Pictures from graduation. A pen was given by a friend. Letters from loved ones. A page from a favorite (or least favorite) textbook.
These items may seem ordinary, but for college students, they often evoke strong feelings. They hold memories, feelings, and even a part of their identity. When finding these items again whether in a few months or a few years, they can instantly allow people to relive their past selves.
When I was ten years old, I buried my first time capsule, which included trinkets, a letter, and pictures of my life. Opening it as a twenty-year-old, I can remember what I thought of back then, see the most important items to me, and give my future self advice. It was like time-traveling into my own memories.
Time capsules are significant for everyone, but they are especially meaningful to college students whether they are finishing their freshmen year or preparing to graduate and move into the “real world”. So if given the chance to leave something behind for the future, what should be included?
There is no “right” answer, just what is meaningful to the individual. Here are some of my favorite ideas to include in a college time capsule!
First, letters are a direct way to relive the past. Letters can connect individuals from who they were to who they want to be. I like to write down thoughts, memories, advice, struggles, and recent successes. It is a way for me to reflect on my life and remind myself how I want to act in the future and hope I want to come true.
For those who prefer typing over handwriting, websites like FutureMe offer an alternative. Messages can be scheduled for delivery in months or years, acting as digital letters to the future. I have been writing to my future self since fifth grade, crafting two letters each year one for the following year, and one for five years out. These have become a way for me to share my hopes for the future and share memories from the past.
Another idea of what to include in the time capsule is trinkets! These do not have to be big or fancy, just something that will easily be remembered. For example, a scruncy stolen from a roommate, a student ID, or a note passed in class. The meaning is not in the object itself, but in the story it carries.
Trinkets need a physical place to store them such as a store-bought container or an old shoebox. It is best to store it somewhere dry and safe (a closet, under the bed, or a drawer at home). Burying it outdoors might sound fun, but unless it is waterproof, it might not survive the weather a lesson I learned firsthand.
My last suggestion is to put photos in a time capsule. Images often capture the pieces memory forgets — dorm room setups, friend groups, campus traditions, and favorite hangout spots. A few photos tucked into a time capsule can instantly bring back the full picture of a time in life, right down to the hairstyles, awkward moments, and inside jokes that shaped the college experience.
There is no better moment to start a time capsule than right now. Whether in the first year or the final semester, preserving this version of life before it changes is a way to honor it.
So go write a letter, choose a trinket, and print photos because someday these simple things may mean the world.
