A Generation of Speed and Convenience

By: Jillian Murray

Why would you take the time to write a handwritten letter when you can simply send the message through text or email? The answer is simple. The value of a handwritten note exceeds any message one can receive through electronics, as it all goes back to the simple pleasure of a personable mode of communication.

This joy of a letter extends far beyond simple messages, nowadays, when students receive their college acceptance letters, half of the schools reveal their decisions through email. Opening up a email to read that a college has accepted you into their institution is less meaningful than the burst of excitement one feels when opening the mailbox to an acceptance package.

Want to impress your teachers? Write them a handwritten note. Receiving a letter that has been handwritten by a student is respectable and will be immensely more memorable to a teacher rather than just another email. Think about the amount of emails a teacher reads in a day… eventually, every email resembles the other. If you want to write a thank you letter or even inform your teacher about something, leaving them a handwritten note will take priority in reading rather than another email notification popping up on their screen.

Handwritten letters ultimately capture someone’s attention more readily than typed font would. When you collect your mail from the mailbox, do you pay more attention to the typed, computerized form letters? Or do the envelopes addressed by hand capture your attention? The letters addressed by hand stand out amongst the pile of computerized forms because they carry with them a personal touch. Similarly to these handwritten letters, people overall have a greater appreciation for handmade gifts, as time and effort is shown through a personalized gift.

The next time you find yourself about to send a thank you note to a teacher by email or a text to a friend, consider the alternative mode of communication. Handwritten messages carry meaning that will resonate with the individual who receives it far longer than any text message ever could!