A Stettler high school student wrote history of another sort last week.
Grace Chapman entered a contest through the Alberta government to place letters in a provincial time capsule. Out of almost 500 entries, Chapman’s letter was chosen to be included in the Alberta history chest.
A panel of judges selected eight letters to be approved by house speaker Hon. Gene Zwozdesky and placed in the Alberta government time capsule last Wednesday.
“It felt kind of cool,” said Chapman, a Grade 11 student. “To have something I wrote right now read 100 years from now by people and the government, that’s kind of sweet.”
Chapman decided to enter when her cousin told her she should participate the contest.
“I thought it would be interesting and something different,” she said.
In the letter, Chapman discussed her busy lifestyle, including her involvement with multiple sports, and her dedication to school and spending time with her friends.
Chapman also explained what she sees herself doing in the next 100 years, from schooling to travelling, and what she wants to do for a career.
One question about the future that Chapman really wants answered is what technological advances will occur in the next 100 years.
“I can only imagine what life will be like 100 years from now, especially since the world has changed so much since I was younger and when my parents were kids,” she said.
Chapman, 16, stressed how fortunate Albertans are to have the government, resources and schooling to allow them to have a good quality of life.
Chapman has a message to pass on to the future generation:
“It’s not letting anyone get in the way of you and your dreams,” she said. “Anything is possible and anything can happen, and that only you can decide your dreams and goals.”
Among the 50 other items placed in the capsule, the top five items included an uncirculated coin set, newspapers with coverage from the legislature building centennial celebrations, photos of the 1909 time capsule unearthing, and photos of classes that participated in the School at the Legislature program in the 2012-13 school year.