Recently, the School of Digital Construction and Blasting Engineering organized the “Mail of Time” handwritten letter activity, affording students an opportunity to slow down and savor life and tune into their inner voices amidst today’s fast-paced environment. Students articulated their thoughts and engaged in a dialogue with their future selves with paper and pen.
The event attracted the participation of over 600 students from the school. They took to paper and pen, transforming their thoughts and emotions into words, whether penning down their aspirations for the future, their longing for family and friends, or addressing themselves, their family members, or friends. Some students even enthusiastically adorned their letters with cute hand-drawn illustrations, lending them a personal and heartwarming touch. Upon completion, the letters were enclosed in envelopes uniformly designed by the college. The writers themselves then specified the opening date, such as “one year later” or “upon graduation”, before depositing them into specially crafted mail boxes. At the designated time, the letters will be returned to their owners.
During the activity, a total of 438 handwritten letters were collected. Additionally, some students opted to save their letters in online emails, facilitating future exchanges or dispatches to friends.
The students overwhelmingly praised the activity, describing it as “laden with ritualistic significance” and asserting that it “erected a bridge for emotional expression.” Zhang, a participant in the activity, exclaimed, “The instant I picked up the pen, it felt as though the world had slowed down. This time around, employing ‘slow letters’ to counter ‘fast socializing’ allowed me to rediscover the warmth of words and gain fresh perspectives on time, growth, and interpersonal relationships.”(By Zhang Jiaxing)