Write an introduction for your narrative essay. The introduction should contain -- and probably even start with -- the quotation and how it relates to your experience. For example, if you are using the quote "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," relate it to a time when you were afraid. Indicate that the narrative will detail how you overcame your fears and realized that fear is the only thing to be afraid of.
Write your narrative essay in the first person. Using "I" is a way to draw your reader in and create intimacy. The reader is not just reading about how a quote related to some faceless nobody's life. When the essay is written in the first person, he knows that the writer is describing the quote's impact from personal experience and will feel more connected to him.
Support your introduction with factual information. Everything you are writing will be about the quotation and how it relates. In the overcoming fear example, you may talk about how you overcame your nerves and asked the prettiest girl in school out or how you told your parents you didn't want to go to Princeton even though you were afraid they'd be disappointed. Everything must relate to the original quote or be leading toward a point that does relate to it.
Add conflict to the narrative. The foundation of any good story is conflict. This does not mean gun fights and car chases. It means that the protagonist is trying to achieve a goal with obstacles in his way. For example, the prettiest girl in school is also the object of affection for the class bully. Another example is that three generations of your family have graduated from Princeton, but you want to go to film school. These conflicts will add weight to your story and keep the reader engaged.
Include as many details as possible. Remember, that you are telling a story. The more detail the better. When you describe the prettiest girl in school, describe what makes her so beautiful (her hair, her eyes, her smile, her perfume, her style). When you write about your father's obsession with Princeton, describe the trophy case where he proudly displays his memorabilia or how his diploma hangs in the foyer next your grandfather's, with an empty space for yours. The more detail you add, the more your reader will feel like he is there with you.
Write a conclusion that summarizes everything in the story. For example, talk about how the pretty girl declined your date request, but was nowhere near as mean as you thought and next time you won't be afraid when asking a girl out. Or write how your father, although disappointed, was supportive of your decision. This is where everything you wrote will tie definitively to the quote from your introduction.