Here is a wonderful video about a teacher with another letter writing project now over 20 years old in Canada. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeX1H7ajOvQ
It shows the potential power of the letters our students are writing to themselves.
Volunteer School Time Capsule Postmasters help letters follow students each year written to explore roots and goals. Older students build their plans in letters exchanged with parents and relatives. These letter exchanges occupy maybe 3 class hours each year of the 14 years from pre-k through graduation. Each parent & grandparent writes to their student annually about their dreams for them, including stories from family history. Students update life goals. Student achievement soars.