3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions (with real student-style endings)

Examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions

Instead of starting with theory, let’s go straight to practice. Below are three core example types you’ll see again and again in reflective writing:

• a personal growth conclusion ("here’s how I changed"),
• a professional/academic learning conclusion ("here’s what I learned for my future work"), and
• a values and perspective conclusion ("here’s how my view of the world shifted").

You’ll see several versions of each, so you get more than just 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions—you get a small library of endings you can adapt.

Example 1: Personal growth conclusion after a failed group project

Many students write reflective essays about group work, especially when it goes badly. Here’s a realistic example of a reflective essay conclusion focused on personal growth.

Reflective conclusion – Group project failure
When I think back to that marketing project, my first instinct is still to defend myself: I did my slides, I showed up, I cared. But writing this reflection has forced me to admit that “doing my part” was never going to be enough. I avoided difficult conversations, quietly judged my teammates, and let our meetings drift without direction because I didn’t want to seem bossy.

The turning point came when we received our feedback: “No clear leadership. Promising ideas, weak execution.” That comment stung because it was true—and because I knew I could have stepped up and didn’t. Since then, I’ve started volunteering to coordinate smaller group tasks in other classes, even when it feels uncomfortable. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about controlling people; it’s about making expectations visible and asking questions no one else wants to ask.

If I face a similar group project next semester, I won’t hide behind “I did my part.” I’ll begin by helping the team set deadlines, clarify roles, and check in regularly. I can’t guarantee a perfect outcome, but I can choose to be more honest, more proactive, and more willing to speak up when something isn’t working.

This is one of the best examples of a reflective essay conclusion because it does three things:

• Acknowledges the initial mindset ("my first instinct is still to defend myself"),
• Shows specific growth (volunteering to coordinate tasks in other classes), and
• Looks forward ("If I face a similar group project next semester…").

When you’re looking for examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions, notice how each one moves from past → insight → future action. That simple pattern works across almost any topic.

Example 2: Professional learning – Nursing clinical placement

Reflective essays are widely used in nursing, teaching, and other practice-based fields. Programs often expect students to connect experience with professional standards or evidence-based practice. (For instance, many nursing schools recommend structured reflection models like Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle or Schön’s reflection-in-action; see guidance from institutions such as Harvard Medical School or NIH training resources.)

Here’s an example of a reflective essay conclusion from a first-year nursing student after a stressful clinical day:

Reflective conclusion – Nursing clinical
At the start of this clinical rotation, I measured my success by how few mistakes I made. After caring for Mrs. Lopez, I’m starting to measure it differently. I did make mistakes: I hesitated before asking for help, I fumbled with the blood pressure cuff, and my voice shook when I explained her medication. But I also did something I wouldn’t have done a month ago—I admitted my uncertainty to my preceptor instead of pretending I was fine.

Reviewing this experience against the safety guidelines we discussed in class, I can see that my instinct to “figure it out alone” actually increased the risk of error. Research on patient safety repeatedly shows that clear communication and timely escalation reduce harm, even when tasks feel routine. In future clinicals, I plan to treat asking for help as a professional responsibility, not a personal failure.

This shift won’t happen overnight, but this placement has moved me from wanting to look competent to wanting to be safe and effective. That change in priority is the most important learning I’m taking into my next rotation.

This conclusion weaves in evidence-based practice (patient safety research) and shows how the writer’s professional identity is forming. When you search for examples of reflective essay conclusions in healthcare education, examples include this same pattern: connect the story to guidelines, research, or standards, then spell out how behavior will change.

Example 3: Values and perspective – Semester abroad

Another common reflective essay topic is studying abroad or living in a new culture. Here’s a values-and-perspective style conclusion:

Reflective conclusion – Semester abroad
Before I arrived in Barcelona, I liked to describe myself as “open-minded.” What this semester has shown me is that being open-minded is less about having liberal opinions and more about tolerating discomfort. I was not open-minded when I rolled my eyes at late dinners, or when I complained that group projects moved too slowly, or when I insisted on finding the “one right way” to write a lab report.

Living here has forced me to notice how many of my “normal” habits are simply cultural defaults. I still prefer eating dinner earlier and checking tasks off quickly, but I’ve learned to pause before labeling a different approach as inefficient or wrong. Sharing an apartment with three students from three different countries has made that pause feel non‑negotiable.

As I go back home, I don’t expect to become a completely different person. But I do expect to ask better questions when something feels strange: “What value is underneath this?” “What might this person see that I’m missing?” If I can hold onto that curiosity, then this semester will matter for more than just the photos on my phone.

This is a clear example of a reflective essay conclusion that centers on values: tolerance for discomfort, curiosity, and respect for difference. When teachers ask for examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions, they often include at least one like this because it shows inner change, not just new skills.

More real examples of reflective essay conclusions (beyond the main three)

To give you a wider range to model, here are more short, real-style examples of reflective essay conclusions on different topics. These aren’t numbered on purpose—you can mix and match the moves that fit your assignment.

Learning to code for the first time

When I opened my first Python tutorial in January, I was convinced my brain “just wasn’t wired for this.” Four months later, I still don’t think in code, but I have stopped treating error messages as personal attacks. The breakthrough wasn’t a single lecture; it was the slow realization that every programmer I admire spends most of their time debugging.

Looking back on my frustration, I can see how tightly I linked speed with intelligence. If I didn’t understand a concept immediately, I assumed it was out of reach. Now, after building a small (and very imperfect) budgeting app, I’m starting to judge my learning by persistence instead. The next time I hit a wall—whether it’s in programming, statistics, or another class entirely—I plan to ask, “Have I given this problem enough time?” before I decide I’m not capable.

