After the Gaokao: Write to Yourself, One Year On
The days between the big exam and the results move slower than the three years before them. Every year around this time, students come here to write: some address the self who'll be refreshing the results page in a month, some the self standing at a university gate in September with a suitcase, and some don't dare imagine anything at all — they just pour out three years of pressure and doubt, and mail it one year ahead to see if it still stings. These letters all share one thing: the writer thinks they're betting on an outcome, but when the letter is opened a year later, they discover that the thing that felt world-ending truly did pass. Below are real letters students chose to make public. If you've just walked out of the exam hall, or you're waiting on a score that feels like it decides everything — write it down. The you who already knows the answer will want to hear from the you who doesn't.
Ideas to get you started
- Write down the uncertainty exactly as it is: your estimated score, the city you're hoping for, what scares you. That suspense is the best part a year from now.
- Spell out your plans for every outcome — what you'll do if it goes well, and if it doesn't. Future-you will see how brave you were.
- Thank someone: the deskmate who studied with you, the parents who walked you to the exam, the teacher who never gave up on you. You can show them the letter in a year.
- Set one challenge for your first year of university, then check back in twelve months whether you kept it.
Real letters from the vault
479 public letters
丫头片子我们别来无恙。
只不过是随手选下高考结束的那年夏天的日子。2016年的秋天 不知道会在哪个地方辗转。又或者糟糕透顶 在高四的补习学校每天两点一线。三点钟的阳光 春日。明媚温暖。已经没有刺骨的寒冷。春天风大 却是温柔的风。偶然看到网址便过来给未来寄一封信。那个时候，还会记得吗。亲爱的小丫头片子，这
n2
2013.03.03
写给未来的…
把每天安排的妥妥当当 安下心认认真真的去做一件事的感觉很好 我甚至相信未来的光芒 我触手可及 6月！
wuutoise周迪威
2013.03.16
写给未来的…
考完了呢。你最喜欢的夏天终于彻彻底底地到来了。不管怎么样，至少是经历过高考了吧。因此人生暂且圆满了。今后还不好说，但现在得开心点儿。三个月前张琛以环保社社长的身份进了复旦的环科，你什么也没进。不过那也好，想想吧，现在有多少选择在等你。请你好好过一个暑假。给你点儿提示吧，坐一次51
车旅蚁穴
2013.03.16
给一个星期后自己的一封信
亲爱的自己，你好。亲爱的自己，今天是你下定决心要努力的第一个星期。或许，这七天，你空置了三天，纠结着那段感情四天，给自己写了一个星期的信。只是，请你为自己鼓掌，至少你坚持了剩余的时间。或许，你还不习惯，每天都要拼，要戒微博要戒扣扣，要十点前睡觉，要五点半起床晨读，要半个小时的黄昏
赖烨华
2013.03.19
你好。高考完后的lon
我是2013.04.20的lon。此时此刻我总是希望自己能高考考上好的大学。但却总是半途而废，不肯努力学习。。但是我相信，你。现在肯定考上了理想的大学！别忘了自己的目标！平面设计师。做好自己，问心无愧！未来就是你的！廖智麟！我现在决心就算残了也要读上大学。这样我就对得起未来的你了
__Leo_lon
2013.03.19
写给未来的…
嗨！刚考完高考的我，还好吗？我是一年前的你。。。。。。对自己有信心么？无论考的如何，要适当的给放压，人生还很长，这并不是最后的结果。不要埋怨自己，你尽力就好了。这是的你领悟了“年少无知”了吗？加油！
Forevermark
2013.03.23
写给未来的吴婉桐02
我也不知道我能给未来的我写多少封信...我也没有把握我能坚持多久...反正我相信写信给未来的我这将成为一种习惯4月份了~亲爱的你有啥打算？3月份的你依旧是浑浑噩噩的过去了在与老朋友的争吵中度过了在和新朋友的打闹中度过了4月份你的打算怎么过？你自己看着办吧你的偶像大人即将高考凭你的
cri_桐
2013.03.23
写给未来的…
To:刚考完的小左小佑 首先呢，先恭喜你终于考完啦！ 无论考得怎样，不后悔最重要啦。 十二年就这样过去了呢。 有太多太多的舍不得和回忆， 嗯， 就尽情的享受这高考后的完美假期吧。 爱你！
哆啦不见了时光机
2013.03.24
Dear. Self
无论阴晴，结局都会好的，高考我来了。现在的你，希望在巴黎咖啡店喝下午茶，吃甜点，或者和我们的老公一起度假，无论贫富，幸福即好
蝉翼如水
2013.03.24
写给未来的…
这时的你应该高考完了吧，路是自己走的，走的方式是你自己选的，所以不管结果如何，都要自己负责。要祝福这时的自己终于毕业了，祝贺你，唐维。我知道2013年的我会过的很辛苦
维维vivi
2013.03.26
写给高考后的自己
20130414，距高考还有54天，不久就要上考场了！不知道结果如何？现在的你考上了吗？拿到录取通知书了吗？后悔了吗？如果后悔了，要记得，自己的话：做了就不要后悔！不管结果如何，要坦然接受！！！
癫狂柳絮
2013.04.14
写给未来的自己
亲爱的你： 你好！ 请不要惊讶于我用这样生疏的语气，仅仅只是我希望，未来，不再是现在的我，你应该更漂亮，更自信，更优秀，更有底气去面对即将步入的社会。我选择在这一天寄给你，这一天你生日，在零点的钟声响起，我希望的第一份生日礼物，是自己曾经的期望,我相信 ，
等在时光里的风景
2013.04.19
Frequently Asked Questions
When should the letter arrive?
Three popular picks: results day (about a month out — opening it feels like a reveal), the first day of university in September (new city, old feelings), or exam day next year (a full year, the sharpest before-and-after).
Should I include my estimated score?
Yes. Whatever happens, looking back at that guess — and the nerves behind it — is the most honest part of the whole letter.
Can I write to someone else instead?
Absolutely. Lots of students write to a graduating deskmate or a secret crush — just add their email or phone number and agree to open your letters on the same day next year.
After the Gaokao: Write to Yourself, One Year On
Write yours