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欢迎来到，举世无双的十八岁
Hello 现在是你十八岁的第一秒，我不知道你是否考上了心仪的学校，你是不是还和朋友们有联系，高考之后瘦没瘦，但是你依旧迎来了你人生中唯一的十八岁，多奇妙，你居然已经活到十八了，如果在初二那年真的跳下去了，你就不会收到这封信了。未来真的有希望，如同我憧憬你一样，你也要一直憧憬未来去收获美好。
gf
Dec 20, 2021 · Traveled 6 months 17 days
Time was over.
您是否觉得后悔了？还敢看自己的分数吗？妄想症好点了吗？县城还是市区？记住，在把AVG做出来之前都不能放松。2025年见
23333
Dec 25, 2021 · Traveled 6 months 25 days
灿灿
嘿！收到这封信有没有感觉时间好快！我现在还没高考呢 不知道你现在在哪上学啦！有没有很满意 有没有过得很开心 有没有遇到新的人 和旧的人有没有再联系一年真的能发生好多好多事情啊从去年的到现在 我刚收到去年的自己写的信 我现在还没成年呢！你都快19了 哎呀我现在觉得自己好幸福 你也一定是个幸福的人所以一
孤独世界的灿
Dec 25, 2021 · Traveled 1 year
给肥仔一封信
考上理想大学每天刷五个小时题和资料不打开其他app考上没有呀死肥仔
huang
Dec 30, 2021 · Traveled 6 months
2021年末小结
你好呀胖胖！见字如晤！当看到这封信的时候，你已经走过了又一个年头，迈入2023癸卯兔年，我在2022的元旦之日写下这篇2021年末小结。站在新旧之交，回望2021的种种，大抵是充实的一年。当我敲下这行字时，手机微信的叮咚声打破了思绪。打开一看，原来是零点发送给喜欢的男孩子的“新年快乐”有了回应。我猜
棋棋小女侠
Jan 1, 2022 · Traveled 1 year
写给高考后的自己
你现在已经高考完了，心里应该知道怎么样了，无论如何这六个月都是你自己的选择，任何时候都别放弃，要一直加油一直努力
Sheep梓阳
Jan 12, 2022 · Traveled 6 months
我
高考完了吗？？别担心，先回家看看爸妈，再看看鬼畜，联系一下冯。不要担心，一切都是最好的安排，就算不是，那也是我的锅
n7670
Jan 23, 2022 · Traveled 4 months 16 days
2022会收到的第二封信
亲爱的自己：尘埃已经落定了吧~ 这个时间，体检也结束了吧？我知道，这一定是给你最好的安排，往前走吧，努力过，别留下遗憾就好。写下这封信的时候，我还在努力呢，战线被疫情拖得老长了，但我还是在坚持着。昨晚又梦到乱七八糟的亲密关系，其实，不想跟他有什么纠葛，大亚湾罢了，就算工作同一个地方，不代表会经常见面
R_Moku
Mar 5, 2022 · Traveled 1 month 25 days
写给18岁的自己
你好，我是15岁的司梦洁。 还记得你写的这封信吗？18岁的你现在自己高考结束了吧，成绩不管怎样，都要好好的走好下一步，让自己快乐起来，别忘了你15岁那些说过誓言的朋友们，他们陪伴你度过了这无味的三年，时光很快，一转眼就过去了，大家都没反应过来已经结束了，15岁是结束的一年也是新的开始，是步入高中的第
n7815
Apr 1, 2022 · Traveled 1 day
丁鹏建
恭喜你哇，考上了好大学，心仪的大学继续努力吧，对得起父母，张鑫桔以及你爱的所有人在接下来的两个月，抓紧时间提升自己！做个好警察，在公大继续塑造自己吧四月的你，很自信，很努力，很幸运，加油！山不过来，我便过去！继续向前！
n7843
Apr 3, 2022 · Traveled 2 months 28 days
写给高考后的自己
该怎么说呢，其实写过很多次信，但那都是以手写信的方式来写的，更多的都是关于自己的生活和人际关系出了障碍，因为自己太过于敏感，心里想的东西太多，导致现在也没有办法认真学习，但我希望，在你收到这封信的时候是高考完，你可以放下内心的那些杂乱，不要让那些不重要的无关紧要的东西和事来影响你的情绪，其实一个人真
叶子舒
Apr 5, 2022 · Traveled 2 months 5 days
祝你幸福
高考刚结束了，其实我早就放下了，只是觉得太遗憾了，但是错过了就是错过，并且我们的世界是完全不同的，太过执着对谁都没有好处，还是很感谢你让我的初中三年和高中两年过的没有那么平平淡淡，你也可以知道自己很优秀，最后就祝你幸福，真诚的祝福
叶子舒
Apr 5, 2022 · Traveled 2 months 4 days
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