Life Story Creation Page

This page will provide you with a format on how to begin creating your own life-story. Simply use the headings and questions that follow to help guide your story. If you wish, you can email us your completed life story, and we will be happy to add it to our collection. For additional information, please contact Joy Hammel via email (hammel@uic.edu).

Step 1: Begin your story by describing your first decade of life

• Stories about my birth.
  
  
• Stories I was told about myself as a child.
  
  
• Earliest memories I have.
  
  
• Earliest pictures of myself and memorabilia of myself and family.

Step 2: The second part of your story could include information about your second decade of life

• My childhood home. What I remember.
  
  
• What was happening in the world.
  
  
• Memories of my grandparents.
  
  
• Memories of school; Favorite teacher.
  
  
• Subject I liked in school...
  
  
• After school activities. What I liked to do in my free time.
  
  
• Best friend...
  
  
• How we spent our time together.
  
  
• First date.... First kiss...
  
  
• First job; beginning of my worker role.
  
  
• Favorite pastimes.
  
  
• Most exciting thing happened to me as a young person was...
  
  
• Health issues and events that happened to me.
  
  
• Health issues and events that happened to people close to me.

Step 3: Third and fourth decade of life

• Stories about your role in raising children. How has this role influenced your life?
  
  
• Stories about your role as a worker. Has your worker role changed throughout your life or have you pursued a specific career?
  
  
• Stories about your involvement in your community. Have you had a religous role in your community? Have you had a political or civic role in your community?
  
  
• Favorite stories about your best friend.
  
  
• What was your biggest challenge during this time of your life?
  
  
• What health concerns or problems have you had to deal with during this period of your life, and how have you coped with these health issues?
  
  
• What hobbies and pastimes have you developed?

Step 4: Fifties and beyond

• What were the major obstacles you have encountered during your adult years?
  
  
• Were you ever sick? Have you ever had an accident?
  
  
• How often did you move? Have you changed jobs?
  
  
• Did you ever feel alone? Abandoned?
  
  
• Did you have to deal with the loss of a loved one? Child? Spouse?
  
  
• How have you coped and dealt with these or other stresses in your life? What strategies have you used to move beyond your problems?

Step 5: Additional activities to stimulate stories

• What do you remember about celebrating holidays?
  
  
• Describe your memories of Halloween as a child.
  
  
• Describe your memories of Halloween as an adult.
  
  
• Describe your memories of Halloween now.
  
  
• What is your favorite holiday?
  
  
• Describe the traditions your family has used to celebrate this holiday.
  
  
• Health Review
  
  
• On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being lack of health and 10 being excellent health, how would your rate your current health?
  
  
• Identify the major health issues that you have faced across your life span and discuss.
  
  
• How have you addressed and coped with each of these issues? What was most important in dealing with each health crisis?
  
  
• What are the recent health issues you have faced?
  
  
• Generate a family tree (Cyrilla has a wonderful example you can view here).
  

Step 6: Organize your life story as you wish, and share it with others.

Please contact us (hammel@uic.edu) for further information about how to publish your life sotry on the internet.

GOOD LUCK!

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