A hush settled across the rows of desks as students sat in quiet contemplation. One by one, they picked up their pens and began to write, pouring their hopes and dreams onto the blank pages in front of them. Their compositions weren’t just another assignment; they were personal messages that would serve as time capsules until their high school graduation.
At Mead Middle School, eighth graders take part in a unique tradition that sets them on a path toward reflection and self-discovery. 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 choose to write about their academic and future goals, while others delve into personal reflections or observations about the world around them. “They can write about what they want, and we do not read the letters,” said eighth-grade teacher Michaela Campbell. “Before students start writing, we provide them with a list of ideas. Students also brainstorm ideas with the help of a guide we provide.”
The letter-writing assignment is a milestone for eighth graders who are preparing to leave the familiar halls of middle school and embark on a new chapter in high school. According to Anna Youngs, an eighth-grade English and Social Studies teacher, the goal of the exercise is to encourage students to think about their future selves in a positive and constructive way. “We think it’s important for them to see how they changed over time and be proud of how far they’ve come throughout high school.”
Sealed in envelopes with each student’s name and address written on the front, the letters are collected by the eighth-grade teachers, who hold onto them for four years. In the weeks leading up to Mead High School’s graduation, they are mailed to the students who wrote them. What is typically a routine trip to the mailbox becomes a nostalgic journey back in time as they open their letters, and read them again with fresh eyes.
Many seniors found that the goals they wrote in their letters have become exciting accomplishments they are now celebrating. Izzy Campbell, a 2023 graduate of Mead High School, aspired to achieve a high GPA in high school, graduate from both high school and college, and pursue a career as a middle school teacher. Currently, she is a freshman at Pacific Lutheran University, majoring in education to fulfill her dream of becoming a middle school English teacher.
Another Mead High School graduate from the class of 2023, Taylor Adler, wrote in his letter, “If my athletic pursuits don’t materialize, I would be thrilled to attend the Air Force Academy and acquire the skills to become a pilot.” Taylor is now pursuing his passion as a freshman at the University of North Dakota, where he is studying to become a commercial pilot.
As the seniors reflect on the hopes and dreams they had when they were younger, their letters, now cherished keepsakes, serve as a meaningful conclusion to both the school year and their primary and secondary education. “Looking back on my four years in high school, I’m excited to see that a lot of what I wrote in my letter, I actually accomplished,” shared Adler. “I think my eighth-grade self would be proud.”
