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Diary entry examples: 14 samples for every kind of day

A diary entry is a short, dated, private piece of writing about your day and how you felt, written in the first person. Below are 14 diary entry examples for all kinds of days: school, rain, birthdays, a fight with a friend, exam results, a trip, a quiet day, a hard day and a happy surprise. Read a few, then write your own in the diary above.

By My Diary Journal · Updated October 11, 2026
Today

What is a diary entry?

A diary entry is one page or one section of a diary, written about a single day or event. It usually has the date at the top, often starts with Dear diary, tells what happened in the past tense, and shares the writer's feelings. It is informal and personal, because it is written for yourself.

Every example below follows that shape. Some are written for school, with the date, day and time and a signature. Others are personal and looser. Both are correct. For the exact school layout, see the diary entry format.

Diary entry examples about school

1. An ordinary school day

School dayTuesday, 3 March, 8:30 pm
Dear Diary,
School felt long today. Science was a double period. We tested which paper towel soaks up the most water. Our team's guess was wrong, but it was fun to be wrong. At lunch Leo told the worst joke and we could not stop laughing. I have a spelling test on Friday. I will practice tomorrow. Anna

2. Exam results day

Exam resultFriday, 21 June, 7:00 pm
Dear Diary,
Results came out today. My hands were cold opening the sheet. Math: 91. English: 84. Science: 68. I am proud of math because I worked so hard on it. Science hurt a little. I know I rushed the last section. Dad said one number does not decide who I am. Next term I will start revising two weeks earlier. Kabir

3. The first day at a new school

First dayMonday, 2 September
Dear diary,
I did not know a single person when I walked in. The corridors were huge and I got lost twice. A girl named Zoe showed me where room 12 was. We ended up sitting together at lunch. It was scary, but tomorrow will be easier.

Read a longer version with tips on our page for a diary entry about first day at school.

Diary entry examples about feelings and friends

4. A fight with a friend

A fight with a friendWednesday, 12 April
Dear diary,
Maya and I are not talking. It started over nothing. She sat with the new girl and I felt replaced. I said something mean about it and she cried. I keep replaying it. I was jealous, and that is the truth. Tomorrow I am going to say sorry before first bell.

5. A hard day

A hard dayThursday, 9 November, 10:15 pm
Dear diary,
Today was heavy. Nothing went right from the start. I forgot my homework and the teacher was disappointed. Then Grandpa went into the hospital this afternoon. Mom says he is stable, but I am scared. Writing this helps a bit. I will call him tomorrow. I just want to sleep now.

6. Helping someone

Helping someoneSaturday, 14 January
Dear diary,
An old man dropped his shopping bag at the bus stop. Oranges rolled everywhere, and people just walked past. I helped him pick them up and carried the bag to his gate. He said I reminded him of his grandson. It took ten minutes, and it made my whole day.

There is a full page of examples like this for a diary entry about helping someone in need.

Diary entry examples about special days

7. A birthday

BirthdaySunday, 18 May
Dear diary,
I am twelve today! Mom woke me up with pancakes shaped like a one and a two. My friends came over for a movie night and pizza. The best gift was a sketchbook from my sister, with a note inside. I feel lucky and very full. I want to remember this one.

More birthday samples are on our diary entry birthday page.

8. A happy surprise

A happy surpriseFriday, 6 October
Dear diary,
I came home and my cousin Ruth was sitting in our kitchen! She flew in from Canada and nobody told me. I screamed so loudly the dog started barking. We stayed up talking until midnight. Best Friday of the whole year.

9. A trip to the zoo

A tripSaturday, 22 April
Dear diary,
Our class went to the city zoo today. The giraffes were taller than I ever imagined. A monkey stole a boy's cap, and the whole group cheered. My feet hurt, but I took 40 photos. I think I might want to work with animals one day.

See more on the diary entry about a zoo park.

10. The best day of my life

Best daySunday, 30 July
Dear diary,
Today I saw the ocean for the very first time. The water was colder and louder than I imagined. Dad and I built a sandcastle and the tide took it. We ate fries on the wall while the sun went down. I will remember the sound of those waves forever.

Read more on our diary entry best day of my life page.

Diary entry examples about weather and seasons

11. A rainy day

Rainy dayMonday, 17 July
Dear diary,
It rained all day, the heavy kind that drums on the roof. School was cancelled because the road flooded. I read in bed, then made paper boats with my brother. We sailed them in the puddle by the gate. The whole house smelled of wet earth and hot tea.

There are more samples on the diary entry about a rainy day page.

12. The first day of summer vacation

Summer vacationSaturday, 1 June
Dear diary,
No alarm! I woke up at ten and stayed in my pajamas. I made a list of things to do this summer. Number one: learn to swim properly. Number two: finish the 500 piece puzzle. Six whole weeks ahead. I can hardly believe it.

See a full diary entry about summer vacation.

Short diary entry examples for everyday life

13. A quiet day

A quiet daySunday, 5 March
Dear diary,
Nothing happened today, and it was perfect. Tea, a book, a nap, a walk around the block. Sometimes I forget how much I need days like this.

14. A three line entry

Three linesWednesday, 11 October
Happened: long meeting, cold lunch, early night. Felt: tired but okay. Remember: Sam left a kind note on my desk.

Short entries like these are perfect for busy days and keep the habit going. For more, see our daily diary page.

What these diary entry examples have in common

  • A date at the top, sometimes with the day and time.
  • First person, using I, me and my.
  • Past tense for what happened, and present tense for feelings now.
  • One main event instead of everything that happened.
  • Specific details, like oranges rolling, pancakes shaped like numbers, or the smell of wet earth.
  • Feelings, said plainly: scared, proud, jealous, lucky.
  • A closing thought, often a plan or something to remember.

Ready to try? Follow our guide on how to write a diary entry, pick a subject from the diary entry topics list, and write it in the diary at the top of this page.

Questions people ask

What is a diary entry?

A diary entry is a short, personal piece of writing about one day or event, written in the first person and dated at the top. It usually begins with Dear diary, tells what happened in the past tense and shares how the writer felt. It is meant to be private and informal.

What is a good example of a diary entry?

A good diary entry has a date, focuses on one event, includes real details, and says how you felt. For example, an entry about a fight with a friend that explains what happened, admits your own part in it and ends with a plan to say sorry is a strong example.

How do you write a short diary entry?

Write the date, then three lines: what happened, how you felt, and one thing to remember. That is a full diary entry. Short entries are great for busy days and help you keep the habit of writing every day. You can always add more on a day when you have time.

What should a diary entry include for school?

For school, include the date, day and time at the top, the salutation Dear Diary, a body in the first person past tense describing the event and your feelings, a closing thought, and your name as a signature. Keep to the word limit in the question.

Can a diary entry be about anything?

Yes. A personal diary entry can be about any event, feeling, person or thought. School questions usually give you a topic, such as a birthday, a rainy day or a school trip, and you should stay on that topic. If you can choose, pick an event with a clear feeling.

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