Year 8 student participates in Buckinghamshire Archive Writing Project

Anjika G in Year 8, recently participated in the new Buckinghamshire Archives Young Writers Competition. Her challenge? To respond to the thought-provoking question, "What would you say to your future-self”?

The Buckinghamshire Archives stand as custodians of over 800 years of the county's vibrant history. Anjika's eloquent composition, now part of this archive, is woven with rich observations about the country we find ourselves living in today, and her hopes and dreams for a brighter future. Anjika placed particular emphasis on climate change and the progression of science to enable sustainable living.

Anjika's insightful article is available for you to read below. Furthermore, she is collaborating with our Library Team to inaugurate the Pipers Story Archive, a legacy for budding authors in the generations to come. Stay tuned as we anticipate sharing more about this exciting venture in the near future.

Dear Me,

I touched it. The locket mum told me not to touch. I remembered her saying “It contains magic through time Clarice, never touch it.” But I had done it. We were never allowed to talk about it, the locket sat up on the shelf conquering the area with its power that we couldn’t see. My fingers were tingling and my body shook. My senses were wrapped and it felt as if for a second everything was frozen in time making me wary of my surroundings. There in the distance what I thought was a fly was a ball of energy gliding towards me. All I could remember after that was this light emerging from me and I was swept to another reality. I was still in my room but everything was different. Suddenly my eye fell onto the calendar and the year was 2123. My tummy was full of butterflies and I didn’t know what to think. I was apprehensive and disorientated.

I ran to the window and opened it wide. The outside air smelt like fresh cut grass, clean and pulchritudinous. My jaw dropped to the floor. The sight was wonderful. It was nothing like the world 100 years ago. The sky was pure blue with white marshmallow clouds. I ran downstairs and saw robots. I went over to feel its metal compartments. It was cold like touching ice and almost uncomfortable to be around. They were watching Titanic and weeping with tears. They had feelings like a human and movement, I was astounded. I went outside.

I could see a colossal screen in which current news was being portrayed. 2023’s news was full of wars and deaths but in the 2123's, I could only see news about the progress of society like flourishing artists, space expeditions to Mars and that scientists had successfully found cures to life threatening diseases like cancer and cancer has become extinct, etc. I could see many species of endangered birds -which I learnt about in science-, were soaring in the sky in great numbers. Alluring butterflies, which were rare, fluttered in the clear afternoon sky. Houses on the streets were hydro-powered with windmills. I walked and explored further on. I was ecstatic and was amazed by this new world. I saw people who lived there using cows for supplies like milk and using their dung for gas and fertiliser. There was a retirement home for cows once they couldn’t produce milk. My heart melted by this. I wandered around the place, explored every bit. Gardens were bursting with vibrant colours and were full with nearly extinct species of plants. It was like a nature reserve! People now had seen sense and they had taken action for climate change before it was too late. The old and the disabled people were aided by solar panelled robots. There were banners of peace which suggested that the countries that didn't normally get along 100 years ago were celebrating peace and harmony. Suffering was now over and everything was tranquil. It was like opening a new book or new chapter of life and as if colour was emerging from the grey.

Animals that were killed on the side of the road from fast cars now had their own crossing and their own freedom to have a stay in the land that we had taken from them. I waved to the people passing by and exclaimed hello with such happiness but it seemed that no one could hear me or see me. I was invisible. Is this my future for my future generation?

I felt tears spring in my eyes and I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to see peace and no war in my time too. I wanted there to be an abundance of animals and not a decline of species. Suddenly I heard my mum’s voice calling me and I was back in my room. I rubbed my eyes and breathed in my air trying to figure out what had happened but I already knew. I went to see the future. The future is what we have to make.