceptable to lie. If your answer is “never,” write about why you think that.
28. Tell about a trait you inherited or picked up from a parent.
29. Tell about a way in which you are very different from a parent.
30. Discuss one of the most important qualities you think people should look for in a romantic partner.
31. Discuss a quality that you think is overrated when choosing a romantic partner.
32. Tell about a kind of exercise or physical activity you enjoy.
33. Describe the contents of a desk drawer or junk drawer in your home, and write about the thoughts or memories that the objects in there inspire.
34. Tell about what you wish people knew about your job, profession, or calling in life.
35. Tell about a habit or addiction that you’ve been struggling with for years.
36. Tell about an external situation that you’ve been struggling with for years.
37. Discuss something you love about the people in your country.
38. Discuss something you wish you could change about the people in your country.
39. What was something you misunderstood as a child? It could be the definition of a word, or something about adult life.
40. Describe the benefits of being an introvert or an extrovert (whichever one you are.)
41. Describe the challenges of being an introvert or an extrovert (whichever one you are.)
42. Tell your story about the time you spoke up for something you believed in. How did it feel? Were there any consequences?
43. If you don’t have children – do you or did you want them? Why or why not?
44. If you have children – what is one thing that surprised you about being a parent?
45. Tell your story about when a friend (or a group of them) made your day.
46. Tell your story about when a friend (or a group of them) broke your heart.
47. Describe an experience at a doctor’s office, dentist’s office, or hospital.
48. Describe your dream home in detail.
49. Tell your story about how a teacher, coach, or boss supported or inspired you.
50. Tell your story about how a teacher, coach, or boss was so awful, they didn’t deserve to have their job.
51. Tell about something you did in the past year that made you proud.
52. Do you live in the city you grew up in? Why or why not?
53. Tell your story about a trip or a visit you enjoyed when you were little.
54. In what ways do you fit the stereotypes of your gender, and in what ways do you differ from the stereotypes?
55. Discuss whether you think people should share their religious beliefs openly, or whether they should keep it private.
56. Discuss why you do or don’t consider pets to be family members.
57. Describe what you think would be a perfect romantic date.
58. Tell about a type or style of clothing that you feel uncomfortable wearing, or that you simply dislike.
59. Describe your personal style in clothing and whether it’s changed over the years.
60. Tell about the worst house or apartment you’ve ever lived in.
61. Tell your story about a time when, rightly or wrongly, you got in trouble at school or at work.
62. Do you always vote in elections? Why or why not?
63. Do you think people make snap judgments about you based on your appearance? Are they accurate or not?
64. What’s something that people don’t learn about your personality unless they get to know you very well?
65. Tell about something that terrified you as a child.
66. Tell about a particular phobia or fear you have now. If you’re not scared of anything, write about that!
67. Tell about something you believe that isn’t a particularly popular belief.
68. What’s something you wanted badly as a child? Did you get it? If so, was it everything you hoped? If not, did it matter?
69. When you’re feeling sad or down, what are ways that you make yourself feel better?
70. What is something that makes you almost irrationally angry?
71. Tell about an object you own that has religious, spiritual, or symbolic significance to you.
72. If you were a billionaire, what gifts would you give to your immediate family?
73. Do you consider yourself hopeful or cynical about romance? Why?
74. Write a note apologizing to a part of your body for insulting it in the past.
75. Write a note thanking a part of your body for doing such a good job.
76. Tell your story about when you had a delightful guest in your home.
77. Tell your story about when you had an unwelcome visitor in your home.
78. Describe the time you were a guest in an unusual home.
79. What was the strangest course or class you ever took?
80. Tell about a time when you tried your best – and it didn’t pan out. How did you get over it?
81. Tell about a small thing you accomplished this week.
82. Tell about the ways that your hometown has changed over the years.
83. Tell about a way your country is changing for the better.
84. Describe someone who bullied you as a child. Why do you think they did it?
85. Do you believe that things happen for a reason, or do they just happen randomly? Why do you think this?
86. Do you believe that you have a lot of control over your destiny or future? Why or why not?
87. Tell a funny story that your family likes to tell again and again.
88. What do you consider to be “deal breakers” in a marriage or romantic relationship?
89. Tell your story about a time you got injured or you were in an accident.
90. Tell about some of the things you do at home when you’re completely alone.
91. Tell your story about how you learned a new skill.
92. Describe the way you get to school or to work every day.
93. Propose a frivolous or ridiculous law that you would like to implement and explain your reasoning.
94. Tell about something you did (or didn’t do) that you’re proud of from a moral or religious standpoint.
95. Tell your story about having a great time at a party.
96. Tell your story about a party you wish you had never attended or hosted.
97. Tell about a tattoo you have and its significance, a tattoo you would like to get… or why you would never, ever get a tattoo.
98. Tell a story that has to do with your hair, or the lack of it.
99. Tell about a feud or rift in your family.
100. If you had a whole day free of responsibilities or chores, how would you spend it?