More to the point, I believe the ghosts and energetic spirit of each one of us--all 4000+ Pearson alumni--wander the mossy trails of the College still; inhabit the rowdy day rooms, drift through the LLT, stalk the quiet corners of Max Bell Hall. For better or for worse, we've been touched by this place, sucked its salt air into our lungs, uncovered vital parts of who we are (or who we were).
In this unassuming rainforest, some of us fell in love for the first time. Some of us fell apart. We learned to thrive and we learned to fail. All of us were changed, by our choices, and by each other.
What if you had the opportunity to travel back in time, to speak to the person you were at the College? What if you had the chance to offer advice, condolences, wisdom from the future?
What would you say?
In the weeks leading up to One World, I'm inviting all Pearson alumni--from Year 1 to Year 41--to do just that. As part of The Nostalgia Project, alumni are encouraged to snail mail a postcard to your 16- or 17- year old self, care of the college.
While you're free share what you'd like as part of the message--stern words of warning, silly doodles, doctored photos, archival journal entries--you may also choose to be guided by the prompts below. The aim of the Project is to spend time reflecting on who you were during those years of your life, and put that person in conversation with who you are right now.
- Who are you now? Where are you at this point in your life?
- What have you learned about yourself since you left Pearson?
- What secret advice would you offer your former self?
Address postcards to yourself, c/o The Nostalgia Project, via Pearson College. For example:
Trevor Corkum
c/o The Nostalgia Project
Pearson College
650 Pearson College Dr.
Victoria, BC V9C 4H7
CANADA
Postcards will be accepted until One World performances (March 17-18), so get your cards out soon. During One World, cards will be arranged by current Pearson students into an interactive display viewable by the public in the lobby of the McPherson Theatre.
Further, your stories will be "released" during the Life After Pearson workshop for current Pearson students. Current students will take part in a "releasing" ritual by reading your postcards aloud to current second years, ensuring that your memories, your words and secret advice will be kept alive and nourished by the energy of the College in 2017.
Questions? Feel free to be in touch.
Photo Credit: Pearson College
A very creative idea, Trevor. Thank you for looking after my tiny home while I was away. All the best, Dani
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