At Mead Middle School, eighth graders take part in a unique tradition that sets them on a path towards reflection and self-discovery. Every year, as part of a writing exercise, students write letters to their future selves, to be opened and read several years later, at a time when their lives will have taken on a new level of meaning and purpose.
The process begins with a simple prompt: write a letter to your future self, to be opened when you graduate from high school. Students are given free rein to express their thoughts, hopes, fears, and dreams, with no limits on length or content. Some students choose to write about their academic and future goals, while others delve into personal reflections or reflections on the world around them. “They can write about what they want and we do not read the letters,” said 8th grade teacher Michaela Campbell. “Before students start writing, we do provide them with ideas around a life list. Students also brainstorm ideas with the help of a guide we provide.”
The letters are sealed in envelopes, with each student’s name and address written on the front. They are then collected by Mead Middle School staff, who hold onto them for four years. In the weeks leading up to graduation, staff members mail the letters to the students who wrote them, creating a moment of anticipation and excitement that culminates in the reading of a long-forgotten message from the past.
According to Anna Youngs, 8th grade teacher at Mead Middle School, the goal of the exercise is to encourage students to think about their future selves in a positive and constructive way. “We think it is important for students to see how they change over time. We want them to see how far they have come over the course of high school. It is something fun and unique that Mead Middle does for our 8th graders.”
For many students, this exercise is a chance to reflect on their personal growth and accomplishments, and to see how much they have changed and evolved over the years. It’s also an opportunity to reaffirm their sense of purpose and direction, and to reconnect with their younger selves in a way that is both comforting and enlightening.
By writing letters to their future selves, students are able to express their hopes and dreams, and to create a sense of purpose and direction that would guide them through the years ahead. Over time, the program has become an integral part of the Mead Middle School experience, and a powerful reminder of the importance of self-reflection and personal growth.
As these young students graduate from high school, they have the opportunity to read their letters with fresh eyes, and to see how far they have come since their days at Mead Middle School. They will be able to appreciate the wisdom and insights that their younger self possessed, and to use those insights to guide them as they embark on new adventures and challenges.
“We have heard from students who received their letters as a senior and some students say that it was fun but also embarrassing,” said Youngs. They say they would do it again, however. They were embarrassed by what they read but considered important at the time.”