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
445 public letters写给未来的…
今天的你已经考完高考了吧！感觉怎么样。不管你考的怎么样，希望你在以后在回忆17，18岁的青春是有奋斗的回忆。2020年11月29日
2733386259
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 2 years 6 months
写给未来的…
今天的你已经考完高考了吧！感觉怎么样。不管你考的怎么样，希望你在以后在回忆17，18岁的青春是有奋斗的回忆。2020年11月29日
2733386259
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 2 years 6 months
写给未来的…
今天你已经高考完了吧!高三也辛苦一年了，要好好休息啊。
2733386259
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 2 years 6 months
送给发光的你
现在的我躺在床上，写给你这封信，今天下午学姐委婉的拒绝你的喜欢，你决定让她后悔，你决定发光，让她看见你，你要更加优秀，更加努力，变成自己想要的样子，不知道你的小高考怎么样，但请你保持这份热情投入学习，考上她在的城市，大学继续追她一定要追到手加油加油加油!!!
n6097
Nov 29, 2020 · Traveled 2 months 14 days
写给高考后的自己
考完了吗，考的还好吗，她考的怎么样有没有信心考上大学，如果考上了，请你在大学也要认真学习，在放假期间去减肥，一定要瘦下来，还有忘了万周慧吧丑小鸭不可能跟天鹅在一起，大学了还有更好的，我知道你不甘心，但是没办法的，只有遗憾好啦，不管有没有考上你都要在以后的日子了加油加油加油努力努力努力，好好生活对妈妈
用户7529085574
Nov 30, 2020 · Traveled 3 months 22 days
别来无恙
四年前的今天偶然看抖音看到一条时光邮局的就在想我一定要发一封给未来的自己和原来的你，时间过得真的好快啊从初一的相见到后来再到四年前的今天又到四年后的今天，好想很难表达出自己想要表达什么，这个时候我们应该都22岁了吧，我们也肯定也没有交集了，其实挺感谢你的，如果当时没有你的那一搭肩，现在的我真的会大不
n6133
Nov 30, 2020 · Traveled 3 years 11 months
写给未来的…
不说什么，游戏，其他所有都放下，我不想输，也想对的起自己的努力和老师，家人的期望，不想后悔，以后有的是时间，从现在开始，六个月而已，玩的时间够多了，是时候了，该认真了，不就一百多人蛮，超过就是了……对的起自己，才有追求所喜之物的资格，对的起自己，才能活的更好，你……六个月，对得起你自己吗?你可后悔…
苏梓轩qwq
Dec 5, 2020 · Traveled 6 months 13 days
写给未来的你
你过得还好吗，我们还在一起吗，你还喜欢我吗，你考上了想去的大学了吗。希望你不要迷茫，就算不喜欢我了也不要给自己增添负担，希望你能真正长大，祝你18岁生日快乐，虽然今天不是你生日。
n6186
Dec 6, 2020 · Traveled 1 year
我在
小清：你还好吗？我是两年前的你啊。你知道吗，20.12.19的我还是那么颓废，完全没有要努力的样子，全都是些假把式，也没什么好朋友，不知道你那个时候还和佳倩有联系没，或许……她也知道了吧，又或许……你俩断了联系，哪一种结果都是我现在不希望的。 我知道你高考考完了，联考想必你也过了吧，你现在又被那个大
MrHe
Dec 19, 2020 · Traveled 2 years
没标题
亲爱的佳倩： 2020.12.19，你的生日我这次没给你祝福，也没给你生日礼物，对不起。 我不确定你看到这封信时我们是什么关系，我发生了什么，但还请你在收到这封信时请往2247730779@qq.com或heq7595@gmail.com写一封回信，请别拒绝，求你了……谢谢。 高考，考的咋样？上了你
MrHe
Dec 19, 2020 · Traveled 2 years
写给七月的龙哥
来自五个月前身在gl的龙龙，刚刚ma了一管子，写给高考后的你龙龙现在正直寒假，放假已经两天，学历安排的任务还没有开始，高考考的怎么样呢，是不是已经让龙龙爹妈满意，并且买了手机，开始了幸福生活不管结局怎么样，我都希望你更加精彩，不辜负自己才好，好了，我要去学习了，七月见，拜拜
夏殇
Jan 28, 2021 · Traveled 5 months 3 days
未来的李新婷
收到这封信你已经高考毕业，我是2021年的李宇洋，高考后会相爱嘛，会联系嘛，还会相遇嘛，会彼此忘记嘛，2021年就爱上你啦欧耶
n6423
Feb 9, 2021 · Traveled 3 years 4 months
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