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By John Raftrey And Lori McCormick

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About this blog: We are writing this blog to give practical advice to students and parents, to reflect on issues affecting college admissions, and to provide a platform for a robust community discussion on post-secondary choices. We occasionally f...  (More)

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Dear Future Self

Uploaded: Jul 9, 2015
(Written by Lori McCormick)


In years past, I have worked in high school programs where I encouraged my students at the start of their college application process to write a letter to their future self. At the time, these soon-to-be college students thought it was a silly assignment. I did see a few faces light up but mostly a lot of eye rolling. Heard a lot of unhappy sighs, too.

But they did it. They hand wrote their letters, sealed the envelope, self-addressed it, and handed it back to me. Fast forward fall semester ? around the time of Thanksgiving Break, a letter, in their own writing, would arrive at their home address.

What each student discovered in opening up that letter was unique to that person. And the ones that shared with me how their letters impacted them is not for public knowledge, but I will say, the letter was profound. One common thread that I will share is that they could not believe how much they had grown in those few months. They were really proud of themselves.

My summer challenge to you is to write a letter to your future self. Here are a few links for inspiration, but ultimately, there is no wrong or right way to do this.

1. This website stores your virtual letter and delivers it to you on a date you set.

2. This blog is from the Huffington Post. It captures a letter written to a future high school graduate. It includes 20 questions to ask yourself.

3. This example
is written by Jeannie Cerundolo. In a school assignment at age 15, she wrote a letter to herself. Her teacher mailed it back to her at age 25. She then wrote another letter to herself, which she opened when she turned 35.

Happy writing and I hope you enjoy reading your letter to yourself in the future.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Lynne, a resident of Professorville,
on Jul 10, 2015 at 2:10 pm

I have done this in the past with my children when they were growing up at the start of the year i would get them to write down what they hoped to achieve during the following year an then they would get put away in an envelope an not to be opened until christmas time. It taught them how much they had changed during the year in out look an sometimes they had a laugh over what they had written.


Posted by resident 1, a resident of another community,
on Jul 10, 2015 at 8:36 pm

These kids should get used to it. Many companies have annual performance reviews where goals for the upcoming year are set.

Even if these kids think it's a silly exercise, many of them will have to deal with it in the corporate world.

Same with learning how to communicate in writing. Yes, those 140-character tweets are fun, but the business world needs people who can communicate effectively using a wide range of communication methods, and some of that includes writing more than 140 characters.

Life is not a Facebook thumbs-up.


Posted by musical, a resident of Palo Verde,
on Jul 11, 2015 at 1:34 pm

"Life is not a Facebook thumbs-up."

Got 4 likes here already.


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