The purpose of this article is to discuss the opportunities and challenges of using students' personal narratives of the past as a vehicle and catalyst for learning history. The point of departure is a research project entitled "My Historical Backpack," conducted at Örebro University in Sweden since the fall of 2016. The project is a collaboration between the teacher training program at the university and several upper secondary schools ("gymnasieskolor") and involves both history teachers and students in Örebro; it is carried out by three senior lecturers in history, the authors of this paper.