The concept of a time capsule is kind of ridiculously cool to me - which may speak volumes of how much of a dork I can be - and I’ve always wanted to do one, except the idea of burying an object of high sentimental value always stopped me. That and having moved three different times in the past twenty years. I can’t imagine how I would explain that I needed to dig this hole in someone’s backyard so I could find that box I buried there as a kid.
I’ve also wanted to write a letter to my future self, like what a lot of elementary school teachers have their students do with the promise to mail each of them their respective letters in a number of years into the future. The appeal went downhill, however, when I realized I wouldn’t have anyone to mail me my letter, and the thought of asking someone to do it for me seemed awkward(ly embarrassing) at best.
What I have decided to do, however, is create a small written snapshot of my life as of today, Wednesday, April 09, 2008, and look back in a year or so and compare (and most likely remark upon my own idiocy).
So onward we (I) go!
01. Where I (hope to) see myself a year from now:
School: Almost halfway through with the IAEP; finding some way to set myself apart from a lot of other people in the program; spending a reasonable amount of time studying in the library; possibly participating in the IIA UTD Student Chapter in some kind of official capacity.
Career: Working full-time; attending Dallas IIA meetings.
Overall: Crying about school and work and having no life.
Super Clichéd Answer: Happy.
02. Where I actually will be:
School: Studying studying studying; crying to myself about how much studying I have to do; spending an absolutely ridiculous amount of time in the library; attending UTD IIA Student Chapter meetings.
Career: Possibly still at my currently-held job, possibly an internship, possibly a full-time job - all dependent on how things shake down with a class I hope to take in the fall; attending Dallas IIA meetings.
Overall: Stressed and whiny and definitely crying about school and work and having no life.
03. At this moment, the thing(s) that I worry about most, in the immediate sense (a year or less):
Paying for the expenses of grad school; how the economy will affect both my currently-held job and my particular place of employment; whether or not the Mavericks make the playoffs - and not get ousted in the first round by what looks to be a match-up with San Antonio; how bad my allergies will be this season; figuring out how to reset my jacked up sleep cycle.
04. At this moment, the thing(s) that I worry about most, in an overall sense:
How the economy will impact the career field I hope to go into; how long the recession will last; finding a job post-graduation; how much longer Dallas will go before one of their sports teams finally wins a championship.
05. At this moment, the thing(s) that I am most happy about, in the immediate sense (three months or less):
The Mavericks winning three out of their past four games; getting my external hard drive to work properly; the upcoming Eisley and Death Cab for Cutie concerts.
06. At this moment, the thing(s) that I am most happy about, in an overall sense:
Food I’ve cooked and baked turning out tasty and well; having things to do and not being idle in my free time; my sabbatical from school almost ending (kind of happy about that); the possibility of some summer trips out of town.
07. The life goal I am currently working on is:
#10-12, as kind of seen here.
For fun, my predicted future answers, a year from now when I re-read these questions and write out new answers, are as follows:
- School: Almost through with the IAEP and school; still attempting to spend only a reasonable amount of time living in the library; being involved with the IIA UTD Student Chapter.
Career: Studying for my licensing and certification; working full-time.
Overall: Still crying about school and work. - School: Same.
Career: Studying; looking for a post-graduation job if I’m not already holding one.
Overall: Same. - Mostly the same.
- Unsure.
- Unsure, though most likely school-related.
- Again, school-related, probably something along the lines of being almost done with school.
- Unsure, though probably the same.
Dear future me:
Given these predicted answers above, I hope you have somehow found ways in this past year to strongly prove your then-current, now-past self wrong about how boring you were, and you really do have something of a life, kind of.
Love,
Christina
The Conversation {4 comments}
My mom found a letter I wrote in third grade to my future self and showed me it a year ago. Can I say, EMBARRASSING. Well, in a cute kind of way. I wanted to be a teacher back then. Things certainly have changed.
Dear Future Christina,
As your continuing legacy, I am immensly interested in your overall life trends. However I see an alarming spike in stress over and/or concern for career and school. Not too alarming I suppose– ’tis the season for such things. Should you ever find the future Linh in such weather, feel free to offer words of advice, solace, and baked goodies if and when available. In return, she will gladly assure you that the grass is indeed greener on your side and that it has improved immensly since you last stopped to remark on it.
Sincerely,
Linh
Kiera -
Sometimes I wish I was still a kid, if only because I seemed to have more confidence and optimism in what I believed I could achieve in my adult life. Oh, to be young again.
Dear Future Linh -
As your preceding legacy, I am unhappy to report that as one pursues additional post-secondary education, such concerns over these matters seems to become quite prevalent. Such is one of many unfortunate side effects of getting older, I imagine. At the moment, I am unsure what words of wisdom my future self will be able to provide your future self as you make your way through optometry school; however, with what free time I anticipate my future self to have again beginning in two years time, I am sure Future Christina will become ambitious enough to take on new cooking and baking projects with her being more than happy to share the results - she will require at least one other guinea pig aside from herself to provide the necessary critiques and comments for the culinary products that she will inevitably create, after all. She sincerely hopes that your future self is partial to these experiments.
Future Christina would also like to take this moment, lest she forgets, to congratulate your future self on knowing/figuring out what life choices you wish to make a lot faster than some of your elders; finishing your academic career at a reasonable age is, in and of itself, a very lovely feeling. So while the road to the greener side may seem long, you can take comfort in knowing that it took you less time to get there than many others. (And therefore, many more years on the other side to enjoy!)
Best Regards,
Christina
Dear Present Christina,
Do not fret, for Present Grace is currently in a state of no-life-itis and while the current prognosis is grim, no-life-itis isn’t half-bad. Focus on schooling makes one rich in the future. But have no fear, for Future Grace shall also be whiny, and stressed out hanging on to that slim ray of hope that Optometry is her calling, along with a Francophonic husband. Hark! The drums begin to beat (on her ipod nano, which Future Grace shall replace with a neat-o ipod touch). Away, Present Grace shall go for the time being.
Abientot
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