The art of letter writing is slowly becoming more and more obsolete. With hopes to bring back this sentimental tradition, 8th grader Emma Shaw has started a club to promote the popularity of writing letters and mailing cards.

“To me, writing a letter means more than simply sending a text. It means you took the time to sit down, write many drafts, until its just perfect. A letter is a deeply personal and meaningful thing.”

Her club targets 7th graders specifically, “I’ve found that many middle schoolers don’t know how to address, format, and mail letters and cards.” It's hard to believe that something that was used as the main form of communication for everything, from love notes to “Dear John” letters, to war declarations, for hundreds of years, could now be so unpopular. The first letter was believed to have been written in 500 BCE, and was the main form of communication until about 100 years ago. We know a lot about the past due to reading old letters, as they share insight into the past and are written records of true events.

Through the letters of great historical figure such as Abraham Lincoln, Julius Caesar, or Charles Dickens, we are able to be transported to the past, to see the inner workings of their minds. Reading letters allow you to get to know a person and have a deep meaningful connection with them in solitude. You don’t have to be on the same continent to feel connected through letters. A great way to get to know someone and practice your writing and language skills is to have a pen pal.

In an age where most communication takes place through email, phone calls, and texting, letters can help bridge the gap through generations. To many older and younger people receiving a letter is a big deal, the feeling of joy when you receive a card or a letter is overwhelming. A stark contrast from receiving the normal junk mail, sale papers, bills, and coupons. It’s a feeling that causes you to think that you are the most important person in the world. When writing a letter it's important to remember to make it clear and personal. To many people who lived in the time where letters were common, receiving and writing letters brings back memories. Many people claim that they stopped writing letters because the post office is to unreliable, as there is no guarantee that what you mail will be delivered on time. Technology has developed so quickly, we expect to be able to be in contact with people right away. Anything slower than right now is too slow.

The advancement of technology has certainly improved the world in many ways, allowing for rapid contact when necessary. When I asked Emma what she thought about modern communications she said “I certainly use modern communication a lot, I feel like if you receive the gift of a written letter it shows you care a lot more. Texting and email are more convenient but not as meaningful”

For Emma the road to deciding on her passion was not an easy one. Her love of writing was so broad it had to be narrowed down. She realized that a Passion Project is supposed to help or solve a community problem, “People are forgetting how to address, format and mail letters, the fact that people are no longer writing letters is something I can help fix.” In her club she hopes to educate 7th grade Magnet School students on how to write, format, address, and mail letters. She will share all kinds of tips and tricks that can make your letters even more meaningful. If you are interested in learning more, there are several posters posted throughout the school where further detail can be found.

Please contact Emma Shaw for more information!