Overcoming public speaking anxiety

I used to think that confident speakers were simply born that way. Standing backstage before my final presentation this semester, I still felt my hands shaking—but I also felt prepared rather than doomed. Watching the recording now, I notice every awkward pause, yet I also see something I didn’t expect: moments where I sound like someone I would actually listen to.

The biggest change wasn’t that my anxiety disappeared; it was that I stopped treating it as a reason to avoid speaking. Practicing in smaller settings, asking friends for specific feedback, and learning basic breathing techniques from the counseling center shifted public speaking from a threat into a skill I can train. I’m leaving this course still nervous, but no longer silent—and that is a difference I’m proud to carry into internships and job interviews.

Balancing work and college

When I first took on a 30‑hour workweek alongside a full class load, I framed it as proof of my work ethic. By midterms, it felt more like proof of my poor planning. I missed deadlines, slept through an exam, and snapped at my younger brother for asking a simple question. Writing this reflection has forced me to see my schedule not as a badge of honor, but as a set of choices with real consequences for my health and relationships.

After talking with my advisor and reading about the impact of chronic sleep deprivation on learning and mood (information echoed by organizations such as the National Institutes of Health), I reduced my hours and started blocking off dedicated study time. The difference has been noticeable: my grades have stabilized, and I’m less irritable at home. In the future, when I’m tempted to say yes to every opportunity, I want to remember that being responsible includes protecting the time and energy I need to learn.

These additional endings give you more than just 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions. Together, these examples include emotional growth, practical strategy changes, and references to outside information—all of which can strengthen your own conclusion.

How to shape your own reflective essay conclusion using these examples

Now that you’ve seen several real examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions, let’s pull out the patterns you can reuse. Think of your conclusion as answering three simple questions in order:

1. What do I now understand that I didn’t before?
Every strong conclusion in the examples above names a new insight:

• Group project: realizing that “doing my part” wasn’t the same as leading.
• Nursing clinical: shifting from wanting to look competent to wanting to be safe.
• Study abroad: redefining open-mindedness as tolerating discomfort.

Your version might sound like:

• “I used to think…, but now I see…”
• “This experience has changed the way I define…”

2. How did this change my behavior or future plans?
The best examples of reflective essay conclusions don’t stop at feelings. They move into action:

• Volunteering to coordinate tasks in future projects.
• Treating asking for help as a professional responsibility.
• Reducing work hours and planning study time.

You can signal this shift with phrases like:

• “Because of this, I will…”
• “Next time I face a similar situation, I plan to…”

3. Why does this matter beyond this one story?
Finally, each conclusion zooms out slightly:

• Connecting clinical decisions to patient safety research.
• Linking a semester abroad to long-term curiosity about other cultures.
• Relating coding frustration to how we define intelligence.

Here, you might:

• Link to a concept from class or a reading.
• Refer to research or guidelines (for example, time management tips from a university learning center such as UNC’s Learning Center).
• Connect your new insight to your future career or personal life.

When teachers or professors look for examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions, they’re often checking for these three moves: insight, action, and broader significance.

Common mistakes (and how our examples avoid them)

Looking back at the real examples above, notice how they avoid some frequent problems:

Just repeating the introduction
A weak conclusion simply summarizes: “In this essay I talked about…” The examples here do reference earlier events, but they always add something new—a sharper insight, a clearer plan, or a changed belief.

Being vague about learning
Phrases like “I learned a lot” or “I grew as a person” are fuzzy. Instead, strong endings name specific learning: leadership, communication, time management, tolerance for discomfort.

Ignoring evidence or context
For academic reflective essays, it often helps to connect your story to something beyond yourself: a theory, a reading, or research from a credible source. For instance, if you’re reflecting on stress, you might refer to guidelines from the American Psychological Association. This doesn’t turn your reflection into a research paper—it simply shows you can connect experience with knowledge.

Ending on pure regret or self-criticism
Several of the best examples above include mistakes, but none of them stop at “I’m terrible at this.” Instead, they turn regret into a plan: ask for help, schedule time, speak up, practice more.

As you review different examples of reflective essay conclusions online, ask yourself: does this ending clearly show what changed, what will be done differently, and why it matters? If it does, you’re looking at a strong model.

FAQ: Examples of reflective essay conclusions

Q: Can you give a short example of a reflective essay conclusion in just a few sentences?
Yes. Here’s a compact example of a reflective essay conclusion a teacher might accept:

“At the beginning of this project, I was focused on proving I could work independently. Through the setbacks my team faced, I realized that independence without communication can actually slow everyone down. In the future, I plan to share my progress earlier and ask for feedback before I feel stuck. This shift from working alone to working transparently is the main lesson I’m taking from this experience.”

Q: How long should my reflective essay conclusion be?
For most high school and college assignments, the conclusion is typically one paragraph, about 5–10 sentences. Longer reflective essays (for example, in graduate programs or professional portfolios) might use two or three short paragraphs, like some of the examples include above.

Q: Do I need to cite sources in a reflective essay conclusion?
If your course or rubric expects you to connect your experience to theory or research, then yes, you may need citations—even in the conclusion. For instance, if you mention how sleep affects learning, you might refer briefly to findings summarized by the National Institutes of Health or a university learning center. Always follow the citation style your instructor specifies (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

Q: Are these the only valid examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions?
Not at all. These are guiding patterns, not strict templates. The best examples are the ones that sound like you while still showing clear insight, future action, and broader meaning. Use these real examples as starting points, then adjust the tone and details to match your assignment, your discipline, and your own voice.

By studying these examples of 3 practical examples of reflective essay conclusions—and the extra endings woven throughout this guide—you should now have a toolbox of phrases, structures, and ideas you can adapt. Start by drafting your insight, add the specific actions you’ll take next time, and then zoom out to explain why that change matters. That’s the core of a strong reflective conclusion.