 MY TIME CAPSULE
Every human being leaves marks behind as they leave this world. Some of them have left
scientific works, some of them left their art, some of them gave us their thoughts and all
of them left their memories with their family. Famous or not, wise or foolish, each being
whoever he or she is, has feelings and has an affect on others’ lives.
And each of us is actually leaving a "time capsule" with our loved ones.
Photographs, clothes, hand made items and ideas are inherited from generation to
generation. These are the most important treasures each person has. Some of them have
historical values but most of them are valuable because of the emotions associated with
them. While the photograph of the first man on the moon is a historical moment for each of
us, for his grandson or granddaughter, this means much more than his being a historical
hero.
Actually the term "time capsule" was first used in 1937, although this is not
the first time capsule. Humans' first literary work, "Epic of Gilgamesh" can be
considered as an unintentional time capsule. So what does the term actually mean?
A time capsule is a historic cache of goods and/or information, usually intended as a
method of communication with people in the future. (www.wikipedia.org)
As stated above, each of us wants to leave our mark on future lives. However, not all of
us can be famous or talented enough to have a historical documentary made in our name.
Still, we can make our own time capsule and instead of burying it, we can pass it on to
generations via an alumni association or simply pass it along inside our family. In this
way we will be able to share our lives with those in the future so that they can be
inspired by how their ancestors were living.
As I thought about the idea, I plotted my time capsule. What would I be willing to share
with the next generation? I always wanted to be able to make an invention that would cure
people, but it seems that this possibility is beyond my capabilities. My CGPA is a huge
obstacle in that way. Still, I have the hope of improving humankind. If I had to prepare
my capsule now, I would first put my computer's hard disc in it followed by a multilingual
manual on how to use it. My computer has my writings for the Bilkent News, my homework and
research, music, which I listen to everyday, and my pictures: the database of my life.
Then I would put a hand written memoir of my 24 year life, my ambitions, my hopes, my
heartbreaks, my ideas, my failures and my successes: all written objectively. This would
be followed by a scrapbook of my country: photos and historical information about each
inch of Turkey in order to show future generations how we achieved becoming a civilization
that unites such different culture. I would also include my ideas on how we try to destroy
the equilibrium of our existence. I want the future to see how the modern, secularized
Turkey is losing its modernity. And hopefully the next generation will still be living in
a secular and open-minded country that cherishes all cultures equally. Finally, I would
include different examples of art, to exemplify our creativity.
So what would you like to put in your "time capsule?"
Sıla Türkü
Kural (EE/III)
turku@ug.bilkent.edu.tr
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