A time capsule letter for your classmates to open years from now
Written by hand · Sealed with wax · Sent as one link
Most graduation letters are about the big moment, but in ten years the reader will care more about the ordinary details: who you sat with, what you were worried about, what was on your phone. A good time capsule letter describes your life as it is right now, so the person who opens it can see who you were.
Free · No sign-up needed · Sent as a link
Ways to begin
“It's the last week of senior year, and the thing I'm most afraid of is that we'll stop talking by Christmas.”
“If you're reading this, it's been ten years. I'm guessing you've changed your hair at least twice and you still haven't answered the group chat.”
“Right now you sit two seats to my left and borrow my pens without asking. I hope you're doing that to someone else by now.”
What to write
1. Write down small things that will be gone by then: the song you keep replaying, what lunch costs, the teacher everyone imitates, the name of the group chat.
2. Make one prediction and ask one question. Say where you think you'll be in ten years, then ask the reader whether you were right.
3. If you include an inside joke, add one line explaining it. A joke nobody remembers is just a confusing sentence. And skip 'let's never lose touch'. Name one thing you actually plan to do, like a reunion dinner.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How far ahead should we plan to open them?
Five years suits a reunion, since people are still close enough to remember the details. Ten years gives bigger changes to look back on. Pick a date tied to something you'll remember, such as the anniversary of graduation day.
Q. Can we set the letters to open on a date years from now?
You can set the opening date anywhere from tomorrow to a year away. For a day further off than that, seal the letter, save the link somewhere you'll find it, and send it when the day comes. You can add a password too if you like.