By Anastasia Benstead, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
On Wednesday Aug. 20, the Advancement department hosted a Welcome Week event called the ‘Write’ Start The pun was quite indicative of its nature, as it encouraged students to write letters in the front entry way of Grace Hauenstein Library. Sealed in an envelope, the letters were collected and are being held until finals week of fall semester 2025.
Catherine Hutchins sits next to the snack table in the library foyer – Photo by Anastasia Benstead
The goal is to literally send students support by mailing them letters during a stressful time of the academic year. Students were able to address envelopes to anywhere on campus, including to themselves. If the mailing address was left blank the Advancement department will send the letters to random students on campus.
“I thought it sounded cool on the SAO instagram,” senior Olivia White said. “I’ve never done something like this before, so I figured I should go.” She wrote both a letter to her future self and to a random student. White was even able to convince a couple of friends to also stop by and write a letter.
“I’ve done notes-to-self in the past,” said senior Aseel Jadallah, “but I was always disappointed when they were never sent out.”
Aseel Jadallah and Olivia White write letters to random students – Photo by Anastasia Benstead
Advancement described the event as a success. “We had over 100 letters written,” Catherine Hutchins, Director of Annual Giving & Sponsorships, said. “One new professor [wrote] 30. One for their entire class.”
As letters were being turned in, students could increase the number on the main whiteboard to keep track of the total number of notes written. By the end of the event an even 100 letters were submitted. The caption under the number was “number of days brightened” as an effort to remind students of the purpose of the event– to bring positivity to one another during exam week.
The total number of letters continues to increase (Beth Jordan, in Strategic Communications, poses by final number of letters) – Photo by Anastasia Benstead
“We really appreciate everyone who came by to grab a snack and send some encouragement into the future,” Hutchins said.
Emeryson Gaiten (left) and Kenzie Schuur (right) writing letters to their future selves – Photo by Anastasia Benstead
The Saint 