Wiregrass High seniors write to future, bury time capsule

Shekeinah Hill, 18, has a message for her future self.

So do other seniors at Wiregrass Ranch High.

The Class of 2011 is leaving its mark by burying a time capsule in front of the wagon that serves as a focal point for the Western-themed school.

In addition to a few mementos, such as a prom invitation and a Speedo swimsuit, the capsule contains notes and video messages from seniors who speak about favorite high school memories and predict what their lives will be like when they return to open the capsule at their 10-year class reunion in 2021.

" 'I hope you are making a difference' was the main gist of my letter," said Hill, whose immediate future involves a trip down under.

She plans to attend Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia.

The time capsule evolved from a project in drama teacher Margaret Peacock's advanced acting class. The students were instructed to write messages to themselves for a time capsule that at that point was just metaphorical.

"Then they said, 'Let's really do a time capsule,' " Peacock said.

A quick Internet search revealed ready-made time capsules available for purchase. Peacock and her students opted for a cylindrical version 6 inches in diameter and 24 inches high.

They also decided to expand contributions beyond the class. They invited all seniors to participate and planned for a time-capsule burial ceremony at "high noon" Monday, a time designed to fit the school's Western theme.

The drama students wanted to give seniors as much opportunity as possible to contribute their notes and photos, so the capsule remained unsealed Monday morning while more items were dropped in.

That caused a problem.

The students realized too late that the seal takes 24 hours to set. The capsule couldn't go into the ground Monday.

The seniors decided to go ahead with their "high noon" ceremony anyway, digging a shallow hole while the theme from "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" played.

They delayed the burial a day, though.

"We didn't want to risk something going wrong with it," Hill said.

Lauren Perez, 18, president of Thespian Troupe No. 7142, was excited about the opportunity to send a message to the future.

"I've always wanted to do a time capsule since I was a kid," she said.

Perez said she hopes to be a famous actress in 10 years. She plans to jump right into an entertainment career after high school. She has a theme park audition Thursday.

After a couple of years as a theme park and cruise ship entertainer, she plans to move to California.

Perez looks forward to that day in 10 years when the class of 2011 digs up the time capsule. She suspects those seniors who opted not to leave a message will regret it when that day arrives.

Principal Ray Bonti is among those who don't plan to miss out on the 2021 fun.

"If I'm not here in 10 years," Bonti said, "I'll be coming back to see the experience."

rblair@tampatrib.com

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