What Would You Put in a Time Capsule?

We asked our participants what 3 things they would put in a time capsule to open upon graduating, below is a response from a sophomore political science major.

“Three objects I would place in a time capsule from today to reopen when I graduate would be the following: my old apartment lease, my acceptance letter from the Political Science Honor Society, and my Constitutional Law binder.

I would choose to place my old apartment lease in the time capsule because that apartment was the catalyst that changed my family’s life. My family and I used to live in a rundown apartment in Old Louisville. The kids and I shared one bedroom. I was attending school full tie and trying to afford market rent as well. I had no other family to stay with or depend on. I was completely on my own. I was thankful that my landlord had taken a chance on me and allowed my children and I to live there. I applied to many other places with no luck, and what I could afford was limited. I remember telling the landlord that this is only temporary and that I was in school and planning on transitioning to a more stable situation. I struggled a lot. Many nights, I would stay up late wondering why I was going to school full time and only working part time. It seemed to me at the time that the cons of attending school outweighed the pros. I couldn’t afford to do a lot of things, like having a Christmas or taking my kids out for fun family outings. There were many occasions when my kids would get disappointed because of my financial situation. That sting of pain I felt from seeing their discouraged faces was almost unbearable at times. Still, I continued with my studies and made ends meet. My old apartment will always be a constant reminder of my hard work and perseverance.

The second item would be my acceptance letter. It’s not an easy thing to attend school while being a single mother. Managing a family, holding down a job and making good grades at a University, no less, requires true grit. My acceptance letter into the Political Science Honor Society was truly a defining moment for me. I felt that in between the lines of that correspondence read how a strong Black woman was defying the odds and thriving!

The last item would be my binder from my Constitutional Law class. I’ve taken several classes related to law; however, this class was the true test to see if I’ve chosen the right career path. I remember my professor saying this class will determine if you have what it takes for law school. Boy oh boy, was she telling the truth! I felt like a real lawyer. In one semester, we briefed around 50 cases, held mock trial, and took challenging exams. I proved to myself that I have what it takes for law school.

In conclusion, I would say that each of the items represent something different. The apartment lease represents perseverance; the letter, success; and the binder, my testament. After graduation, when I open that capsule and view those three items, I will marvel at my journey and feel even more proud that I was able to achieve my goal of getting my bachelors degree and begin law school.”