By Sara Page
We as creatures who strive for growth and development rarely ever take the time to acknowledge how far we have come. The most likely cause of such feelings may be due to a lack of change as well as a lack of cherishable memories.
What I am about to tell you sounds simple, but it has had a major impact on my own growth and self-esteem.
Take a cardboard box that is at least 12 inches in length and 10 inches wide, grab a marker, and write the date in the future when you get to open the box. I, personally, suggest either a minimum of one year or when it is filled to the top.
Keep in mind that this isn’t completely like a time capsule (though they are similar). You don’t have to bury it in the ground or even try hiding it. All you have to do is put in papers, pictures or whatever you’d like right up until the day of opening. Of course, the on box rule is you cannot go back to look at what you put in earlier, but nothing should stop you from adding more to it.
I have been doing this for a little over a year, and even though I haven’t yet opened it, it has already had lasting effects on me.
When my box was first created, I was nearing the end of ninth grade. My grades weren’t the best and I was put in a remedial class after failing algebra the first semester. Naturally, my self-esteem was quite low but the “bully” in me was a stubborn one. It knew I had messed up by not taking my school-life seriously enough. This was when my biggest critic (me) became my greatest guide.
All the frustrations, worries, hopes, and views I had during that time are now at the bottom of my cardboard capsule, filled with proof of my growth. The following year, my grades slightly improved, and I had the opportunity to join a couple of my school’s clubs. As for my work ethic and time-management skills; they improved tremendously. Just knowing I was putting those items away for safe-keeping helped me to continue moving forward.
One of the best ways to gather treasured memories is to look for them yourself. Take for example, I had joined my school’s art club which led me to working on a monster for a school play titled “She Kills Monsters.”
And so, my first year of gathering various items for the treasure chest came to a close. As for this year, I currently have all As, am part of six clubs (might soon be seven if I get accepted into Sports Medicine club), and my self-esteem has skyrocketed. Having a cardboard box of memories has comforted me by letting me know that I have grown and will continue to do so.
Whether you want physical proof of your growth or just a collection of things for you to reminisce about in the future, doing this will no doubt be beneficial for you. Time is fleeting so hold on tightly to what you will never want to forget.
