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High school and college graduates

A graduation letter to your future self

You are closing a chapter. Write to the person who will look back on it in five or ten years, and tell them what this moment really felt like.

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Why write a letter at graduation

Graduation is one of the few moments when you can see clearly who you have been and who you hope to become. A few years later, it is surprisingly hard to remember what you were afraid of, what you were sure about and who sat next to you at the ceremony. A letter keeps all of that.

Schedule it for five or ten years from now, or for your reunion. When it arrives, it is a conversation with the person who threw the cap in the air, before life sorted out what came next.

10 prompts for a graduation letter

  1. 1 What did graduation day actually feel like: the place, the weather, who was there?
  2. 2 What are you proudest of from these years?
  3. 3 What almost made you give up, and what kept you going?
  4. 4 Who do you want to thank, by name?
  5. 5 What do you think you will be doing in five years? Be specific.
  6. 6 What are you scared of about what comes next?
  7. 7 Which friends do you hope will still be in your life?
  8. 8 What did you learn that was not on any exam?
  9. 9 What do you want to promise your future self?
  10. 10 What question do you want your future self to answer?

Which date to choose

  • One year: how did the first year after graduation really go?
  • Five years: the most popular. Enough time for a career, a city or a relationship to change.
  • Ten years: perfect to arrive just before your reunion.
  • Your 30th birthday: a natural moment to look back.

Add a photo from the day: in the gown, with your friends, or of the diploma on your desk.

Example of a graduation letter

The night after graduation

Hey, me in five years.

We did it. The gown was too long, it rained right before the photos and Grandma cried when they called my name. Jess, Amir and I ate pizza on the floor of our empty flat afterwards.

I have no job yet. I have three applications out and a plan B I do not love. Right now that scares me more than I admit to anyone.

So, tell me: where did you end up? Did you stay in the city? Do you still talk to Jess and Amir every week? Did you ever take that photography course?

Whatever the answers are, I hope you are not too hard on me. I was doing my best with what I knew tonight.

Proud of us. Class of 2026 ✉

More ideas: examples from students and 75 prompts.

Frequently asked questions

When should I schedule my graduation letter?
Five or ten years after graduation are the most popular choices: far enough for life to have changed, close enough to still recognise yourself. Some people also choose the date of their 10-year reunion.

Should I write it before or after the ceremony?
Either works. Many people write it the night before or the week after, when the feelings are still fresh. The important thing is to include specific details of those days.

What if my email changes after college?
Use a personal address you plan to keep rather than your school email. If it changes before delivery, write to us and we will update it.

Can parents write a letter to the graduate?
Yes. Parents, grandparents and friends can schedule a letter to arrive on the graduate’s next big milestone, as a surprise. No account is needed.

Is it free?
Yes. Writing and receiving the letter is free, a photo is included and you do not need an account.

More guides

Write it today. Read it when it matters.

Pick a date, write a few honest lines, add a photo if you like. We keep it encrypted and deliver it on the day you chose.

Write my graduation letter

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